Salalah is the second largest city in the Sultanate of Oman, a traditional stronghold and the birthplace of the present ruler, His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. Famed throughout the centuries for the prized frankincense that grows within the region, Salalah became known popularly as the “perfume capital of Arabia”. As the metropolis of the province of Dhofar, it encompasses the archeological park of Al Baleed, a splendid city of antiquity that fell into decline in the sixteenth century, the nearby ruins of Samharum, now Khor Rori, an important port from the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD, and the alleged burial place of the prophet Job at Jabal Gadu, some 45 km north west of the city. A shrine in the heart of Salalah is venerated as the resting place of Nabi Imran, the father of Hazrat Maryam.

Salalah has been a major maritime port for vessels trading between the Far East, India and Europe. Its location on the Indian Ocean makes it an ideal stopover port for cruise ships plying the east-west route from the Red Sea to the Gulf. Many cruise liners call exclusively at Salalah while skipping other destinations further along the Arabian Gulf, as this port handles the largest number of visits by cruise ships in Oman.

Salalah is nestled in Dhofar, the southern-most region of Oman having a land area of approximately 212,460 sq. kms, about 1000 kms from the capital, Muscat.

One can reach Salalah by comfortable tourist buses which take around twelve hours to make the journey. OmanAir offers four or five flights from Muscat daily.