The beaches of Bar Al Hikman have a wide reputation as one of the most beautiful landmarks in the Sultanate. Discover a spacious area for those who enjoy relaxing on the white sand hills and swimming in the clear waters away from the hustle and bustle of crowded cities.
In Bar Al Hikman, only the sounds of the sea waves are heard as they oscillate between ebb and flow. Flamingos and crab plovers add another dimension of beauty to these beaches, as the birds’ songs at sunrise and sunset fill the place with unique vitality.
During this period, these beaches attract those looking for tranquility and romance, and the beaches of this site also welcome enthusiasts of sea water skiing. Photographers flock to take the most beautiful pictures documenting the beauty of this site.
Being one of the most prominent tourist sites in the Sultanate of Oman, the Bar Al Hikman Peninsula occupies a large part of the wetland reserve area of 2,621 square kilometers. Bar Al Hikman Beach can be reached from the Wilayat of Duqm towards the Wilayat of Mahoot (Film village), and the journey by car takes two hours (about 170 km from Duqm), while it is about 450 km away from Muscat.
The Bar Al Hikman Peninsula consists of coastal and inland salt plains (Locally is called Al Sabkah), huge mud flats, and some lakes with salt water. It is of unique natural and geological importance. Bar al-Hikman also overlooks the western coast of Masirah Island. Bar al-Hikman includes a vast swamp made of salt, silt and sand deposits collected by floods. It extends about 30 kilometers into the Arabian Sea.
At peak tides in some areas, the sea water exceeds a few hundred metres, leaving shallow lakes that may evaporate quickly in the summer. This evaporation leaves behind salt deposits that are suitable for commercial use and are usually collected for various uses Environmental studies confirm that the mudflats in the Bar Al Hikman Reserve are home to nearly thirty species of crab. The wetland reserve is considered a natural conservation area of national and regional importance due to its presence in important habitats for birds.
It is classified among the 25 best sites for migratory birds in the Middle East during the winter on their migration path to Asia and East Africa. The reserve also has several islands and mangrove forests.. You can enjoy the atmosphere of the region by camping on its beaches in the summer and watching flocks of birds at dawn and at sunset.
The 'Wetlands Reserve' was declared pursuant to Royal Decree No. (51/2014) of pristine sites with complex ecosystems and unique biodiversity that make it one of the rare reference sites in the world for studying biodiversity and sustainable use of wetlands located between the intertidal zone.
This reserve is considered a tourist resort for nature lovers and bird watching and wildlife enthusiasts, and it can contribute to the development and supply of the national economy by focusing on determining the economic value of the services and the direct and indirect values it contains that are linked to the sustainability of natural resources.
TEXT AND PHOTOS BY YAHYA AL SALMANI
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