Editing Muscat (section)

==Culture==
{{main|Culture of Oman}}

[[File:DhowMuscat.jpg|thumb|The traditional [[Dhow]], an enduring symbol of Oman<ref name="coosoo">{{cite web|title=Culture of Oman|url=http://www.omansultanate.com/culture.htm|publisher=Sultanate of Oman|access-date=2018-09-12|archive-date=2022-12-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206045024/http://www.omansultanate.com/culture.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>]]

Outwardly, Oman shares many of the cultural characteristics of its Arab neighbours, particularly those in the [[Gulf Cooperation Council]].<ref name="kcom" /> Despite these similarities, important factors make Oman unique in the Middle East.<ref name="kcom" /> These result as much from geography and history as from culture and economics.<ref name="kcom">{{cite web|last=Common|first=Richard K.|title=Barriers To Developing 'Leadership' In The Sultanate Of Oman|url=http://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/ijls/new/vol6iss2/3_Common_pp215-229_jm.pdf|publisher=International Journal of Leadership Studies|access-date=2018-09-12|archive-date=2018-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409204103/https://www.regent.edu/acad/global/publications/ijls/new/vol6iss2/3_Common_pp215-229_jm.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The relatively recent and artificial nature of the [[state (polity)|state]] of Oman makes it difficult to describe a national culture;<ref name="kcom" /> however, sufficient cultural heterogeneity exists within its national boundaries to make Oman distinct from other Arab States of the Persian Gulf.<ref name="kcom" /> Oman's cultural diversity is greater than that of its Arab neighbours, given its historical expansion to the Swahili Coast and the Indian Ocean.<ref name="kcom" />

Oman has a long tradition of shipbuilding, as maritime travel played a major role in the Omanis' ability to stay in contact with the civilisations of the ancient world. [[Sur, Oman|Sur]] was one of the most famous shipbuilding cities of the Indian Ocean. The Al Ghanja ship takes one whole year to build. Other types of Omani ship include As Sunbouq and Al Badan.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Ship Building Industry|url=http://www.omantourism.gov.om/wps/portal/mot/tourism/oman/detailsp/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3j_oMBgNz9XEwODED9zA09PE3MTLxdjYzcnE_2CbEdFANHQ-q8!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/mot_english_lib/mot/experience/culture/crafts/ship+building|publisher=Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman|access-date=2018-09-12|archive-date=2021-03-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301092624/https://www.omantourism.gov.om/wps/portal/mot/tourism/oman/detailsp/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3j_oMBgNz9XEwODED9zA09PE3MTLxdjYzcnE_2CbEdFANHQ-q8!/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/wps/wcm/connect/mot_english_lib/mot/experience/culture/crafts/ship+building|url-status=dead}}</ref>[[File:Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace (4).JPG|thumb|Oman Council building in Muscat]]In March 2016, archaeologists working off Al-Hallaniyah Island identified a shipwreck believed to be that of the ''Esmeralda'' from [[Vasco da Gama]]'s 1502–1503 fleet. The wreck was initially discovered in 1998. Later underwater excavations took place between 2013 and 2015 through a partnership between the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Culture and [[Blue Water Recoveries]] Ltd., a shipwreck recovery company. The vessel was identified through such artifacts as a "Portuguese coin minted for trade with India (one of only two coins of this type known to exist) and stone cannonballs engraved with what appear to be the initials of Vincente Sodré, da Gama's maternal uncle and the commander of the ''Esmeralda''".<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Romey|first1=Kristin|title=Shipwreck Discovered from Explorer Vasco da Gama's Fleet|url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/20160314-oman-shipwreck-explorer-vasco-da-gama-age-of-exploration-india-route/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316022757/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/20160314-oman-shipwreck-explorer-vasco-da-gama-age-of-exploration-india-route/|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 16, 2016|access-date=15 March 2016|magazine=National Geographic|date=14 March 2016}}</ref>