24th Malone Fellowship Oman Cultural Immersion Program – June 1-15, 2022

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations is pleased to offer, through its Joseph J. Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies Program, the Twenty-Fourth Oman Cultural Immersion study visit to the Sultanate of Oman. The visit is scheduled for June 3-15, 2022, with a required pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C., June 1-2. This unique opportunity will provide a privileged first hand exposure to one of the Arab world’s most demographically, geographically, and socially diverse countries.

The National Council is currently accepting applications to participate in this study visit.

MALONE FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION:
https://ncusar.org/programs/Malone-Fellowship-Application.pdf

American professionals in academia, government, the military, non-governmental organizations, business, religious institutions, the media, civic associations, as well as the fine arts, humanities, and the social sciences are invited to apply.

The Twenty-Fourth Oman Cultural Immersion study visit will provide participants an educational experience that few Westerners and even fewer Americans have had. The program is choreographed to provide Malone Fellows an unparalleled diverse exposure to Oman – one of the most historically and culturally rich of all Arab and Islamic societies. Until relatively recent times, the Sultanate languished in its status as one of the most forgotten corners of all Arabia. Anyone in doubt about the extraordinary opportunity that being able to visit Oman in this manner presents need only consult any of the several National Geographic Magazine features on the country over the past several decades.

THE PROGRAM

The program begins in the capital territory centered on the coastal communities of Muscat and Mutrah, where there will be meetings and briefings at the U.S. Embassy, one or more Omani ministries, and visits to sites of historical interest. The remainder of the program unfolds away from the capital in the Sultanate’s extraordinarily diverse interior. As we traverse the countryside, we will camp outdoors amid the dunes of the Sharqiyyah Sands, an eastern extension of the Rub’ Al-Khali (The Empty Quarter), the world’s largest desert. In that region and elsewhere, we will visit remote villages, scale mountains, and stop in far-flung oases for rest, leisure, photography, and shopping for handicrafts, Bedouin jewelry, or antiques.

We will also explore several of the country’s famous forts of yesteryear, visit the ancient mud-brick walled settlement of Bahla, designated by UNESCO as one of the Heritages of Humankind, and trek through archaeological ruins. We will visit sites that, not that long ago, housed wealthy merchants who plied their goods throughout the vast Oman-influenced territories stretching from Iraq and Kuwait in the west and north to the east and the south Iranian coast, extending through the Hormuz Strait and along the Sultanate’s Batinah coast to the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean, and from there on to Pakistan, South Arabia, and East Africa.

The delegation will also spend time with fisher folk, loom weavers, and clay potters; travel along the country’s spectacular littoral fronting the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf; and sail with Arab mariners on a dhow, a traditional wooden handmade Arab vessel to which modern day sailors familiar with the history of navigation and nautical sciences acknowledge an enormous debt.

As we sail north towards the Iranian coast, we’ll turn east to circumnavigate the Musandam Peninsula, which straddles the southernmost reaches of the Persian Gulf and the northernmost waters of the Gulf of Oman. We will travel by sea adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important waterway, through which the giant tankers carrying the Gulf region’s unmatched production of oil and gas must pass en route to the world’s energy-hungry markets and economies.

The delegation will also drop anchor and go ashore at Telegraph Island and one or more additional coastal sites during the journey. Amid the many inlets dominating the Musandum Peninsula, participants will be able to swim and snorkel to their heart’s content offshore Telegraph Island, a rugged outcropping of rock that for a brief period was once one of the marvels of mid-19th century British telecommunication. The group will also visit villages atop the peninsula overlooking the fjords of a region that has been aptly termed Arabia’s Norway.

Traveling deep into the interior and along the coasts, the delegation will be transported by Omani guides in four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles. Throughout our time in Oman there will be ample opportunity to photograph and video some of the most stunning scenery and people in all of Arabia.

ESCORT and GUIDES

The escort for the Twenty-Fourth Oman Cultural Immersion Program will be Dr. John Duke Anthony, Founding President and CEO of the National Council, who has been a regular visitor to Oman since 1971. Dr. Anthony’s publications include The Historical and Cultural Dictionary of the Sultanate of Oman and the Emirates of Eastern Arabia; Arab States of the Lower Gulf: People, Politics, Petroleum; and Oman: Girding and Guarding the Gulf. For additional publications on Oman by Dr. Anthony, see his reflections from a 2003 Malone Fellows study visit to Oman; his annual essays on Oman in the Encyclopaedia Britannica Book of the Year; his coverage of the last GCC heads of state and ministerial summit held by Oman, December 29-30, 2008; and his remarks on Sultan Qaboos upon the occasion of the Council’s, 33 other American NGOs, and President Jimmy Carter’s presentation to His Majesty of the first-ever International Peace Award on October 15, 1998; on the National Council’s website: ncusar.org.

English-speaking Omani guides will accompany the participants throughout the experience and will be able to provide historical background, cultural insight, and field unlimited questions.

COSTS and REQUIREMENTS

The fee for the Twenty-Fourth Oman Cultural Immersion study visit is $8,100.00 per person. Commercial tours of similar duration are typically much more expensive and offer far less access to the diversity of Omani geography, life, and culture. When coupled with the privileged availability of official and informal briefings included in the itinerary, this National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations program offers an exceptional opportunity.

The program fee covers international air travel, most meals (not all) in Oman, ground transportation in Oman, and lodging (single-occupancy rooms) in Oman. Participants should be prepared to self-pay in the event there are missed meals or other unexpected expenses. Phone calls, internet & incidental room charges, hotel amenities, etc., are each participants’ personal responsibility. The cost of visas, tips/gratuities, travel insurance and health insurance, domestic U.S.A. travel, and hotels and meals in Washington, D.C., are among the items NOT INCLUDED in the study visit program fee.

There is no direct financial award connected to the Malone Fellows Program. Those selected to join the “Oman Cultural Immersion Program” study visit will have earned the designation as “National Council Malone Fellow in Arab and Islamic Studies.” Fellows and/or their employers are responsible for the whole study visit fee. The fee must be paid in full to the Council before final acceptance into the program.

The study visit is partially subsidized by the National Council with an aim to minimizing the cost to participants.

All participants are required to attend the two-day pre-departure orientation program in Washington, D.C. The orientation provides an extraordinary, in-depth introduction to the history, geography, and geology, as well as the economic, social, and political dynamics of Oman. Leading scholars and diplomats serve as resource specialists for these sessions and provide unique insights based on their personal experiences in Oman. Program alumni have repeatedly commented that, once on the ground, this pre-departure experience has enabled them to encounter the country and its people with a heightened sensitivity to the ongoing impact of the country’s past and a sharpened awareness of the present.

All participants are responsible for booking and covering the cost of their own transportation to and from Washington, D.C., as well as two nights’ accommodation and meals in Washington, as part of the pre-departure orientation. At the conclusion of the pre-departure orientation, the delegation will depart for Oman. 

COVID-19 NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

Given wide variances in rules, restrictions, and individual preferences in relation to the COVID-19 virus—often depending upon such factors as geographic location, individual health and personal circumstances, and varying local preventative measures—the National Council retains the ability to change or cancel, without advanced notice, any aspects of the program to accommodate health considerations.

It is each participant’s full responsibility to research the health and safety risks and appropriate precautions when determining whether to participate in the program. Participants are encouraged to repeatedly review and verify their ability to comply with all local, national, and international public health rules and requirements in each location to be visited during the program.

The website of the U.S. Embassy in Oman is one useful resource for information. Participants should also be aware of requirements for re-entry to the United States at the conclusion of the visit.

Any individuals not in compliance with public health rules, restrictions, and policies will be disqualified from the program and asked to leave. No refunds will be processed for individuals unable to participate as a result of non-compliance with public health related requirements.

Program participants will be required to complete a COVID-19 Liability Waiver, in addition to other releases and waivers, in order to participate in the program.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Individuals interested in being selected to participate in the Twenty-Fourth Oman Cultural Immersion Program study visit to the Sultanate of Oman are asked to submit a Malone Fellowship Application and supporting documentation to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations.

The application can be found through the link below or on the National Council’s website: ncusar.org.

MALONE FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION:
https://ncusar.org/programs/Malone-Fellowship-Application.pdf

American professionals in academia, government, the military, non-governmental organizations, business, religious institutions, the media, civic associations, as well as the fine arts, humanities, and the social sciences are invited to apply.

TENTATIVE STUDY VISIT ITINERARY

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING ITINERARY IS TENTATIVE AND BASED ON THE PROGRAM’S EXPERIENCE SPANNING SEVERAL DECADES. Scheduling of official appointments, weather, availability of transportation, museum hours, and the unknown may cause changes in the delegation’s itinerary during the visit. 

Day 1 – Friday, 3 June 2022 – Arrive in Muscat

Arrive at Muscat International Airport (MCT) in the Sultanate’s Capital Territory and transfer to hotel.

Day 2 – Saturday, 4 June 2022 – Discovering Muscat and U.S. Embassy Briefing

An early visit to the suq (traditional market) in Mutrah where local merchants conduct a brisk business with their daily catch of fish and latest stock of fruits and vegetables. Stroll the panoramic corniche along the Mutrah waterfront with its centuries-old architecture and experience the spirit of a bygone era. Continue on to the traditional suq. There will be time to return to the suq later in the day and visit one of the Art galleries, but this initial exploration will identify shops to explore at leisure later. Old Muscat includes the Royal Palace flanked by Jalali and Mirani Forts, built in the late Seventeenth century during the Portuguese occupation. The Zubair Museum, one of the Sultanate’s finest, offers an excellent display of Omani culture, costume, ornamentation, and history.

Return to hotel for lunch and to change clothes.

In the afternoon there will be a briefing at the U.S. Embassy. [Ground rules long-adhered to by previous study visit delegations and much appreciated by everyone involved with these programs will apply. These ground rules will be discussed during the pre-departure orientation program held in Washington, D.C.]

Day 3 – Sunday, 5 June 2022 – Exploration of Muscat and Ministry briefings

One or more official briefings with government ministries will be scheduled. Additional visits may include Bayt Al Baranda, a new interactive museum, the Grand Mosque, Church and a Hindu Temple that serves the spiritual and social needs of Oman’s long-established Hindu community, Oman’s premiere hotel, the Al Bustan Palace, and the dhow built by Omani craftsmen in association with the world renowned explorer, Tim Severin, who together with Omani navigators and sailors, re-traced the legendary “Sindbad Voyage” of centuries earlier from Muscat to Canton (Guangzhou), China.

After lunch, the itinerary might include a visit to the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) refinery and Oil Exhibition Center.

Day 4 – Monday, 6 June 2022 – Final Day in Muscat

In the morning there will be additional meetings with Government officials and private sector groups (including an Omani women business social group), and a visit to Sultan Qaboos University. Then lunch with local scholars to discuss the Omani point of view regarding recent regional trends, governmental dynamics, and increased popular participation in the national development processes in various Arab countries.

Day 5 – Tuesday, 7 June 2022 – Travel to Musandam

The Musandam Peninsula is often described as resembling the fjords of Norway with steep, crevice-strewn mountains descending to the sea. This region is separated from the rest of Oman by 70 kilometers (45 miles) and the territory of the United Arab Emirates (as Alaska is separated by Canada from the United States). The furthermost points of the promontory look out over the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime passageway through which moves much of the world’s Gulf-supplied oil and natural gas. While the southern coast of Iran is situated on the far side of the strait, the supertanker routes lie almost entirely in Omani territorial waters as they transit this globally vital geostrategic passage.

Afternoon drive to Bukha along one of the most scenic coastal roads in Oman. Visit Bukha Fort, once the administrative building for the local government in Musandam. Also visit Wadi Tawi, site of a series of Arabia’s and humanity’s most ancient rock-drawings depicting camels, ships, and warriors.

Day 6 – Wednesday, 8 June 2022 – Sailing the Fjords

Full day sea trip to Kumzar and Khor Sham. The delegation boards a dhow (a traditional wooden ship) and sails to the Strait of Hormuz and to visit Kumzar, the northernmost village in Oman located on the strait and only accessible by sea. The settlement and fortifications on the top of a nearby mountain show how important the port of Kumzar and its location were to protect the strait in the past. Continue sailing to Khor Ash Sham, the most prominent fjord in the Musandam. Along the route there will be a stop at Telegraph Island, for a few years in the 1860s a lone British telecommunications outpost linking London with Bombay by undersea cable. Lunch on-board the dhow with possibly time for a swim and snorkeling (equipment provided).

Day 7 – Thursday, 9 June 2022 – Further Exploration of Musandam

The delegation takes a morning drive up to Jabal Harim, the highest point in the Musandam, and down to view Khawr Al-Najd, one of the peninsula’s most scenic fjords. There might also be a stopover in Khalidyah Park, an Acacia forest that is home to many species of birds and butterflies.

Day 8 – Friday, 10 June 2022 – Visit to Ras Al Jinz

Travel to Ras Al Jinz, a fishing village located in the Ras Al Hadd Turtle Reserve on the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula.

The Golden honey-colored mountains hang precipitously above the dark green date oasis. Along the bottom of the wadi, walks can be taken alongside small steams of water fed by springs set into the wadi’s side. The springs allow small but intensive agricultural farms to grow dates, citrus, mangos, and other tropical fruit. The coastal settlement of Tiwi is set at the mouth of the picturesque Wadis Shab—written about by Marco Polo and visited by Ibn Battuta.

Picnic lunch at Wadi Tiwi.

Visit Sur’s legendary boatyards and the Sur Maritime Museum. For centuries, skilled craftsmen in Sur have produced dhows that have sailed to distant ports in Asia and East Africa. Sur was one of the greatest medieval ports in the Middle East. After the decline of Qalhat (one of the key ports in Arabia) in the 16th century, Sur became the regional marine trading town of the region. Its strategic location enabled ships to make use of the northeast monsoon to reach East Africa. Ships would leave Sur and other Omani ports in November and reach Zanzibar, the main port-of-call, in mid-February. The return voyage, before the southwest monsoon, would find them back in Oman by early May.

Until the 19th century, Sur remained an important shipyard responsible for the construction of the great wooden ships that plied the oceans from Arabia to India and back. The Belitung ship (carrying porcelain from China, on the sea-route to Arabia) – now on display at Sentosa Island, Singapore – is thought to have been built at Sur. In the shipyards, we watch as skilled craftsmen construct traditional dhows and fishing boats as they have done for centuries, without the benefit of blueprints. After this practical demonstration, we will enjoy displays of traditional dhows.

At the nearby courtyard yard of the Maritime Museum, we view the historic Fath Al-Khair, a solid and beautiful timber ship that embodies the glorious past of the wilayat (governorate) of Sur. During its heyday, Fath Al-Khair carried cargo to and from Oman, including dates, salted and dried fish, dry lemons, and salt. It also imported Iraqi and Iranian dates, saffron, Yemeni coffee, and timber and spices from East Africa.

A short drive to Ras Al Jinz Turtle Reserve to watch the nesting of the green turtles, an internationally-renowned nesting site for the endangered giant creatures. Each year thousands of female turtles swim to Oman’s coastline to lay their eggs. As female turtles only come ashore to nest after dark, there are two tours conducted under careful supervision each day – at dawn and at dusk.

Day 9 – Saturday, 11 June 2022 – Into the Desert

The delegation departs for the Wahibah Sands, an expanse of undulating ochre and tan dunes reaching heights of up to 200-meters (600-700 feet) with a wide variety of flora and fauna, depending on rainfall.

Lunch at Ashkhara (a fishing village) and head into the dunes and a Bedouin-style overnight experience at Safari Desert Camp, complete with barbeque dinner, entertainment, and sleeping under the stars. The “camp” is comprised of tents with electricity and two single beds. Showers, basins, and flush toilets are provided for additional comfort.

Day 10 – Sunday, 12 June 2022 – Into the Interior . . . old capital of Nizwa

Depart for Nizwa with a stop at Adam to see the Royal Family Original City (under reconstruction by the Ministry of the Royal Court of the Diwan).

Visit Birkat Al Mawz village, with its extensive date gardens, and Falaj Al-Khatmain, listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites List. Afternoon exploring Jebel Al-Akhdar.

This region is dominated by the great Saiq Plateau, sitting 2,000 meters above sea level. There are a labyrinth of wadis and terraces where the cooler mountain air and greater rainfall support the region’s famed market gardens and orchards of pomegranates, apricots, and other fruit. The delegation takes an extended walk through the terraces and villages from Al-Aqr, famous for its roses, to Al-Ayn and Al-Shurayjah, perched on cliffs that afford spectacular views.

Continue the journey to Nizwa, seat of the former Ibadi Imamate and center of scholarly learning and traditional education, closely linked to historically Ibadi communities in Algeria, Libya, East Africa, and elsewhere.

Day 11 – Monday, 13 June 2022 – Exploration around Nizwa

A visit to Nizwa’s great 17th-century fort, one of the most impressive in all of Oman. Constructed on a solid base of rock, its huge, crenelated tower was designed to withstand the vibrations of its 24 cannons. From the top of the tower, there is a superb panoramic view of the city and the surrounding plains with their extensive stands of deep green date palms. Nizwa remains an important center for Omani date farming where some 40 varieties of dates are cultivated.

After a visit to Bahla, we proceed on a scenic drive up Jabel Shams, Oman’s highest peak at 3,000 meters above sea level. Traverse mountain trails for a panoramic view of Wadi Nakhul Gorge, which many American visitors have likened to the Grand Canyon in the United States.

Day 12 – Tuesday, 14 June 2022 – Return to Muscat

Travel from the interior back to Muscat with stops along the way.

Visit Misfat Al Abriyeen, recognized in 2021 by the World Tourism Organization as one of the most outstanding tourism villages. It is known for its garden terraces of date, banana, and mango orchids as well as mud houses.

Visit the recently restored Bahla Suq and Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of four historic fortresses situated at the foot of the Jebel Al-Akhdar highlands. Dating to the pre-Islamic era, it was rebuilt in the 13th and 14th centuries when the oasis of Bahla prospered under the control of the Al Nabhani tribe. It was largely rebuilt in the 17th century. Recently closed for many years, the fort underwent extensive restoration and was re-opened in 2012.

Visit also Jabrin Castle and Fort, among the best preserved, architecturally stunning, and most famous sites in all of Oman. Built in 1670 by an imam of the Ya’aruba dynasty (17th18th centuries), until the mid-nineteenth century, Jabrin was the seat of a prosperous merchant community linked with the Indian sub-continent and with East Africa. From Jabrin explore the jabals and the wadis that the mountainous terrain and periodic rainfall create. Visit Al-Hamra and Misfat Al Abreen, and view the ancient falaj system of underground water channels that makes agriculture possible in this area of limited precipitation and small land holdings.

Day 13 – Wednesday, 15 June 2022 – Flight to Washington, DC

The delegation boards an international flight in Muscat for travel back to Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington, D.C. From Dulles Airport, participants are responsible for their own onward transportation.