Ibra

Ibra was a centre of the Sharqiya and of the trade with Zanzibar, and the wealth of that period built the old quarters of Al Kanatir and Al Munisifeh, mud-brick houses with carved doors, decorated windows and painted ceilings, now largely abandoned and in varying states of collapse though a few have been restored. The town's other distinction is the Wednesday souq: one section of the market operates on that morning for women only, with women selling textiles, jewellery, cosmetics, spices and household goods to women buyers, an arrangement that is unusual in the region and closed to men. The general market and the livestock souq run alongside it.

History

Ibra predates the Prophet Muhammad's calling and is one of the oldest cities in Oman, once a centre of trade, religion, education and art at the meeting point at the foot of the Sharqiya. Historians do not agree on the origin of its name; some derive it from an Arabic verb meaning the purification of guilt (Wikipedia, Ibra).

What you'll find

• The old quarters - Al Kanatir and Al Munisifeh with their carved houses.
• The Wednesday women's souq - the market section open to women only.
• The general market - the produce and livestock trading beside it.
• Painted interiors - the decorated ceilings in the surviving houses.

When to go

October to March; summer is severely hot. Wednesday morning for the women's souq, which is over by the middle of the day. The old quarters are best in early or late light.

What to expect

The women's market is closed to men, without exception. Many of the old houses are collapsed and entry is unsafe. There is no formal interpretation. Photography of people in the market is often unwelcome.

Nearby

Al Mudayrib lies southeast; the Wahiba sands are south.