Ibri was the largest town on the edge of the Dhahira region, in fact the only town after Nizwa and Buraimi. Its importance grew with the discovery of oil at Fahud in the late sixties. However, the town was quite a distance away from Muscat or even from Nizwa and as a result it received very few visitors at that time. With the discovery of oil and because of its proximity to Abu Dhabi, Ibri was steadily being transformed into a modern town, with an equally good market place, especially for consumer goods. However, it was Tanam which first received the benefits of the oil boom, even before Ibri.

The old town of Ibri was sandwiched between the Jebbal and a vast sand desert, extending for more than 800 kilometers. It sat right on the watershed and was connected to Khabora by the old Wadi Hawasna route. Ibri had the biggest Souq in the interior, after that of Nizwa, this fact being an object of pride for the townspeople. A visit to the Souq was then a must for any visitor. Its silver Souq, with its traditionalist silver-smiths, its indigo dyers and the old Barasti Souq were attractive propositions to the visitor.