The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition was planned with legacy and enduring impact in mind. In this, the final podcast we hear once again from project patrons HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Theyazin Al Said and learn how several legacy projects are now evolving in Oman, and around the world.

Stay connected with The Jewel of Arabia online and on social media to hear about the international lecture series and the expedition book, both of which will be launched towards the end of 2025.

And if The Jewel of Arabia has whetted your appetite for...

Dr. Mohab Al Hinai, Vice President of Sustainability and Circular Economy at Oman Environmental Services Holding Company - Be’ah is a self-confessed sustainability junkie, leading transformative initiatives that drive sustainability and circular economy principles across The Sultanate. His diary is so busy that I only managed to catch up with him at the end of our Jewel of Arabia, but it was worth the wait as a fascinating discussion ensued….!

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From the massive wetland reserve of Bar al Hikmann to the man made reed beds filtering polluted water. From Oman’s first wind farm to the opening of raptor restaurants. From camera trapping hyenas to the rapturous welcome and start of the expedition legacy at Knowledge Gate International School Muscat.

In this second of a two-part podcast, Expedition Leader Mark Evans looks back on some of his personal highlights from the 30 day expedition starting at the birdwatcher's paradise of Bar al Hikmann and taking us down the rest of Thomas’s route to Salalah before turning back for...

From the shores of The Indian Ocean to the starlit skies of 1000 night camp. From the sounds of the desert to the call to prayer. From protected turtles to the very first all-terrain wheelchair in The Middle East. 

In this first of a two-part podcast, Expedition Leader Mark Evans looks back on some of his personal highlights from the 30 day expedition starting on the beach near Ras Al Haad and taking us down to Masirah Island just off the mainland coast of Oman.

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In the days after the end of the expedition the team have dispersed and travelled home. Nigel to the Lake District in England, Ana-Maria to Switzerland, Dikra and Ibrahim to their families in Oman. But before they left, Mark, took a moment to get them all to look back on the expedition, their personal highlights, and the things that have really struck them about the drive for a more sustainable and biodiverse in this beautiful country.

There are wonderful stories of wildlife, of communication, of warm welcoming hospitality, or natural beauty and much much more.

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Now the physical expedition has drawn to an end the legacy and engagement aspects of the Jewel of Arabia ramp up.

Over the last 3 days Mark and the team have spoken to over 1,500 young Omani’s about the expedition, how they have been following it, but most importantly, how they will look to the future from what they have learnt.

To find out what young people have been learning Mark visited the Knowledge Gate International school in Muscat where he was welcomed by 600 super enthusiastic pupils and the bagpipes.

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Mark and the team have arrived at their destination, the 2nd city of Oman, Salalah. The last couple of days have been a whirlwind of visits from students from British School Salalah, joining The British Council hackathon and something very special captured on the daily trail cameras set near their overnight campsites.

In amongst all of this, the team were formally received in Salalah by His Highness Sayyid Marwan Al Said, Governor of Dhofar.  In front of a local audience, including His Excellency Salim Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism and His Excellency Azzan Al Busaidi, U...

On the last walking day of the expedition, the team followed Thomas’s diary notes to trace his route down into Wadi Darbat, Which during the monsoon season becomes raging torrent of a river. Of course, this amount of water brings with it life. So after the team had scrambled and crawled their way down to the wadi bed through thick thorny undergrowth, they were treated with the sight of azure blue river pools that teemed with fish life and so also attracting a huge variety of birdlife too. A very special place to visit as they approach Salalah.

Now in the southern region of Oman, Mark and the Jewel of Arabia team have arrived in the region Bertram Thomas referred to as Arabia Felix. Mark describes this as one of his favourite places in the world.

The landscape has changed from rough, rocky and arid desert to rich, lush green, almost tropical looking . The wildlife has changed too, they caught the first bat on their camp trail camera last night. In was a treeless landscape apart from a few acacia and frankincense trees today the team visited the largest living land species in Oman, giant...

Oman lies on a major migratory flyway between Arabia and Asia. It is also blessed with a huge diversity of indigenous birdlife. But for many species over many years, the easiest and most abundant source of food was found at landfill sites.

For many reasons this wasn’t ideal. But furthermore as Oman has reduced the amount and type of waste sent to landfill there was a consequential knock on effect to many, some critically endangered, species.

The solution has been to develop a series of so called “raptor resturants”. Where food and food industry waste...

Spread across 3,500 acres in Oman’s Dhofar region, Wadi Dawqah is home to the world’s largest protected Boswellia sacra forest, a place where thousands of frankincense trees have flourished over the centuries. This is where the most sustainable, ethical and transparent source of frankincense begins its thousand-year-old journey into the world.

After visiting the site, Mark talks to Matt Wright about the vision for the future of sustainable frankincense and creating the world’s first smart forest.

The Land of Frankincense World Heritage Site

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From the edge of the Rub’ al Khali Mark tells the story of the ancient lost city of Ubar, the legendary lost city in the largest sand desert on earth. In his previous expedition, The Heart of Arabia, Mark retraced Philby’s effort to find Ubar, which ultimately failed, but considering the significance of the place, the Jewel of Arabia team wanted to visit some of the possible locations.

Possible locations, because Philby wasn’t the only British explorer to have searched for Ubar, T. E Lawrence, Thomas, Thesinger and Ranulph Fiennes have all made efforts to find th...

Today the team passed the Harwheel wind farm, which is Oman’s first wind farm and made up of 13 turbines.

With a target of achieving net zero by 2050, the transition to a renewable and sustainable future is underway; Oman has set itself the challenge of becoming a global green energy hub, and a regional and world leader in the production of green hydrogen, a journey overseen by inspirational individuals such as Dr Firas Al Abduwani.

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The British explorer, Wilfred Thesiger wrote that it’s impossible to be alone in the Arab world. This is a sentiment echoed by Mark and the team as they have travelled through Oman.

After the toughest day of the expedition so far yesterday, day 20 of the expedition was the complete opposite.

The day started with a walk along a beautiful, deserted beach of white sands and azure, blue water before they arrived at an abandoned fishing village. Before long some other travellers arrived and soon conversation over coffee was in full flow.

Mark de...

At the end of a long and tiring day, Mark talks to us from one of his favourite campsites in all of Oman. He is sitting in a cave, ospreys are circling overhead and the team are about to bed down, exhausted.

24 hours ago they were looking at looking at night sky when they noticed the stars disappear and felt the first drop of rain. The rain came and was followed by strong winds which led them to trying to quickly store and protect everything in camp. In the morning the weather had passed over.

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After a tough day yesterday walking face into a sandstorm, Mark and the team have headed inland to learn about the Bauer Nimr Reedbeds.

Visible from space, the Bauer Nimr reedbeds are the largest manmade reedbed on earth. Their role is both fascinating and vital. The plantation is a multi-award winning flagship project for the biological cleaning of polluted water from oil production at the Nimr oil field in the south of Oman.

At peak times, up to 175,000 m³ of polluted water currently runs through the plant in one day, Nearly 95% of the crude oil i...

From their camp on the shore of The Indian Ocean last night, today the Jewel of Arabia team headed inland to Jiddat al-Harasis. A 3000km2 reserve working to protect, breed and reintroduce the Arabian Oryx to Oman.

In Bertram Thomas’s time the Arabian Oryx was fairly widespread. But the Oryx become a prized trophy for hunters. Numbers fell almost to extinction in the wild. A captive breeding programme was started and in April 1984, 11 captive breed Arabian Oryx were reintroduced to the desert of Jiddat al-Harasis.

Through expedition team member Dikra, Mark talks to the Sa...

Mark and the team have had a recharge and wash day at their beach camp on the shoreline about 40 kms north of Duqm where they visit tomorrow.

But this evening they are joined around the beach campfire by Mission Spiritus expedition leader, Alan Chambers. Bertram Thomas wrote that stories start where the road ends and around the fire Mark and Alan share stories about their two expedtions.

After a career in the Royal Marines and a colleague suffering a significant neck and spinal injury, Alan has devoted his life to fundraising for spinal injury research...

Today Mark is joined by Scott McDonald, CEO, The British Council and Thomas Lloyd, Country Director Oman, British Council who have both joined the expedition for 48 hours.

Resting under an acacia tree in a wadi that Thomas described as lush, green and over a kilometre wide, Mark , Scott and Thomas talk about the role of The British Council as it celebrates its 90th year, the work it does in Oman, and how it is helping the expedition engage young Omanis to push for a more sustainable world.

Towards the end of the expedition, The British...

After camping last night at Bar Al Hikmann the expedition team have travelled west to try and cross over to Mahoot island.

Mahoot island has one of the largest mangrove habitats in Oman and is a biodiversity hotspot. The mangroves harbour fish nursery grounds, they provide nesting grounds for birds, some of which are only found on the island, but they also provide coastal storm protection from the monsoons and have 10 times the carbon capture capability of traditional forestry.

But their habitats are decreasing in size.

There is a strong and effective mangrove...

The Bar Al Hikmann wetland reserve is an internationally recognised site for migratory birds. Its mudflats have some of the highest densities of shorebirds in the world and it’s geographical position makes a key point on the West Asian – East Africa flyway route for migratory waterbirds.

With its rich biodiversity and local efforts to protect, conserve and record the wetland, this was going to be a key place for the Jewel of Arabia Team to visit.

Mark sits down to talk to Aziza Al Adhoobi who is leading the some of the work to get...

Day 9 started with an emotional goodbye for the team as Amour and the camels left the expedition as planned. Mark and Amour have done several expeditions together and their goodbyes are always difficult.

Later in the day, the team have travelled over a short sea crossing to Masirah Island, about a third of the way down the Omani coast. Unlike Thomas who was welcomed by the local Sheikh on the mainland, the Jewel of Arabia team were welcomed to Masirah by the local Wali.

Masirah Island is a wildlife hotspot and Mark talks to us...

Oman is home to 5 of the world’s 7 different species of turtle. The coastline provides the ideal beach nesting conditions for turtles, which during the laying season come ashore in vast numbers to lay their eggs in their sand nests.

But like almost all wildlife they are under various threats. Climate change, light pollution and uncontrolled tourism all pose a risk to the resident species.

Mark and the team have reached the Indian Ocean again and soon will travel to Masirah Island, home to several species of turtle. To learn more about the different species, th...

Last night’s camp was about 8 kms from the coastline, it was much colder than previous night which led to a heavy dew and the whole team waking through the night very wet in their sleeping bags.

But sunrise bought warmth and the desert dawn chorus which (loudly) serenaded them during breakfast.

As they walked today they came across a mosque in the desert. The local caretaker was happy to open it up and show them around. For Amour and Ibrahim this meant they were able to pray in the mosque. But with no call to...

As the team leave the Sharqyia Sands behind them and continue back towards the Indian Ocean Mark reflects on desert travel.

Thomas referred to the monotony of the days travelling in his book Arabia Felix. Thomas would spend long days in the saddle, sometimes noting in his diary he found himself bored. But for the Jewel of Arabia team slow travel in the desert is anything but boring. Marks describes different patterns in the sand he has observed which give away the changing wildlife – from gerbils to scorpions and snakes.

Desert travel is about using al...

Mark talks to us as the expedition team stop for lunch and to rest the camels on Day 5 of the expedition. The expedition team are settling into a strong routine now. Mark and Amour are walking and riding the camels, Nigel and Ibrahim have got the overnight camps working really well. Dikra is off working with some young Omanis and Ana-Maria is capturing pictures and film that tell the expedition stories.

After heading inland the team are now on a south south east route to intersect Bertram Thomas’s original route and although this is the desert, it...

After a cold night in their desert camp the team woke up to a covering of dew on their sleeping bags. Today is the start of their trek into the Sharqiya Sands and the team are joined by students and staff from the British School Muscat for part of their walk.

Mark talks to his old friend Jonathan Turner while he walks. Jonathan runs a commercial dive business in Oman and describes the beauty of Oman’s underwater world to Mark.

The end of today see’s the team arrive at 1,000 night camp. A luxury camp...

After a reception from local leaders at Jalan fort earlier today, Mark and the team made quick progress into the Sharqiya Sands, formerly the Wabhiba Sands, to meet up with a group of students and staff from Outward Bound Oman.

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition has strong links with Outward Bound Oman, which since it first opened in 2009 has trained over 30,000 young people. Mark sits down in conversation with acting Executive Director Mohamed Al Zadjali to find out about the impact of the organisation on young Omanis and how it is adapting to a sustainable future.

Overnight Mark is setting a camera trap to see the wildlife that comes near to the team camp. Despite last night sandstorm, the camera has picked up several different animals in its lens.

The wind and driving sand have been the big factors of todays journey, so this update comes from the shelter of one of the expedition Land Rovers. One of which was provided by an expedition sponsor and the other is Mark’s own beloved 110 Defender.

Today Mark walked with expedition photographer Ana-Maria Pavalache and he describes how they were introduced, what inspires hi...

Welcome to the start of The Jewel of Arabia Expedition. With the Indian ocean lapping at their feet, Mark and the team have gathered on the very beach that Bertram Thomas landed on at the start of his expedition.

After a busy day of logistics and packing yesterday, today is the day the team start their journey, and Mark talks to us just as the sun rises about what lies ahead. Already Oman’s beautiful biodiversity is on display with birdlife surrounding them.

After 8 hours of travelling, they arrive at a small Bedouin community. It ha...

Like many explorers Bertram Thomas OBE fell in love with Arabia and its great empty spaces. Awarded the Livingstone Medal by The Royal Scottish Geographical Society and the Founders Medal by the Royal Geographical Society he was the desert explorer that nobody had really heard about.

In 1928 Thomas travelled south down the coast of Oman along a route that joined up sites of rich biodiversity and the unique flora and fauna of this Arab nation. Thomas built a relationship with the people and communities he passed through.

In this podcast you will hear how, using...

Join expedition leader, Mark Evans at the Royal Geographical Society in London for the launch of The Jewel of Arabia Expedition.

In the presence of, and hearing from expedition co- patrons His Royal Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham, and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales this 30-day journey on foot, by camel and 4x4 retracing the 1928 journey of British Explorer Bertram Thomas will celebrate Oman’s rich biodiversity and shine a spotlight on young Omani’s working in the green arena.

Starting on 6th January 2025 you can join the expedition team as they set off n...

Omani people have always lived in close touch with their natural heritage. In this fascinating podcast, Sayyid Khalid Al Busaidi tells the incredible story of one man’s vision for sharing the beautiful scent of Omani frankincense with the world, and using it and other key Omani ingredients to create one of the world’s most luxurious perfumes.

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On an extended journey in a remote location food becomes an increasingly important part of each day; for Bertram Thomas in 1928 this included fish-eyes, dates, dried shark, flour and locusts. In this podcast we learn from Omani food expert Dina Macki about the key influences on Oman cuisine today, how that might change as we head southward along the coast of Oman, and, if given the chance, what Omani dish Dina would serve up for our VIP expeditions Patrons!

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A conversation with long-time friend of Oman, the inspirational Nigel Winser. In the mid-1980s, as deputy director of The Royal Geographical Society in London Nigel led The Wahiba Sands Project, a multiyear multidisciplinary study of what are today known as the Sharqiyah Sands in Oman.

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Oman is unique in so many ways. Several decades of research have shown that there is something very different about Oman’s humpback whales, in that they do not migrate from cool to warm waters each year, but instead remain in the Arabian sea where the monsoon moves the cooler waters to them for several months each year. Oman’s coastline was once home to great numbers of whales; records show that in the 1960’s Soviet Whalers killed at least 242 animals, but what is their status today? Executive Director of The Environment Society of Oman, and a recent recipient of Nat...

Taimur Al Said, wildlife biologist in Oman’s Environment Authority just loves what he does. Armed with a Masters Degree from Durham University, Taimur is Oman’s expert on the endangered Nubian Ibex and likes nothing more than getting down and dusty in the desert, putting out camera traps and radio collars that enable him to monitor the behaviour of this incredible animal from a distance.

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One of the most incredible stories of bird migration is that of the Sooty Falcon. Wintering on the island of Madagascar, each spring the falcons make the long journey up the east coast of Africa, then head east along the southern coast of Arabia, settling to breed each summer on the rocky islands off the coast of Oman. Here they’ll probably meet Waheed Al Fazari, an Omani biodiversity researcher who make it his mission to monitor this incredible bird.

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Dr Laila Al Harthy is a senior botanist at Oman’s Botanical Gardens, and is the authority on Frankincense, a tree that grows in the mountains of Dhofar in southern Oman. Once upon a time the sap of the Frankincense tree was much sought after; camel trains and dhows would carry the hardened sap to the markets of Damascus, Alexandria and Istanbul. Today is it much sought after by tourists, and a key ingredient of Oman’s luxury Amouage perfume … but what about the future? 

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In 2022, Talal Hasan, founder and carbon general of 44:01 was a proud winner of a coveted Earthshot prize. Listen to his story of how an idea born in Oman took shape and grew into a reality that earned global recognition ... another story of innovation from the Sultanate.

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The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio