Fujairah Coast

The coast of the Gulf of Oman lies beneath the rugged mountains of eastern Arabia, with ports and small inlets opening toward the sea. Ships travelling between the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Hormuz followed this shore. In 1507 Portuguese forces attacked and occupied key Omani ports, seeking control of maritime trade. Omani rulers later challenged their position, and Muscat fell to an Omani army in 1650.