Dhofar Governorate
| Dhofar Governorate | |
|---|---|
| Governorate | |
| Muḥāfaẓat Ẓufār محافظة ظفار | |
 Map of Oman with the Dhofar Governorate highlighted |
|
| Capital | Salalah |
| Wilayat (districts) | 10 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Mohammad bin Sultan Al-Busaidi |
| • Deputy | Abdullah bin Aqeel Al-Ibrahim |
| Area | |
| • Total | 99,300 km2 (38,300 sq mi) |
| Population (2016) | |
| • Total | 458,734 |
| • Density | 4.6/km2 (12/sq mi) |
| ISO 3166-2 | 211 |
| Website | http://www.dm.gov.om |
The Dhofar Governorate (Arabic محافظة ظفار Muḥāfaẓat Ẓufār) is the largest of the eleven Governorates in the Sultanate of Oman in terms of area. It lies in Southern Oman, on the eastern border with Yemen. It is a rather mountainous area that covers 99,300 km2 (38,300 sq mi) and has a population of 249,729 as of the 2010 census. The largest city, as well as capital of the Governorate, is Salalah. Historically the region was the chief source of frankincense in the world.
While Arabic speakers from the dominant Omani culture have come to live in the province, especially the larger cities and towns, Dhofar has been the traditional homeland of many tribespeople speaking a variety of South Arabian Semitic languages. One of the languages most commonly spoken by the Al-Hakli (Qara), Al-Shahri, Al-Barami, Al-Mashaiki and Al-Bat'hari mountain tribes is Jeballi (Shehri). The Yemeni language Mehri is somewhat linked to Jeballi. Other indigenous groups speaking smaller languages such as Bat'hari live in the coastal towns of Shuwaymiya and Sharbithat. The Harasis, speaking Harsusi, number 1,000–2,000 and live in Jiddat al-Harasis.
Dhofar's area geographically consists of coastal, mountainous, flat, and desert areas. Generally the people of Dhofar can be identified as either Jeballi (living in the mountains, or from the mountains), Badawi (living in the desert, or from the desert), or Hadhari (living in the cities or settlements).
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