Boutique mud houses change fortunes of Omani village

Traditional mud houses in the village of Misfat Al Abriyeen. Perched on an Oman mountain top, the village of Misfat Al Abriyeen has changed its fortunes by transforming mud-brick homes into boutique hotels, drawing tourists to a region famed for hiking trails and tales of genies.

The village of 800 residents, situated on the dramatic escarpments of Oman's "Grand Canyon", opened its narrow streets six years ago to foreigners and locals seeking adventure in the deserts and green corners of the Gulf sultanate.

Villager Yacoub Al Abri (pictured) said it all started in 2010 when his uncle suggested they take another look at the mud houses that had lain neglected for years in the ancient settlement about three hours' drive from the capital Muscat.

The owners had abandoned the centuries-old homes, fearing they could collapse, and moved to the opposite side of the village where they built new accommodation. His idea was "to combine the simple and natural surroundings of an old Omani life with a modern touch that provides comfort and safety", Abri told AFP.

The beige-walled homes, made of mud brick with palm-frond roofs, were turned into simple but elegant inns furnished with traditional wood and textiles.

Five years after the idea was dreamt up, the family's first boutique hotel was up and running, inspiring neighbours and villagers elsewhere in Oman to follow their lead.

A view shows a hotel room in Misfat Al Abriyeen. "We started with only five rooms, then we increased the number and bought other old houses. Today we have 15 rooms and there are plans to continue expanding until we reach 50," Abri said.

Misfat Al Abriyeen had the right elements for success. At an altitude of more than 1,000 metres, the tiny village which is home to the Abri tribe is a charming collection of traditional houses situated along dozens of small alleys overlooking lands bursting with banana plants and citrus and palm trees.

It is part of a region known as the Grand Canyon of Oman where tourists can hike the rocky mountains and valleys, and explore the old ways of local people.

"Staying here is like a journey into a world of tranquillity and peace of mind," said Abri. "Even the food that is provided here is cooked in Omani homes by the people of the village."

According to the hotel owner, 5,500 tourists from Germany, France, the Gulf and beyond stayed at his boutique establishments in 2019, with an annual occupancy rate of 90 per cent, compared to just 800 during the first year of business in 2015.

The rates at the centuries-old former homes vary between $90 and $180 per night, depending on the room and the season. | Above: Egyptian tourists take a selfie as they tour Misfat Al Abriyeen.

A local man fills his cup with water at a hotel in Misfat Al Abriyeen.

A girl sits outside a boutique hotel in Misfat Al Abriyeen. In Misfat Al Abriyeen, turning six mud houses into boutique hotels has led to more projects to attract visitors, such as new hiking trails and climbs, according to Abdullah Al Abri, who owns one of the hotels.