The Sultanate of Oman, located at the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, stands out for its remarkable diversity—both geographically and demographically. The country is bordered by Yemen, the United Arab of Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the Arabian Sea to the south. The coastline, which measures about 3,165 kilometers (Oman News Agency, 2026), plays a central role in the everyday-life of its people. Therefore, public beaches can offer a particularly revealing lens through which to observe Omani society’s inclusivity and exclusivity.
Publication: Between Inclusion and Exclusion: The Politics of Public Space in Muscat (By Martje Abelmann and Ruweida Aljabali)
In Oman’s rapidly urbanizing capital, public beaches offer rare open spaces in an increasingly commodified city—yet subtle social divisions remain.