According to figures from Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, sixty tons of olives were harvested in the country between August and December 2019 from which 8,028 liters of olive oil were produced.
Oman’s 15,000 olive trees were strategically planted in the of North East Oman (around 170 kilometers from the capital, Muscat) which enjoys a similar climate to Mediterranean countries. A wide variety of olive species have reportedly been produced in this mountainous region.
See Also:Olive Oil of OmanThe Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries initiated the importation of olive seedlings in 1994 (largely from Syria) and Omani farmers embraced olive cultivation as a new source of income.
Early attempts to cultivate the non-native olive tree in the sultanate’s arid climate were largely unsuccessful and raised the question as to whether olive trees could survive Oman’s harsh conditions.
In 2014, Olive Oil Times reported that olive cultivation in Oman was initiated by the surprising appearance of fruit on a single olive tree gifted from Egypt.