# Al-Qabil

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This article is about the province in eastern Oman. For the village in western Oman, see [Al Qabil, Al Buraimi](/source/Al_Qabil,_Al_Buraimi). For other uses, see [Qabil](/source/Qabil_(disambiguation)).

**Al-Qabil** (Arabic: القابل) is a [province](/source/Provinces_of_Oman) in the [governorate](/source/Governorates_of_Oman) of [ash-Sharqiya North](/source/Ash_Sharqiyah_North_Governorate) in [Oman](/source/Oman). It covers an area of 1,632 kilometres (1,014 mi) and recorded a population of 24,824 in the 2020 Omani census.[1] Its capital is the town of al-Qabil.

## Geography

Al-Qabil is located at the northwest corner of the [Sharqiya Sands](/source/Sharqiya_Sands) desert in eastern Oman. It borders all the other provinces in ash-Sharqiya North: [Ibra](/source/Ibra) to the northwest, [Dema Wa Thaieen](/source/Dema_Wa_Thaieen) to the north, [Wadi Bani Khalid](/source/Wadi_Bani_Khalid) to the northeast, [Bidiya](/source/Bidiya) to the southeast, and [al-Mudhaibi](/source/Al-Mudhaibi) to the southwest.

The [wadis](/source/Wadi) of al-Qabil and Izz run in parallel northwest to southeast through the centre of the province before converging at [al-Wasil](/source/Al-Wasil) to form the Wadi Batha, which continues past Bidiya to the [Arabian Sea](/source/Arabian_Sea).[2] Beneath them lies the Sharqiya Sands aquifer, which has an estimated volume of 12 cubic kilometres (2.9 cu mi) and annual [recharge](/source/Groundwater_recharge) of 65 e6m3.[3] The wadis divide the Sharqiya Sands in the south from the foothils of the eastern [Hajar Mountains](/source/Hajar_Mountains) to the north. The Sharqiya Sands in the province form large dunes oriented in a north–south direction, their crests reaching 100 metres (330 ft) high and spaced about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) apart.[4]

## History

The oasis of [Shenah](/source/Shenah) or Shanah, located 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) northeast of the village of [Battin](/source/Battin) and 30 kilometres (19 mi) northeast of Ibra in the eastern [Hajar Mountains](/source/Hajar_Mountains),[5] boasts the largest concentration of [beehive tombs](/source/Beehive_tomb) in Oman, which date to the third millennium ВСE.[6]

The town of al-Qabil was founded in the 18th century by Sheikh Salih al-Harthi.[2] The Harthi (also spelled Harthy, Harth, Hirth, etc.) are an important Omani tribe noted for its trading activities in [Zanzibar](/source/Sultanate_of_Zanzibar).[7] Originally from Ibra, the Harthi had established a presence at [al-Mudhayrib](/source/Al-Mudhayrib) in the early 18th century, building the first [falaj](/source/Aflaj_Irrigation_Systems_of_Oman) there, before founding al-Qabil. They also founded the oasis of [al-Ghallaji](/source/Al-Ghallaji), 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of al-Mudhayrib, around 1906.[2] [James Raymond Wellsted](/source/James_Raymond_Wellsted) visited al-Qabil (which he transcribed as Cawbil) in 1835.[7]

Notable examples of historical architecture in the province include:

- The town of al-Mudhayrib, with its dawudi-type falaj and grand architecture built by merchants who prospered in the mid-to-late 18th century, including houses, *sablah* (public meeting spaces, also known as [majlis](/source/Majlis)), mosques, and fortifications with seven watchtowers still standing today.[2]
- The towered fort at al-Qabil.[7][8]
- Al-Saqri Mosque in the town of Izz, which is estimated to be more than 500 years old, and is supplied with water from a falaj.[9] It was restored from 2015 to 2016.[10]

## Demographics

Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1993 11,957 — 2003 13,569 +13.5% 2010 16,033 +18.2% 2020 24,824 +54.8%

National Centre for Statistics and Information, Oman (1993)[11] via City Population (2003–2020)[1]

The population of al-Qabil grew from 11,957 in the first Omani census in 1993,[11] to 24,824 in the 2020 census.[1] According to the 2020 census, al-Qabil's population had a [sex ratio](/source/Sex_ratio) of 144 males per 100 females, and 76% of the population were Omani citizens while 24% were foreign citizens.[1]

As of the 2020 census, the most populous settlements in the province are [al-Mudhayrib](/source/Al-Mudhayrib) (population 4,454), al-Qabil (2,959), [ad-Diriz](/source/Ad-Diriz) (2,144), [an-Naba](/source/An-Naba,_Oman) (1,875), Izz (1,796), and [al-Ghallaji](/source/Al-Ghallaji) (1,171).[1]

## Economy

The main economic activity in al-Qabil is agriculture, with dates being the most important crop. The [making of silver objects](/source/Silversmith) such as daggers and jewelry is the most important traditional industry in the area. [Al-Minjirid](/source/Al-Minjirid) is known for its confectionery, pottery, and plaster industries.[12] Tourism is growing in the area,[13] with the Sharqiya or Wahiba Sands already being an established attraction.[14]

## Infrastructure

The ash-Sharqiya expressway runs through the towns of al-Mudhayrib, al-Qabil and ad-Diriz, connecting the province with [Bidbid](/source/Bidbid) to the northwest and [al Kamil Wal Wafi](/source/Al_Kamil_Wal_Wafi) to the southeast. It was opened in January 2020.[15]

There are two dams in the province of al-Qabil: Wadi Nam Dam with a capacity of 0.82 e6m3, and al-Aqeedah Dam with a capacity of 0.04 e6m3.[16]

About fifty [aflaj](/source/Aflaj_Irrigation_Systems_of_Oman) irrigation systems are located in the province, the most important ones being located at al-Mudhayrib, al-Qabil, ad-Diriz and an-Naba.[8][17]

## References

1. Brinkhoff, Thomas (22 December 2020). ["Al-Qābil"](https://citypopulation.de/en/oman/admin/sham%C4%81l_ash_sharq%C4%AByah/0904__al_q%C4%81bil/). *City Population*. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. Bandyopadhyay, Soumyen; Quattrone, Giamila; Goffriller, Martin (2014). [*Al-Qābil, Al-Muḍayrib: Documentation and Heritage Management and Development Plan*](https://issuu.com/archiam/docs/mudayrib_hmp). Ministry of Heritage and Culture, Oman. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["Water Resources in Oman"](https://water.fanack.com/oman/water-resources-oman/). *Oman Water Report*. Fanack. 7 May 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. Dutton, Roderic W. & Winser, Nigel de N. (1987). "The Oman Wahiba Sands Project". *[The Geographical Journal](/source/The_Geographical_Journal)*. **153** (1): 48–58. [JSTOR 634471](https://www.jstor.org/stable/634471)

1. ["Shannah Village"](https://www.omaninfo.om/mainsections/59/show/43). Ministry of Information, Oman. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. Al-Belushi, Mohammed Ali & ElMahi, Ali Tigani (2009). "Archaeological investigations in Shenah, Sultanate of Oman". *Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies*. **39**: 31–42. [JSTOR 41223967](https://www.jstor.org/stable/41223967)

1. Ward, Philip (1987). [*Travels in Oman : on the track of the early explorers*](https://archive.org/details/travelsinomanont0000ward). Oleander Press. pp. 182, 191–195. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["The Wilayat of Al Qabil"](https://www.omaninfo.om/mainsections/59). Ministry of Information, Oman. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["Al Saqri Archeological Mosque"](https://www.omaninfo.om/mainsections/59/show/44). Ministry of Information, Oman. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["ترميم مسجد الشيخ سعيد بن علي الصقري -بولاية القابل- شمال الشرقية"](https://www.atheer.om/archive/27107/) (in Arabic). Atheer. 26 March 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. [*Statistical Year Book 1994*](https://www.ncsi.gov.om/Elibrary/LibraryContentDoc/bar_Statistical%20Yearbook%201994_d64db74d-fb65-487d-b8ac-f7ca450d123f.pdf). Ministry of Development, Oman. August 1995. p. 54. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["Traditional Crafts and Industries in Al Qabil"](https://www.omaninfo.om/mainsections/59/show/42). Ministry of Information, Oman. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["Tourists flock to 25 archaeological sites of North Al Sharqiyah"](https://timesofoman.com/article/148177-tourists-flock-to-25-archaeological-sites-of-north-al-sharqiyah). *[Times of Oman](/source/Times_of_Oman)*. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["National Day Holiday: Wahiba Sands becomes the rage for tourism"](https://www.muscatdaily.com/2023/11/20/national-day-holiday-wahiba-sands-becomes-the-rage-for-tourism/). *[Muscat Daily](/source/Muscat_Daily)*. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["191-km-long Sharqiyah Expressway opens for traffic"](https://www.omanobserver.om/article/17873/Main/191-km-long-sharqiyah-expressway-opens-for-traffic). *[Oman Daily Observer](/source/Oman_Daily_Observer)*. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["27 dams in Oman retain rainwater to prevent floods"](https://timesofoman.com/article/143243-27-dams-in-oman-retain-rainwater-to-prevent-floods). *[Times of Oman](/source/Times_of_Oman)*. 13 March 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

1. ["Aflaj and Springs in Wilayat of Al-Qabil"](https://www.omaninfo.om/mainsections/59/show/40). Ministry of Information, Oman. Retrieved 24 June 2025.

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