Liwa (; ) is a wilayah (province) in the Al Batinah North Governorate of Oman. Located on the Gulf of Oman, It lies north of Sohar, and borders the wilayats of Shinas to the northwest and Mahdah to the west. Liwa is approximately 277 kilometers from the capital Muscat and the second province away from the border to the United Arab Emirates. As of 2023, the wilayah had a population of 47,929.

Geography Liwa is located in the Al Batinah North Governorate of Oman. The second wilayah away from the border with the United Arab Emirates, it is bordered to the north by the Wilayat of Shinas, to the south by the Wilayat of Sohar, and to the west by the Wilayat of Mahdah. It extends over an area of 925 km2 (357.16 square miles), distributed over 51 villages, the most important of which is the administrative center of Liwa Al-Jadīdah () where most of the Wilayah's residents live.

Liwa is distinguished by its diverse natural terrain, ranging from sea to plains and from mountains to valleys. Characterised by its abundance of fresh water, the Wilayah has hot, humid weather in the summer and moderately cold weather in the winter. Rainfall is generally scarce and irregular, although sometimes it falls in heavy quantities. However, these short-lived rains are sufficient to create a wide-ranging system of water-bearing layers in the areas below the mountains, which are connected to the coastal areas and mountain slopes.

Etymology Liwa in Arabic derives from the word for "swirl," and the province was allegedly named Liwa because the fronds of palm trees swirled around its central fort. In another interpretation, it was said it was attributed to the gathering of military banners due to the many wars fought there, as it was a place where many armies met.

History Liwa contains many historical landmarks, especially forts, with the most famous one being Liwa Fort. The fort is located on a hill in the middle of the province, and contains five towers and a small castle in the middle known as Al-Qasaba. Historically, this fort was regarded as the center of Liwa, and the headquarters of the mayor and local administration. Liwa also includes a number of tourist attractions represented in a number of water springs, streams, and caves, such as Al Azm water spring. There is also Abu Kahf Mountain, where the most famous caves in Liwa lie. Traditional boats made of palm frond are considered the wilayahs emblem, as they connect modern history with ancient history, which symbolizes the residents undertaking fishing as their profession and source of living.

Prehistoric settlement Despite the arid climate, human settlement has existed in Liwa since prehistoric times, evidenced by the quantitative analysis of mineral waste at the sites of Al-Arja and Al-Bayda villages in Wadi Rahab in the wilayah.

Medieval period

Nabhani dynasty Liwa appears in the poetry of Al-Kidhawi in praise of Arar bin Falah bin Muhsin, a king of the Nabhani dynasty who reigned between 1610-1615 AD, His mention of Liwa comes through an account of a large battle that took place there, in which Arar triumphed over an attempted invasion by the Portuguese. ويوم لوى لما قضى الله أنه بملقى أعاديه سيجري له النصر أتته بنو الأعجام تزحف بالضحى جيوشا يضيق السهل عنهن والوعر وقد برزت من خدرها كل غادة وعادتها ألا يفارقها الخدر وصحن العذارى يا أبا الطيب هل ترى فكر كما انقض الشهاب من السما ولم يثنه عن ذاك خوف ولا ذعر And on the day of Liwa, when god decreed that when he would meet his enemies, victory would be his The foreigners came to him, marching at dawn in armies so vast that the plains and mountains could not contain them And every maiden emerged from her seclusion though it was her custom to never leave it The young women cried out “O Abu al-Tayyib, do you see any escape for us, now that our plight has become desperate?” Then he charged forth like a meteor plunging from the sky Neither fear nor panic deterred him from that

Yaarubid dynasty Following the expulsion of the Portuguese from much of northern Al Batinah by Nasir bin Murshid, Liwa remained one of the last Portuguese-aligned strongholds. After Muhammad bin Ja'far al-Jabri, the ruler of Liwa Fort, was killed, his son Saif bin Muhammad succeeded him with Portuguese support. Divisions among Liwa's allies weakened the resistance, and after a six-month siege Saif surrendered the fort to Nasir's forces.

Modern era During the nineteenth century, Liwa remained administratively connected with Sohar. The Gazetteer of the Persian Gulf (1908) described Liwa as the headquarters of a sub-district administered on behalf of the Sultan and noted its numerous villages, date plantations, and coastal settlements.

Following the accession of Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1970, Liwa experienced significant development. Modern schools, health centres, paved roads, electricity, telecommunications, and municipal services transformed the wilayah while preserving many traditional settlements and agricultural lands.

Arts Liwa is also famous of various popular arts, such as: Al Razfa, also known as the Yowlah, Al Hamasiya, Al Wana, Al Tariq, Al Mawlid, and Al Maqyad. In the village of Harmul, located in Liwa, graffiti art created by local artist Abdulmajeed Mohammed Salim al Mamari is frequently painted on walls across the village.

Notable people

Hazza Al Balushi (born 1995), Quran reciter Talib Al Mamari (born 1972), politician & human rights activist

References