The Friday market in Nizwa

Oman's most visited, largest and best-known weekly market is the Friday market in Nizwa with its animal auction. In the high season, it attracts a large number of tourists who capture the traditional hustle and bustle on camera.

However, the market itself is anything but intended for tourists, as it is mainly sheep, goats and even cattle that are offered for sale at auction, which are hardly suitable as souvenirs.

Even if it looks as if the women are not taking part in the auction but are waiting in the background, they are the ones who ultimately decide whether the animal in question changes hands at the auction price, as small livestock farming in Oman is usually a woman's business.

Men from the family or specially hired sellers herd the animals in a circle until the right price is offered. A bookkeeper writes everything down in a cash book, as a percentage goes to the state and a share to the auctioneer who has successfully sold the animal to the new owner at the desired price. The market starts early in the morning and if you don't arrive early, you are guaranteed not to get a parking space - as one of the largest private used car markets takes place in the car park at the same time as the animal auction. During the tourist season, the hotels in Nizwa are fully booked from Thursday to Friday