DIBBA AL-BAYA, Oman, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Perched in the tranquil coastal town of Dibba Al-Baya, the centuries-old Dibba Castle stands as a testament to Oman's turbulent colonial past and its strategic significance along the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil transport.
Located in Oman's Musandam Governorate, a rugged enclave separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates, the fortress is among the region's most visited heritage sites, drawing historians and tourists alike to its weathered mud-and-stone walls.
Built by Portuguese forces during their colonial dominance over Arabian Gulf trade routes, Dibba Castle formed part of a network of fortifications designed to secure Portugal's lucrative maritime interests.
The Portuguese, who occupied parts of Oman from 1507 until their expulsion in the 1650s, constructed forts along key coastal points to project power over the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly a third of the world's seaborne oil passes today.
Historical records indicate the castle gained prominence in the 1630s during a campaign by Imam Nasir bin Murshid al-Yarubi, founder of the Yaruba dynasty, to unify Omani territories under his rule.
His bid to seize the fortress from Portuguese control was part of a broader effort to consolidate power over coastal strongholds, including Sohar, as he laid the groundwork for Omani forces to eventually drive out European colonizers. The Yaruba dynasty would later spearhead Oman's naval ascendancy in the Indian Ocean.
Spanning 64 meters by 62 meters, the castle's main entrance is guarded by a circular tower adorned with a wooden door inscribed with historical motifs, while a ballista, an ancient missile weapon, remains mounted atop the structure, once used to hurl incendiary projectiles at invading forces.
