SUHAR

also spelled Sohar, town and port, northern Oman. It is situated about 120 miles (190 km) northwest of Muscat on the al-Batinah coast of the Gulf of Oman. Suhar's origins are prehistoric; it is located near the sites of several ancient copper mines, some possibly dating back to 2500 BC. The town became an early outpost of the Islamic religion, possibly during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. It developed into a prosperous and well-known port and during the 10th century was said to be the largest and most important city in the Arab world. The port declined in importance following successive invasions first by the Persians and then by the Portuguese. Dates, ghee, dried limes, cowhides, and goatskins are exported from the modern port. A paved coastal road runs between Muscat and Suhar. Pop. (1980 est.) 20,000.