The Jewel of Arabia Expedition – Details, episodes & analysis

Join expedition leader, Mark Evans at the Royal Geographical Society in London for the launch of The Jewel of Arabia Expedition.

In the presence of, and hearing from expedition co- patrons His Royal Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham, and His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales this 30-day journey on foot, by camel and 4x4 retracing the 1928 journey of British Explorer Bertram Thomas will celebrate Oman’s rich biodiversity and shine a spotlight on young Omani’s working in the green arena.

Starting on 6th January 2025 you can join the expedition team as they set off near Ras al Haad, the Eastern most point of the arab speaking world and share their journey traveling down the coast to the southern city of Salalah through this podcast which tells stories of people, place, and culture and innovation in this unique country.

Find out more by visiting the Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

On an extended journey in a remote location food becomes an increasingly important part of each day; for Bertram Thomas in 1928 this included fish-eyes, dates, dried shark, flour and locusts. In this podcast we learn from Omani food expert Dina Macki about the key influences on Oman cuisine today, how that might change as we head southward along the coast of Oman, and, if given the chance, what Omani dish Dina would serve up for our VIP expeditions Patrons!

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

A conversation with long-time friend of Oman, the inspirational Nigel Winser. In the mid-1980s, as deputy director of The Royal Geographical Society in London Nigel led The Wahiba Sands Project, a multiyear multidisciplinary study of what are today known as the Sharqiyah Sands in Oman.

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Oman is unique in so many ways. Several decades of research have shown that there is something very different about Oman’s humpback whales, in that they do not migrate from cool to warm waters each year, but instead remain in the Arabian sea where the monsoon moves the cooler waters to them for several months each year. Oman’s coastline was once home to great numbers of whales; records show that in the 1960’s Soviet Whalers killed at least 242 animals, but what is their status today? Executive Director of The Environment Society of Oman, and a recent recipient of National Geographic’s Wayfinder Award, Suaad Al Harthy tells us the story ….

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

Visit the Environment Society of Oman

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Taimur Al Said, wildlife biologist in Oman’s Environment Authority just loves what he does. Armed with a Masters Degree from Durham University, Taimur is Oman’s expert on the endangered Nubian Ibex and likes nothing more than getting down and dusty in the desert, putting out camera traps and radio collars that enable him to monitor the behaviour of this incredible animal from a distance.

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

One of the most incredible stories of bird migration is that of the Sooty Falcon. Wintering on the island of Madagascar, each spring the falcons make the long journey up the east coast of Africa, then head east along the southern coast of Arabia, settling to breed each summer on the rocky islands off the coast of Oman. Here they’ll probably meet Waheed Al Fazari, an Omani biodiversity researcher who make it his mission to monitor this incredible bird.

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Dr Laila Al Harthy is a senior botanist at Oman’s Botanical Gardens, and is the authority on Frankincense, a tree that grows in the mountains of Dhofar in southern Oman. Once upon a time the sap of the Frankincense tree was much sought after; camel trains and dhows would carry the hardened sap to the markets of Damascus, Alexandria and Istanbul. Today is it much sought after by tourists, and a key ingredient of Oman’s luxury Amouage perfume … but what about the future? 

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

In 2022, Talal Hasan, founder and carbon general of 44:01 was a proud winner of a coveted Earthshot prize. Listen to his story of how an idea born in Oman took shape and grew into a reality that earned global recognition ... another story of innovation from the Sultanate.

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

Learn more about 44:01

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

For decades, like many countries in the region the Oman economy has been heavily dependent on income from oil and gas. With a target of achieving net zero by 2050, the transition to a renewable and sustainable future is underway; Oman has set itself the challenge of becoming a global green energy hub, and a regional and world leader in the production of green hydrogen, a journey overseen by inspirational individuals such as Dr Firas Al Abduwani.

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio

Come and join explorer and adventurer Mark Evans around the campfire on The Jewel of Arabia Expedition as we follow the route taken by British explorer Bertram Thomas in 1928 from Ras Al Hadd, the most easterly point of the Arab world, along the coast to Salalah, the second largest city in Oman as we meet and talk to the young Omani’s transitioning Oman into a sustainable global green energy hub.

From ancient turtle nesting grounds to internationally recognised migration pitstops for thousands of wading birds. From Earthshot prize winning carbon capture innovation to the world’s only non-migratory population of humpbacked whales, from frankincense groves to a future of green hydrogen and amazing raptor restaurants Oman is awash with stories waiting to be told.

Expedition website: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition

The Jewel of Arabia Expedition podcast is produced by Adventurous Audio