Seeb
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Seeb
| native_name = As-Sīb ({{lang|ar|ٱلسِّيْب}})
| settlement_type = Province
| image_skyline = Al Maabilah, Seeb, Oman - panoramio - Luca Margheriti (1).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| image_caption = A mosque in As-Seeb
| image_flag =
| motto =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Oman#Middle East#West Asia
| pushpin_label_position = above
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Oman
| coordinates = {{coord|23|40|49|N|58|10|57|E|region:OM|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Oman}}
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = Muscat
| established_title =
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| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes =
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| population_total = 470,878
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_density_km2 =
| timezone = +4
| utc_offset = +4
| timezone_DST =
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}}Al-Seeb, As Seeb, As Sib, or Seeb ({{langx|ar|ٱلسِّيْب|As-Sīb}}) is a coastal fishing province, located several kilometres northwest of Muscat, in northeastern Oman. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 470,878.{{cite web|title=Oman: Governorates, Major Cities & Villages|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/Oman.html|publisher=CityPopulation.de|access-date=26 April 2013}}
Landmarks include the Naseem Garden, the Royal Stables and Equestrian Centre, Royal Guard of Oman Technical College, Al Baraka Palace, Muscat International Airport and Markaz al Bahja.{{cite book|last1=Darke|first1=Diana|last2=Shields|first2=Sandra|title=Oman: The Bradt Travel Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tbr4_KpOzEgC&pg=PA113|access-date=27 February 2011|date=1 December 2006|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1-84162-168-5|page=113}}
History
{{See also|History of Oman}}
The "Fort of Sibo" was located here. It complemented the defence of Muscat Square, which was one of its first and most important roles.{{Cite web|title=Fortalezas.org|url=http://fortalezas.org/index.php?ct=fortaleza&id_fortaleza=765&muda_idioma=PT}} It was part of a series of fortified cities that the Portuguese put up to control access to the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, like Khor Fakan, Muscat, Sohar, Seeb, Qurayyat and Muttrah. It has been demolished, at its former location today stands the Muscat International Airport. As-Seeb is known for being the venue in which the Treaty of Seeb agreement took place between the Imamate of Oman and the Sultanate of Muscat on 25 September 1920. This treaty divided Oman into two distinct regions, the hinterland and the coast, which were separated historically by the Hajar Mountains.{{cite web|url=https://www.qdl.qa/en/close-relationship-britain-and-oman-1750|title=A Close Relationship: Britain and Oman Since 1750|author=Dr Francis Owtram|publisher=QDL}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14654492|title=BBC Middle East: Oman profile - Timeline (25 April 2018)|publisher=BBC News}}
File:Sibo SEEB Oman.jpg|Portuguese Fortress of Seeb (Sibo). Livro das plantas de todas as fortalezas, cidades e povoaçoens do Estado da India Oriental / António Bocarro [1635].
File:Persian Gulf PT1.png|Main cities, ports and routes of the Portuguese empire in the Persian Gulf in the 16th and 17th centuries
Regions
The province has many different district that are diverse in culture and nature, these include Al Khoudh, where Sultan Qaboos University is located, Al-Mabellah, Al-Hail, Al Mawaleh and Rusayl.{{cn|date=May 2023}}
Roads
There are two numbered roads linking Seeb with the rest of the provinces: Muscat Expressway (N1) and the N5.
Intelligence gathering
In June 2014 The Register disclosed that Seeb is the location of a "beyond top secret" GCHQ internet monitoring site.{{cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/06/03/revealed_beyond_top_secret_british_intelligence_middleeast_internet_spy_base|title=Revealed: GCHQ's beyond top secret middle eastern internet spy base|publisher=The Register|author=Duncan Campbell|date=3 June 2014}}
Sports
Al-Seeb Club and Al-Shabab are located in Seeb.{{cn|date=May 2023}}
Wadi Al-Khoudh
Wadi Al-Khoudh is a Valley in Seeb which is a major tourist attraction for locals and foreigners, and it is located near Old Al-Khoudh Village in the state. The valley is most popular for off-road adventurers. The valley has a beautiful mixture of mesmerizing sights varying from clear water pools, green outcrops, and rock formations and is recommended for a picnic.{{Cite web |title=Wadi Al Khoudh – OmanTripper |url=https://omantripper.com/wadi-al-khoudh/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |language=en-US}}
Sultan Haitham City
In May 2023, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq inaugurated the new Sultan Haitham City that will be built on an area of approximately fifteen million square meters of undeveloped land in Seeb. The intention for the new city is to house 100,000 residents from Muscat's growing population.{{cite web |title=HM presides over inauguration of “Sultan Haitham City” at Al Baraka Palace |url=https://timesofoman.com/article/131570-hm-presides-over-inauguration-of-sultan-haitham-city-at-al-baraka-palace |website=Times of Oman |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=31 May 2023}} There will be nearly three million square meters of green spaces including a central park. The city will be organized into nineteen walkable neighborhoods with thirty-nine schools, eleven health facilities, and a university.{{cite web |title=Muscat: His Majesty launches Sultan Haitham City |url=https://www.omanobserver.om/article/1138005/oman/his-majesty/his-majesty-launches-sultan-haitham-city |website=Oman Daily Observer |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=31 May 2023}} Construction began in February 2024 and phase one is expected to be completed by 2030.{{cite web |title=Construction begins at Sultan Haitham City |url=https://www.muscatdaily.com/2024/02/04/construction-begins-at-sultan-haitham-city/ |website=Muscat Daily |access-date=20 April 2024 |date=4 February 2024}}
Climate
Seeb has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with very hot summers and warm winters. Precipitation is low, and falls mainly in the months from December to April.{{Cite FTP |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/OM/41256.TXT |server=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |title=Seeb Climate Normals 1979-1990 |access-date=January 15, 2013}}
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Seeb
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 34.2
| Feb record high C = 37.0
| Mar record high C = 41.4
| Apr record high C = 44.0
| May record high C = 47.0
| Jun record high C = 48.3
| Jul record high C = 49.2
| Aug record high C = 46.8
| Sep record high C = 43.6
| Oct record high C = 42.0
| Nov record high C = 37.8
| Dec record high C = 33.0
| Jan high C = 25.5
| Feb high C = 26.1
| Mar high C = 29.8
| Apr high C = 34.7
| May high C = 39.5
| Jun high C = 40.4
| Jul high C = 38.6
| Aug high C = 36.2
| Sep high C = 36.3
| Oct high C = 35.0
| Nov high C = 30.5
| Dec high C = 27.1
| Jan mean C = 21.3
| Feb mean C = 21.9
| Mar mean C = 25.2
| Apr mean C = 29.8
| May mean C = 34.2
| Jun mean C = 35.2
| Jul mean C = 34.3
| Aug mean C = 32.0
| Sep mean C = 31.4
| Oct mean C = 29.7
| Nov mean C = 25.7
| Dec mean C = 22.6
| Jan low C = 17.3
| Feb low C = 17.6
| Mar low C = 20.7
| Apr low C = 24.7
| May low C = 29.1
| Jun low C = 30.6
| Jul low C = 30.4
| Aug low C = 28.4
| Sep low C = 27.5
| Oct low C = 24.9
| Nov low C = 20.9
| Dec low C = 18.5
| Jan record low C = 11.5
| Feb record low C = 12.5
| Mar record low C = 14.4
| Apr record low C = 17.5
| May record low C = 19.6
| Jun record low C = 24.5
| Jul record low C = 25.0
| Aug record low C = 23.3
| Sep record low C = 23.0
| Oct record low C = 17.5
| Nov record low C = 14.3
| Dec record low C = 14.4
| Jan precipitation mm = 12.8
| Feb precipitation mm = 24.5
| Mar precipitation mm = 15.9
| Apr precipitation mm = 17.1
| May precipitation mm = 7.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 0.9
| Jul precipitation mm = 0.2
| Aug precipitation mm = 0.8
| Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 1.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 6.8
| Dec precipitation mm = 13.3
| Jan humidity = 63
| Feb humidity = 64
| Mar humidity = 58
| Apr humidity = 45
| May humidity = 42
| Jun humidity = 49
| Jul humidity = 60
| Aug humidity = 67
| Sep humidity = 63
| Oct humidity = 55
| Nov humidity = 60
| Dec humidity = 65
| Jan sun = 268.6
| Feb sun = 244.8
| Mar sun = 278.3
| Apr sun = 292.5
| May sun = 347.4
| Jun sun = 325.7
| Jul sun = 277.7
| Aug sun = 278.6
| Sep sun = 303.9
| Oct sun = 316.9
| Nov sun = 291.9
| Dec sun = 267.0
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Muscat Governorate}}
{{Portuguese overseas empire}}
{{Authority control}}