Thumrait
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Thumrait
| official_name =
| native_name =
| other_name = Thumrayt
| settlement_type = Wilayat
| image_skyline =
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| image_map =
| map_caption = The wilayat of Thumrait in the Dhofar Governorate
| pushpin_map = Oman
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Oman
| coordinates = {{coord|17|40|01|N|54|01|58|E|region:OM|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Oman}}
| subdivision_type1 = Governorate
| subdivision_name1 = Dhofar
| subdivision_type2 = Wilayat
| subdivision_name2 = Thumrait
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| unit_pref = Metric
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| population_total = 10,552
| population_as_of = 2020-12-12
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| population_note = (Only for the town of Thumrait, not the entire wilayat.)
| timezone = GST
| utc_offset = +4
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Thumrait ({{langx|ar|ثمريت}}) is a small town and wilayat (province) of the Dhofar Governorate in southern Oman.{{cite web|url=https://data.gov.om/OMPOP2016/population?indicator=1000140®ion=1000020-muscat&nationality=1000010-omani|title=Total Population|publisher=National Centre for Statistics & Information, Sultanate of Oman|accessdate=10 February 2019}} As of the 2020 Omani census, Thumrait had a population of 10,552.{{cite web|url=https://ecensus.gov.om/ecen-portal/?lang=en|website=ecensus.gov.om|title=eCensus Portal|access-date=28 December 2024}} In ancient times Thumrait was an important point on the Arabian peninsula's caravan routes. Frankincense trees, an important crop, used to grow in greater abundance in Thumrait than now. The main occupation of the people of Thumrait is the cultivation of fruit, vegetables and animal fodder.
Military
Thumrait is notable for its Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) station. Originally an oil depot, RAFO Thumrait was created to establish air power in that region of Oman. The first Omani air unit based at Thumrait, equipped with Hawker Hunter FG.9 aircraft, was tasked with ground attack and intercept missions. 12 new SEPECAT Jaguar fighter-bombers were added to the base's complement to improve attack capabilities in 1977.
RAFO Thumrait has been used by US, UK and Allied air forces to support operations during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm around the time of the Gulf War, and later during the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021). Operations did shift though to Muscat International Airport, which was closer to Afghanistan.{{cite web | url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/thumrait.htm | title=Thumrait Air Base, Oman | accessdate=31 January 2014}}
Thumrait is also the home of the Western Frontier Regiment.
Exercises held at Thumrait Air Base
In 2009, Indian Air Force pilots of ‘Flaming Arrows’ and ‘Cobras’, the two SEPECAT Jaguar Squadrons participated in joint exercises called ‘Eastern Bridge’ alongside the RAFO's force of SEPECAT Jaguars and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons at Thumrait Air Base. A subsequent Indo-Omani exercise, ‘Eastern Bridge-II,’ took place in 2011 at Indian Air Force Station Jamnagar (Gujarat)."Indo-Oman Air Exercise Eastern Bridge-II Concludes," [http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/10/indo-oman-air-exercise-eastern-bridge.html], "Livefist" blog"Indo Oman Air Exercise – Eastern Bridge – II Concludes at Jamnagar," [http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=76806]. official Indian Air Force English language press release
Climate
Thumrait has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification BWh) with very hot summers and warm winters. There is very little rainfall; some rain may occur from February to April, as well as June to August due to the monsoon.
{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Thumrait (RAFO Thumrait), elevation {{convert|448|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1999–2022)
| metric first = Y
| single line = Y
| Jan record high C = 32.6
| Feb record high C = 35.0
| Mar record high C = 38.6
| Apr record high C = 41.0
| May record high C = 43.6
| Jun record high C = 45.4
| Jul record high C = 45.0
| Aug record high C = 46.0
| Sep record high C = 43.8
| Oct record high C = 40.0
| Nov record high C = 34.4
| Dec record high C = 32.0
| Jan high C = 26.0
| Feb high C = 28.9
| Mar high C = 32.5
| Apr high C = 36.4
| May high C = 38.7
| Jun high C = 40.3
| Jul high C = 37.3
| Aug high C = 37.1
| Sep high C = 38.1
| Oct high C = 35.0
| Nov high C = 30.6
| Dec high C = 26.9
| Jan mean C = 19.2
| Feb mean C = 21.4
| Mar mean C = 24.9
| Apr mean C = 28.5
| May mean C = 31.0
| Jun mean C = 32.0
| Jul mean C = 29.9
| Aug mean C = 29.1
| Sep mean C = 29.5
| Oct mean C = 27.3
| Nov mean C = 23.8
| Dec mean C = 20.3
| Jan low C = 12.5
| Feb low C = 14.7
| Mar low C = 18.3
| Apr low C = 21.7
| May low C = 24.5
| Jun low C = 26.1
| Jul low C = 25.0
| Aug low C = 24.2
| Sep low C = 23.3
| Oct low C = 20.5
| Nov low C = 17.0
| Dec low C = 13.7
| Jan record low C = 1.6
| Feb record low C = 5.8
| Mar record low C = 8.7
| Apr record low C = 14.1
| May record low C = 16.6
| Jun record low C = 21.2
| Jul record low C = 21.2
| Aug record low C = 19.5
| Sep record low C = 17.1
| Oct record low C = 12.0
| Nov record low C = 9.0
| Dec record low C = 5.0
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 0.7
| Feb precipitation mm = 8.3
| Mar precipitation mm = 17.1
| Apr precipitation mm = 11.4
| May precipitation mm = 0.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 11.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 0.1
| Aug precipitation mm = 5.2
| Sep precipitation mm = 0.0
| Oct precipitation mm = 0.0
| Nov precipitation mm = 0.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 0.6
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 0.1
| Feb precipitation days = 0.0
| Mar precipitation days = 0.5
| Apr precipitation days = 0.2
| May precipitation days = 0.2
| Jun precipitation days = 0.2
| Jul precipitation days = 0.1
| Aug precipitation days = 0.1
| Sep precipitation days = 0.1
| Oct precipitation days = 0.3
| Nov precipitation days = 0.1
| Dec precipitation days = 0.1
| year precipitation days =
| Jan humidity = 54
| Feb humidity = 53
| Mar humidity = 46
| Apr humidity = 41
| May humidity = 43
| Jun humidity = 44
| Jul humidity = 63
| Aug humidity = 58
| Sep humidity = 51
| Oct humidity = 41
| Nov humidity = 47
| Dec humidity = 54
| source 1 = NOAA (preciptiation and humidity 1980–1990){{Cite FTP |url = ftp://dossier.ogp.noaa.gov/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/OM/41314.TXT
|server = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|url-status = dead
|title = Thumrait Climate Normals 1980-1990
|accessdate = January 16, 2013}}
| date = February 2014
|source 2 = Starlings Roost Weather{{cite web |url=http://starlingsroost.ddns.net/weather/worldclimate/graphs.php?climate=9120&code=41314
|title= THUMRAIT Climate: 1991–2020
|publisher=Starlings Roost Weather
|access-date= 25 December 2024}}
}}
See also
{{Portal |Oman}}
References
{{wikivoyage|Thumrait}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Geographic location
|Centre = Thumrait
|North = {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}}Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
|Northeast = Muqshin
|East =
|Southeast = Shalim and the Hallaniyat Islands
|South = Salalah
|Southwest =
|West = Al-Mazyunah
|Northwest =
}}
{{Dhofar Governorate}}