Al Wuqba village in Oman has immense tourism potential

Yanqul: Al Wuqba village in the Wilayat of Yanqul in the Governorate of A’Dhahirah is one of the many beautiful towns and villages in the wilayat, to which it owes its attractive tourism potential.
It is situated about 38 kilometres away from the centre of the wilayat.
The town is also located between majestic mountains within the Western Al Hajar Mountains range.
It is a mountainous town that links the Governorate of A’Dhahirah with several other governorates and the Sohar Industrial Port, along with some wilayats, villages and regions.
The Town of Al Wuqba is one of the most beautiful tourist stations, where there are many valleys that witness an active tourist mobility. Mountain caves spread in the mountain peaks, which attract many mountain climbers, who can also see the headwaters that come into existence after the flooding of valleys.
Heritage sites
Al Wuqba is also characterised by many heritage sites and cultural landmarks, such as old houses, which are still proud to this day about their beauty and the craftsmanship of their marvellous Omani architecture.
The old neighbourhood in the highlands of Al Wuqba town is also an eyewitness to the history and culture of the town, which tells part of the history of the region through engineering construction and design.
These neighbourhoods are built of stone, locally known as Omani “Sarooj” and date-palm trunks.
The town is famous for growing many trees and crops, including palm trees, and seasonal crops, such as oranges, mangoes, apples, melons, cherries, strawberries, pomegranates and grapes.
Farmers in the Al Wuqba town also grow citrus fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, black pepper, wheat, barley, lettuce, parsley, garlic, onions, squash, and other species.
Nasser bin Saif Al Zaidi, director of the Agricultural Development Department in Al Wuqba, explained that the area planted with date palms in the town is estimated to be 400 acres, and that the estimated area planted with mango, lemon, grapes, figs and orange crops is about 50 acres, while the estimated area of some other crops, such as apples, guava, garlic, onions, cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers is about 20 acres.
Al Zaidi added that there are agricultural crops, such as wheat, barley and some types of pulses that are planted over an area of 100 acres. He pointed out that there are about 30 green houses in the town.
Al Wuqba is also famous for several aflaj or traditional irrigation system or water channels, which irrigate orchards and crops in the town.
They flow after the flooding of valleys on the mountain peaks, such as Falaj Al Aqool, Falaj Al Baidhaa, Falaj Al Hail, Falaj Hail Al Najdan, Falaj Al Mahdooth and Falaj Hail Bin Omran.
The town is an active commercial and economic meeting ground, situated between the Governorate of A’Dhahirah and the Governorate of North Al Batinah.
The road from Yanqul to Al Wuqba extends to the wilayats of Sohar and Saham.
The town cuts the distance between the Governorate of A’Dhahirah and the wilayats of the Governorate of North Al Batinah, as well as the Governorate of Al Buraimi across the road linking Hail Al Khanabsha, Qumaira village with the Wilayat of Dhank to the Governorate of Al Buraimi. It is a modern road constructed according to the highest standards.