The Desert

The country of Oman is located in the hot and arid desert climate. This means that it can reach temperatures of extreme heat and experience very dry weather. While some areas along the coast of Oman may experience some rainfall, from 20 to 100 millimetres a year, and some higher humidity, Nakhl is far enough inland to register under the desert climate and recieves little to no rain. In the day-time, the temperature can reach extremes of 50 degrees celsius, and night-time temperatures drop slightly lower, around 30 degrees. The high temperatures are partially due to the lack of cloud cover in the region, which also allows for direct sunlight throughout the day. Oman experiences only two seasons, summer and winter. The summer lasts for most of the year, while the winter offers some slightly cooler day-time temperatures in the range of 15 to 23 degrees.

The vast Omani desert (Source)

Though Nakhl does not sit near enough to the gulf to receive the same weather conditions, it does fall into an area that experiences some of the coastal wind gusts. These winds can cause dust storms which can prove to be dangerous to travelers out in the open. The wind stays relatively small in scale, around three or four on the Beaufort Force Scale, but this is still enough to stir up sand in the area.

Due to the extreme heat and lack of humidity and water, there is little to no vegetation in the area, except for the rare oases. The oases are the only supply of vegetation to the Omani deserts. Oases occur around springs or underground water sources. The town of Nakhl contains a spring and an oasis, both of which the fort is located near. This specific oasis has a plentiful supply of date palms which supplies not only date fruits for food but also tree trunks and leaves which are used in some construction of buildings in the area. The hot spring offers a fresh water source as well as a recreation spot for the locals.

The oasis surrounding Fort Nakhl (Source)

The harsh climate of the Omani desert requires a very specific building science and architecture to make the area inhabitable. Designers and builders of the area must take all of the climatic conditions of the area into account and respond accordingly.

-Dave Holborn





Information Citations:


Bourgeois, Jean-Louis and Pelos, Carol. Spectacular Vernacular. Salt Lake City: Gibbs M. Smith Peregrine Smith Books, 1983.



Oliver, Paul. Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.


Image Sources:

MacGregor, Malcom. "The Fort at Nakhl" (image). Available from: fotobank.
http://fotobank.ru/image/JW01-2856.html
(accessed on January 10 2010).

Micheal. "Oman Desert 3" (image). Available from: pbase.
http://www.pbase.com/taketwo/image/40423213
(accessed on January 10 2010).