Retracing Arabia Felix: Oman’s Desert Legacy Revisited

Oman’s deserts, coastlines, and mountains have long shaped its history as a land of endurance, exchange, and discovery. On 2 October, this story will be retold at the Royal Geographical Society in London, where British explorer Mark Evans MBE will present A Journey to Arabia Felix, a lecture inspired by his thirty-day expedition across the Sultanate by foot, camel, and 4×4.
The journey echoes the footsteps of Bertram Thomas, who in 1927 became the first European to cross the Rubʿ al Khali, or Empty Quarter. Thomas’s crossing, launched from Oman, placed the country firmly on the map of global exploration. Nearly a century later, Evans revisits that legacy, using Oman’s vast landscapes as a stage for dialogue between past and present, and between cultures near and far.
For Oman, such stories carry significance beyond the desert itself. They highlight the nation’s identity as a place where tradition and modernity converge: a country that treasures its heritage whilst sharing it with the world. Evans’s account emphasises not only the physical challenge of traversing the land but also the human connections that emerge from Oman’s geography—encounters with history, memory, and resilience.
The Royal Geographical Society has long been a forum where the world learns of Oman’s landscapes, from desert crossings to frankincense routes. This latest lecture reinforces that tradition, reminding international audiences that Oman’s richness lies not only in its resources but in its capacity to inspire, to endure, and to connect.
Interest in the event has been remarkable, with over 400 tickets already sold. Such demand reflects a growing fascination with Oman’s story among international audiences. For the Sultanate, it signals how its landscapes and history resonate well beyond its borders—strengthening cultural diplomacy and placing Oman at the centre of conversations about heritage, exploration, and identity.
What makes Evans’s retelling especially relevant today is its Oman-centred perspective. Whereas earlier explorers marked their achievements in the spirit of first contact, Oman now presents itself as a custodian of stories that span generations. Its deserts, once seen as obstacles to be conquered, are reframed as symbols of identity and continuity—landscapes that continue to shape the nation’s voice on the global stage.
As Oman builds its cultural diplomacy and enhances its presence in the international imagination, the lecture is more than an account of an expedition. It is a reminder that the Sultanate’s true fortune—the spirit once called Arabia Felix—endures in the resilience of its people, the legacy of its explorers, and the stories that carry Oman far beyond its borders.