Turkey is home to 82,693 mosques, that is the largest number of mosque in the world. Most of Turkey mosques are located in Istanbul, the largest Turkish city. Istanbul’s Blue Mosque is one of the major tourist attractions in Turkey.

Turkey is the world’s largest producer and exporter of hazelnuts. There is a high global demand for Turkey’s hazelnuts for the finest quality. Turkey produces 70% and exports 80% of hazelnuts in the world.

Turkey shares a special bond with Australia because around 70,000 residents of Australia have their ancestral root in Turkey. Some 33,000 Australians were born in Turkey, according to the report of Australia’s 2011 census.

Turkey’s Adana and Australia’s Sydney have some things in common. Both cities consider and celebrate the 1915 Gallipoli landing as an event of historic significance. Many Turks and Australians commemorate the event at Gallipoli every year.

It is a myth that the Netherlands is the origin of tulips. Tulip used to grow as a wild flower till it was discovered by the Turks in the 10^th century. Turkey was the first country to have started cultivating tulips. It was introduced to Europe in the 17^th century. Several such myths are true, interesting facts about Turkey.   

The ancient Greek city of Troy, famous for the historic Trojan War and the setting of Homer’s epic Iliad, is located on the northwest coast of Turkey. Troy is renamed as Hisarlik.

The Anatolian region of Turkey has been cultivating cherries since 72 BC. Cherries made their way to Rome later on.

Alacati, a Turkish town at the southern tip of the Cesme Peninsula in the middle of the Aegean, gifted the Mediterranean die to the world.

Rahat Lokum is the oldest Turkish delight dating back 500 years. Rahat Lokum with pistachio filing was a favorite of Napoleon Bonaparte and Winston Churchill. Pablo Picasso, a most influential artist of the 20^th century, was in the habit of eating this Turkish delight while working.

One of the most interesting things to know about Turkey is the story of Noah’s Pudding (locally known as the Asure). This Turkish dessert is said to have its origin in Noah’s family. Legends say that when Noah’s Ark reached a safe place near Mount Ararat in northeastern Turkey and escaped the Biblical Deluge, Noah’s family celebrated it with a special delicacy of grains, nuts and fruits, which came to be known as Noah’s Pudding.

The cuisine of Turkey is largely influenced by the Middle Eastern, Balkan and Central Asian cuisines. Ottoman chefs of the bygone eras enriched the Turkish food using ingredients such as nuts, garlic, cumin, lentils, mint, pepper, and paprika from those exotic cuisines.

Two of the 7 historic wonders of the ancient world are located in Turkey. One is the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, and the other is the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, a site of architectural ruins, in Bodrum. Both architectures belonged to the Greek era.

The UNESCO World Heritage Sites include 11 heritages from among the tourist attractions of Turkey, as of 2012. These Turkey heritages are the City of Troy, the City of Safranbolu, Istanbul’s Great Mosque, the Hittite Capital, Selimiye Mosque, Nemrut Dag, Hospital of Divrigi, Neolithic Site of Catalhoyuk, and Xanthos-Letoon. 

One of the interesting facts about Turkey is that traditional bathhouses or hammams in Turkey are not Turkish in origin. The hammams were modeled and built after the Roman and Byzantine baths in the Roman Empire, dating back to the 7^th century.

Turkey’s coastline consists of 383 beaches and 21 marinas with high environmental standards. The beaches of Turkey rank third in the world. 197 out of the 383 beaches dot the coastline of Antalya, a Mediterranean Resort City in Turkey. Antalya boasts the distinction of having most of the ‘Blue Flag’ certified beaches in the world.

Saint Nicholas of Myra (now Demre), who is globally known as Santa Claus, was a Christian Bishop in Lycia in the 4^th century. Lycia, which was part of the Byzantine Empire in historic times, is located in Turkey now. Though it makes a reason to celebrate Christmas but Turkey does not. Isn’t it one of the interesting, lesser-known facts about Turkey?

Turkey is one of the largest biodiversity hubs in the world. Turkey is home to some 10,000 plant species out of 13,000 plant species in Europe. Turkey is the only country in Eurasia to have the greatest variety of bird species. 9,000 species of flowers are found in Turkey alone, while the entire Europe has 11,500 flower species. Turkey is said to discover a new species of flora every 10 days.

Turkey houses the Cave Church of St. Peter in Antioch (previously known as Antakya). The church was carved out of a cave on one side of Mount Starius. It is a pilgrimage destination for the global Christian community.

The Fez, a different type of hat, was once a symbol of nationality, a matter of pride and a badge of identity for the Turks. They used to flaunt the Fez as part of their fashion statement until it was banned on August 30, 1925. Not a single Muslim wears the Fez these days.

The abolition of the 623-year long Ottoman rule led to the formation of “Republic of Turkey” in 1923. Ankara is the birthplace of modern Turkey. Mustafa Kemal, Republic of Turkey’s First President, was honored with the prestigious title, “Father of the Turks”. A trip to Istanbul or Ankara will reveal many such historically interesting facts about Turkey.

Turkey is the world’s first country to have constructed an underground mosque at a depth of 7 meters from the surface. Inspired by Cave of Hira in the make, Sancaklar Mosque is located in Istanbul. In the World Architecture Fest Competition, the mosque won the first rank among religious places around the world.

Göbekli Tepe at the top of a mountain elevation in Anatolia Region of Turkey is the finest and oldest example of mountainous architecture in the world. Göbekli Tepe dates some 11,600 years back.

Turkey has no desert though camels are seen at some holiday resorts in coastal regions. Evidently, camels are not native animals in Turkey.

The name of Julius Caesar is historically associated with Turkey. He uttered the famous words, “Vini, Vidi, Vici” (meaning I came, I saw, I conquered in English) on his triumph of the Pontus, a kingdom in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Some other lesser-known, interesting facts about Turkey are that many native Turks drink at least 10 cups of tea a day and Europeans owe their coffee culture to Turkey because Turkey had introduced coffee to Europe in the 15^th century.

The Black Sea coastline of Turkey runs along a stretch of 1650 kms, which is equal to the distance between Paris and Berlin. There are many such unknown facts about Turkey.

“A stranger at one’s doorstep is God’s guest at least for three days” is one of the age-old Turkish beliefs.

Travel to Turkey on the cheap flights to Istanbul and Ankara from the United States, and explore more such interesting, offbeat, lesser-known facts about Turkey at anytime of the year.  

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Like previous years, travelers will be provided signature Iftar service on Emirates flights this year too. The special boxes of Iftar service have been redesigned in look and content for select flights by Emirates to and from the Middle East cities. This seasonal and festive service has been a mainstay of the airline for more than 20 years. Those observing Ramadan can break the fast on board while flying.

This year, Emirates Airlines’ Iftar meal boxes come with a whole new menu designed by the airline’s chefs. The menu features some authentic flavors of the Middle East and retains a global essence at the same time. The Ramadan special boxes pack in za’atar chicken with hummus, spinach fatayer, halloumi cheese, cucumber sandwiches, dates, yogurt and traditional sweets like mammoul.

Iftar service on Emirates flights comes also with snack boxes which will be provided to passengers at boarding gates of origin airports so that they can break their fast while or before boarding the plane. The Iftar special snack boxes pack in Arabic sweets like baklava and pastries like cheese fatayer. Travellers will receive these boxes prior to Imsak.

Both meal and snack boxes will contain a small packet of dates, which is unique to the Islamic culture of Ramadan. As part of Emirates Airlines’ Iftar service for the holy month of Ramadan, cold meals will be served in place of hot ones on all flights to Medina and Jeddah in the Gulf region.

Passengers on Emirates flights to and from the Gulf countries will be entertained with popular Arabic movies like Zinzana and Omar wa Salwa during the holy month. The airline’s award-winning inflight entertainment system will also screen programs of the Holy Quran Channel.

Emirates Airlines will calculate the exact Ramadan timing based on the aircraft’s longitude, latitude and altitude in a region that it will fly through and inform passengers of the Iftar time accordingly, using a particular tool.

The best airfare deals for Emirates flights from USA to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Muscat, Ankara, Jeddah, Sharjah and Jerusalem are available at iEagle.com.  

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Oman Air’s ‘Service by Design’ with the tagline ‘Choose Your Own Chef’ adds to the luxury of inflight dining on Oman Air flights in first class. Premium passengers can pick their favorites from a wide range of dishes from international cuisines to compose special meals for themselves on long-haul flights from Muscat to London, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur.

Designed by award-wining chefs, Oman Air food menus are available on the airline’s website. The first class passengers can craft their meals on Oman Air flights according to their dietary preferences and taste buds by visiting the website. The inflight menus include dishes from some of the major destinations in Oman Air’s global network.  Meal choices range from vegetarian to halal to diabetic to others.

Dishes are exclusively cooked with the finest and fresh ingredients, irrespective of first class passengers’ personalized meals. Taste of the dishes varies from season to season since Oman Air food menus are reviewed, revised and changed from time to time. The biggest advantage of Oman Air’s ‘Service by Design’ is that passengers can review or change or cancel their personally crafted meals within 24 hours prior to departure.

The ‘Service by Design’ facility to let passengers compose their own meals on Oman Air flights is the brainchild of the airline’s creative inflight dining team that had earned accolades from top culinary magazines for designing an exclusive first class menu for Muscat to London flights. It is expected to get Oman Air a competitive edge over other airlines in first class travel on the same routes.

Oman Air’s inflight dining service by design with the slogan ‘Choose Your Own Chef’ will be gradually rolled out in all first class cabins on long-haul flights across the airline’s global network.

Get ready to travel on cheap first class flights from USA to Bangkok, London, Muscat and other major destinations by Oman Air and enjoy Oman Air’s first class dining over your self-created meals.

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The new flight of 36 stairs takes visitors from the ‘At the Top’, the most popular observation deck on the Level 124, to the Level 125 where they can experience the must-not-be-missed attraction ‘Dubai – A Falcon’s Eye View,’ a soulful panorama of the cityscape. Those having tickets for the ‘At the Top’on the Level 124 can take the spiral staircase to the Level 125 free of cost. The Burj Khalifa SKY Journey from the Level 125 to the world’s highest observation deck on the Level 148 is part of the ultimate Burj Khalifa experience.

The mind-blowing grandeur of the staircase between the levels 124 and 125 is a new testimony to the majesty that Dubai boasts about Burj Khalifa. Made of white oak for a length of 100 meters, the glass-walled staircase is bedecked with a crystal chandelier adding to the sheer magnificence. Visitors can soak in the 360-degree panorama of Dubai City while climbing up and down the staircase.

The construction of the glass-walled staircase between the 124 and 125 levels of Burj Khalifa is an engineering marvel. Conceptualized in 3D modeling techniques, the construction was executed through 24-hour shifts over 1200 man-hours without disturbing the existing services for daily visitors. The stairway is built with 60 metric tonnes of steel, 350 square meters of stainless steel shielding and 700 square meters of glass to be used by 150 people at any time.

The top three levels 124, 125 and 148 of Burj Khalifa are open to visitors with premium tickets. Each of these levels has its own attractions and interesting facts. While the Level 124 is where Hollywood actor Tom Cruise dangled from in the fourth film of Mission Impossible series, the Level 125 features the Masharabiya motif, unique to the interior décor theme. The rumor that one can see the earth’s curvature from the world’s highest observation deck on the Level 148 is among the most interesting things about Burj Khalifa.

Watching sunrise from the top of Burj Khalifa is one of the best things to do in Dubai. The upcoming Super Tower in Dubai and the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia may be ambitious projects, but Burj Khalifa is too unique to be outclassed.

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Among the new and upcoming Dubai tourist attractions, the opera house will be the center of attraction in the Opera District which is being developed as a cultural hub close to the world’s tallest building Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai. The Dubai Opera House is the first of its kind sprawling over an area of 35,000 square meters. On completion of the ongoing construction, the complex will offer dining space with seating capacity for 1000 guests, a proscenium arch theatre, an acoustic concert hall and a 2000 square meter floor for events.

The cultural life of Dubai City will turn over a new leaf with the upcoming Dubai Opera House to host and produce a lineup of events and programs from across the world. The 2000 seat art theatre will be throbbing with a wide range of cultural and lifestyle events such as operas, ballets, concerts, cinema, standup comedy, classical performances, etc. It will evolve into a cosmopolitan venue for rock, pop, jazz and Arabic music lovers. Influenced by the rich heritage of Dubai, the opera house architecture will boast a transparent all-glass hallway with resemblance to vintage dhows.

Once opened to public, the new opera house in Dubai is supposed to be counted among the world’s top opera houses including Sydney Opera House in Australia and New York’s Lincoln Center. Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is famous for its unique architecture. The Metropolitan Theatre at New York’s Lincoln Center hosts Broadway performances. The upcoming Dubai Opera House will draw comparisons with Sydney Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York in cultural opulence and architectural grandeur, according to the developers.

“Dubai Opera House is our tribute to our city and the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to establish Dubai as a seat of arts, culture, performing arts and world-class events,”said Mohammad Alabbar, CEO of Emaar Properties. He added that the upcoming opera house would contribute towards the making of Dubai as a ‘City of Happy, Creative and Empowered People’.

So get ready to spend musical evenings over great opera shows at the upcoming Dubai Opera House.

Travel on Cheap Flights from USA to Dubai, Manila, Bangkok, Dubai, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Hanoi, Doha, Beijing, Chiang Mai and other major cities on iEagle.com. The lowest airfare is guaranteed!

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Open Book Shaped Library in Dubai

Let 2017 come and you will see a book-shaped library sprawling over one million square feet among the places to visit in Dubai. Named Mohammad Bin Rashid Library, the project will cost. It would be Dubai’s largest library with a treasure of over 4.5 million books including 2 million electronic books, 1 million audio books and 1.5 million hard copies. Modeled on an open book, the library will have a dedicated area for educational events and cultural activities.     

St. Petersburg Isle (Heart-shaped Island)

Though Valentine’s Day is over this year, the upcoming St. Petersburg Isle in Dubai will be the destination for lovers in the coming years. Promising to be among the most popular Dubai attractions, St. Petersburg Isle is designed like a human heart. Slated for opening in 2017 at ‘The World’ in Dubai, the heart-shaped island will house a hotel and floating homes. To be built on the lines of the world’s popular holiday resorts like The Maldives, and Australia’s Marketpeace Island and Heart Reef, St. Petersburg Isle will be a new icon of the “Visit Dubai” tourism campaign.

Underwater Tennis Complex in Persian Gulf

Have you ever dreamt of playing tennis under water? If yes, your dream will come true soon. If no, do visit Dubai to play tennis under water in the Persian Gulf between the Burj Al Arab and the Palm Jumeirah Islands. To be built at the cost of Dh9.18 billion, the underwater tennis complex will consist of 7 courts, a lobby and a hall under a massive transparent curved roof with abundance of reefs and aquatic life on the other side. Playing tennis under water will surely top the list of interesting things to do in Dubai.

North Deck of Burj Al Arab Hotel

Among the most popular Dubai landmarks, the world’s third largest hotel Burj Al Arab is about to get bigger. Burj Al Arab is adding a 10,000 square meter private deck for relaxation in luxury. The deck will be extended by 100 meters into the Arabian Gulf. It will have 400 sun lounges, 32 cabanas, a bar and a restaurant. Burj Al Arab will get a saltwater pool and a freshwater pool. Enjoying the best Arabian hospitality amidst luxuries at Burj Al Arab will be among the next big things to do in Dubai.

World’s Biggest Butterfly Garden

The world’s biggest butterfly garden is under construction in Dubai. The garden will bloom with 45 million flowers and thousands of butterflies will be flying around them. Spread over an area of 4000 square meters, the garden will get a butterfly museum with several domes to house 24 types of butterfly species from different tropical regions across the globe. On completion, it would be among the best places to visit in Dubai for family tourists. Read more about Dubai’s Butterfly Garden.

Taj Arabia Resembling India’s Taj Mahal

Taj Arabia, an upcoming 5-star hotel, will add to the glitters of Dubai sightseeing for luxury tourists. Modeled after the iconic Taj Mahal of India, Taj Arabia would be twice the size of the Indian monument across 20 acres at Falcon City of Wonders in Dubailand. Among the most luxurious attractions in Dubai, Taj Arabia will have 450 rooms, 300 residential apartments, retail shops and a boutique arcade. Slated to open before the Dubai Expo 2020, Taj Arabia would come alive as the best wedding destination with the largest banquet in Dubai.   

Garden Glow with Replicas of Dubai Landmarks

Among the latest Dubai attractions for sightseeing, Garden Glow is the first of its kind in the Gulf region. Situated at Gate 6 of Zabeel Park, Garden Glow is an exemplary model of environmental sustainability. ‘Art by Day, Glow by Night’ is the theme of Garden Glow with several art installations made of recyclable materials. Replica of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Grand Sheikh Zayed Mosque are some of the best things to see in Garden Glow. The Burj Khalifa replica is made of 330,000 small medicine bottles filled with colored water. Having an edutainment zone for children and a large food street, Garden Glow will soon be among top 10 Dubai tourist places.

Super Tower at Dubai Creek Harbor

Dubai is to get another Burj Khalifa! Yes, a super tower of the size and height of the world’s tallest Burj Khalifa will be constructed in the middle of Dubai Creek Harbor. Renowned architect Santiago Calatrava Valls is roped in to design the super tower with a 4.5 km creek boardwalk where entertainment, leisure, dining and retail services will be available. Reportedly, the new tower will be open to visitors for Dubai sightseeing from high on.

Largest XDubai Skate Park

The recently inaugurated XDubai Skate Park on the Kite Beach is one of the new tourist places to visit in Dubai. Built by skaters for skaters over an area of 3100 square meters, it is the largest skate park in the entire Gulf region. Open to public every day, XDubai Skate Park houses obstacles, street elements and transition flow areas including pole jams, up-down rails, soft-ended walls and hubbas. The major attraction of this Dubai Park is XBowl, a dedicated area for professional skaters. Skating is what to do in Dubai during a “Visit Dubai” tour.   

Transport Museum with Galleries

The recently launched Transport Museum has made its way to all tourist guides on “Visit Dubai”. Located at the headquarters of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority RTA), the museum offers a walk through the past, present and future of transportation in Dubai City. The Transport Museum is divided into a few galleries; each gallery showcasing the development of transportation from camelback rides to modern metro service besides exhibiting antique artifacts and miniatures. Visitors will be given a demonstration on Dubai’s upcoming transportation projects from 2017 till 2050. Why not add it to your list of places to visit in Dubai?

The Museum of Future

Dubai has recently inaugurated the Museum of Future where you will be transported to a certain time in the future of robotics and artificial intelligence through interactive experiences. Located at Madinat Jumeirah, the museum is a key highlight of the World Government Summit 2016. 

Zoo with a Safari Park

A zoo with a safari park, a botanical garden and a butterfly garden is one of the upcoming tourist attractions among the places to visit in Dubai. To be built over an area of 119 hectares and at the cost of Dh150 million, the zoo will house 1000 animals including 350 species of rare and endangered animals besides 2500 trees. The complex of the zoo will have themed zones, a golf course, and a food court with restaurants. Among the new things to see in Dubai, the zoo with safari park will be powered by solar energy upon completion later this year.

‘Visit Dubai’ is cheaper for tourists and travelers due to discount fare deals for Dubai flights online. Visit iEagle.com for the best deals.  

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This year Qatar International Food Festival is a week-long culinary extravaganza with a schedule full of cooking, eating, drinking and fun events. The theme is “A Different Side of Food”, which has already aroused lots of curiosity about the seventh edition of the festival. Organized by Qatar Tourism Authority and Qatar Airways, it will run from March 22 to 28 in Doha.

The participating chefs will hold a mirror to the culinary diversity of Qatar International Food Festival 2016 in Doha. The seventh edition of Qatar Food Festival will see a few new events apart from signature events like Qatar Airways’ Dinner in the Sky and Cooking Theatre. A celebration of Chinese cuisine is on the agenda too.

In keeping with the Qatar-China 2016 Year of Culture Celebrations, the schedule of Qatar International Food Festival 2016 includes some gastronomic events for Chinese food lovers.Some of the stalls will serve authentic dishes from the cuisines of China at the festival venue.

Cookery experts like Vineet Bhatia and Massimo Capra from Qatar Airways’ team of chefs will exhibit their culinary expertise during the ‘Cooking Theatre’ show. With live performances including music and dance on the schedule of the 7^th Qatar International Food Festival, there is no room to feel bored.

The 7^th edition of Qatar International Food Festival 2016 is a special one. The events to be held at the open-air waterfront setting of the Museum of Islamic Art Park will be broadcasted live at other landmarks and popular food joints across the country, including the Pearl and the Katara Cultural Village.

Rashed Al Qurese, Chief Marketing Officer of Qatar Tourism Authority said that Qatar International Food Festival plays an important role in the global growth of Qatar travel and tourism. He added that QIFF is the right platform for foodies and tourists to experience Qatar’s hospitality and taste the traditional food.

Serving the purpose of the festival, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Emirates issue cheap flight tickets to Doha from USA through iEagle. Do not miss the opportunity to travel cheaper this time!

The post Things to Know about Qatar International Food Festival 2016 in Doha appeared first on iEagle.com Travel Magazine.

No Alcohol without Liquor License

You need a liquor license to buy alcohol in Oman. The most interesting fact is that liquor license is issued to one based on one’s earnings. The value of the permit for alcohol purchase should be equal to 10% of your basic salary.

Oman Serves Coffee with Dry Dates

Oman produces the finest dates in the world. Evidently, the people of Oman are fond of dates. Serving coffee with dry dates is a cultural tradition, which is unique to the Omani hospitality. Interestingly, the Omani drink coffee in a hundred little sips. It is because they wish to continue chatting with friends and guests over coffee.

Oman has Over 8 Million Date Palms  

More than 8 million date palms dot the landscape of Oman. Dates are among the essential ingredients for traditional Omani dishes. Palms are used in weaving different useful things such as mat and baskets.

Oman has Women-only Bazaars  

Oman is the only Middle East country where women-only bazaars, called ‘souq’, are found. The Omani City of Ibra has a women-only bazaar, where the Omani women trade in everything from spices to handicraft to jewellery. It is a complete shopping hub for female travelers, where men are forbidden to hang around.

Omani Houses have Ornamented Doors

Oman is a land of ornamented doors. The flamboyantly painted and decorated doors of houses are among the most interesting things for photography in Oman. The main door of even a simple house boasts stunning beauty.

Omanis Breed Arab Horses for Livelihood    

Oman is the only country to breed Arab horses in the Middle East. Many Omani folks depend on breeding and trading of Arab horses for their livelihood.  It is believed that a horse reflects its master’s courage and physical strength.

Only Pepsi, no Coca Cola in Oman  

Do you know which non-alcoholic beverage brand is popular in Oman? It is Pepsi, which has left no space for Coca Cola. The locals are so fond of Pepsi’s Mountain Dew that it is called “Omani Alcohol”.

Oman is a Member of United Nations 

Oman joined the League of Arab States and the United Nations in 1971. Oman Tourism is an emerging niche and has a long way to go because the government removed roadblock for international tourists in the 1980s.

Know Why Oman is So White

Do you know why Oman is so white? It is because no official permission is required to paint homes white. People need to seek special permission to use other colors. Besides, the administration checks everything from foundation to painting several times when a house is under construction. In Oman, the most prominent colors are Green and Red which stand for Islam and Monarchy respectively.

Pay Fines for Dirty Vehicles in Oman 

Omani vehicles have left-hand drive, and vehicular honking is strictly prohibited. If the transport or traffic control authority finds any vehicle dirty, the vehicle owner has to pay a fine. Abundance of oil and no taxes have made transport cheaper in Oman. That’s why every other Omani owns a vehicle and public conveyance is sparse.

Green Turtles Lay Eggs on Omani Beaches

Among the most interesting things to see in Oman is a herd of green turtles in hundreds coming out of the ocean to breathe in the open air and lay eggs on Sharkiya Beach. Green turtles are hardly seen in any other part of the world.

Oman was a Portuguese Colony    

Oman was a Portuguese colony until it gained independence in 1651. It used to be the richest country in the Middle East. Incense trade was the biggest source of revenue for the country in the past.

Tipping is not a Usual Practice in Oman 

Tipping is not encouraged in Oman. It is one of the things to know about Oman before you visit Muscat. You may have to pay a small service charge at some luxurious restaurants in Muscat and other Omani cities, but tipping is hardly expected. Even taxi drivers do not take tips unless they help customers with their bags.

Oman Got Many Luxury Hotels in Short Time

Oman was infamous for poor hospitality till 1970 as there were no hotels. Since the government of Oman started welcoming tourists in the 1980s, hundreds of luxury hotels have come up in Oman over a short period of time.

Oman has Little Space for Terrorism and Crime   

Terrorism and crime in Oman are extremely rare according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) reports. As per the State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security in the US, there is little space for violent crimes in Oman. Trivial theft is the only crime that frequently happens in Oman.

Oman Provides Unemployment Benefits 

Omanis are officially entitled to unemployment benefits from the government. The Omani government helps the unemployed financially and to get jobs in six months.

Oman has Over 500 Forts and Castles 

The architectural heritage of Oman consists of more than 500 forts, castles and watch towers. Oman’s urban infrastructure from residential buildings to seafront whitewashed resorts is immensely influenced by the Indian architectural style seen in the high society.

Oman is an Old & Good Friend of the United States 

Oman is among the best friends of the United States. Of the Gulf nations, Oman was the first to have recognized the US as an independent country. Among the American presidents, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton had visited Muscat. Oman has been on good terms with the United States for more than 200 years.

No Income Tax in Oman  

Omani residents pay no income tax on their salaries or earnings from self-employment. There is little taxation in this Gulf country. The government of Oman deducts a small amount from salaries only for social security services and for the unemployed.

Muscat Clock Tower is Oman’s Oldest Monument

The Muscat Clock Tower is the oldest tourist attraction among the things to see in Oman. The centuries-old Clock Tower in Muscat has witnessed the evolution of Oman into a modern country.

Travel Cheaper to Oman  

You can save big on your flights to Muscat International Airport by booking cheap airline tickets to Oman from USA online. iEagle.com is the only reputed and reliable travel agency to make you travel on the best flights to Oman for the lowest fares.

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