Musandam and its trade with Iran. regional linkages across the strait of Hormuz

Abstract

Regional linkages play an important role for the small Omani exclave Musandam. They helped to establish a transnational trade network, which is today connecting various countries across the vital Strait of Hormuz. This phenomenon is of great interest for the Omani government and intensely affects the social and economical situation in Musandam, especially in the local capital Khasab. Because of the lack of available data, the author conducted his own field research to analyse this unknown phenomenon. While Musandam from some perspectives seems to be a typical exclave, it is a highly uncommon exception for various historical, geographical and political reasons. These are all changing the everyday lives of the inhabitants of Musandam, which are undergoing a fundamental transformation.