In later years, Sohar was one of the richest ports in the Islamic world and ships sailed to it from China and India and unloaded cargoes to be sold in its souqs. Historians admired the fine buildings along its seafront and described the town in the most glowing terms.

The Wilayat of Sohar is 240 Kilometres from Muscat and borders on the Wilayat of Liwa to the north, the Wilayat of Saham to the south, the Wilayat of Buraimi to the west and the Gulf of Oman to the east. It has a 45-Kilometre-long coastline and an area of around 1,728 square Kilometres. Its mountains extend for over 70 Kilometres.

Recognizing Sohar's historical and economic importance and potential, the government has transformed it into one of the most beautiful cities in Oman. The past has left its mark on every part of Sohar, but a tour of this wilayat would not be complete without a visit to Sohar Fort - an imposing white building near the sea which has witnessed the twists and turns of Sohar's history over the ages. The Sultan Qaboos Mosque, which stands beside the fort, occupies an area of 16,992 square meters and its 1,394 square meter, main prayer hall can hold over 2,090 worshippers. The mosque has a well-stocked library. To celebrate Sohar's glorious seafaring history, the ship "Sohar" sailed from Muscat for the Chinese port of Guangzhou at the command of His Majesty the Sultan in 1980. The return voyage ended in 1981. The vessel was an identical copy of the ships of the middle Ages and navigated with the aid of the sun and the stars.

Sohar also used to be an important commercial centre for overland caravans traveling to other regions of the Sultanate laden with goods from faraway places.

Anyone entering Sohar will be amazed at the sight of its gigantic gates, like the Sohar Gate at the wilayat's eastern entrance at its border with the Wilayat of Saham. These entrance gates are shaped like a line of boats with their sails raised, symbolizing the ships berthed in Mina Sohar harbor and their importance to the local economy. The city's roundabouts and open areas have been embellished with lawns, flower-beds with seasonal flowers, fountains and ponds, with models depicting aspects of the region's history, civilization and environment, including a terrestrial globe in the Omani Islamic architectural style and a date-palm to represent economic activity. The Sallan Roundabout has an Islamic-style dome above a giant incense burner, symbolizing the country's attachment to its traditional values. Other roundabouts display aspects of Oman's environment and heritage.