With sprawling deserts and heady mountain ranges covering most of its land, the most developed towns and cities in the Arabian sultanate of Oman are largely limited to the southeast coastal region. Although going off-road is a possibility for the more adventurous types, car hire in Oman should be arranged if you're planning on seeing some of the country's more conventional sites during your stay. The exclave of Musandam, though not physically connected to the rest of Oman, borders the Persian Gulf which allows the country to benefit from various trade routes and oil investments.