Coral growth is limited along the southern shorelines at Dhofhar, particularly on the islands of Al Hallaniyah, A’Sawda, Al Qibliah, where a low diversity of scattered corals grows beneath a tall and thick algal canopy. Bays on the mainland coast and on the Kuria Muria islands support coral communities, which grow on rocky substrate. There are areas in southern Oman where large corals exist, but these are not true coral reefs. Reefs occur at Ras Madrakah, at Barr Al Hickman and in the shelter of Masirah Island at about 20°N, and around Ras al Hadd and the Daymaniyat islands.

Major coral growth occurs in four regions along the varied shores of the 1700 km coastline: the Musandam Peninsula; the Capital Area coast, including the Daymaniyat Islands; the Gulf of Masirah; and the Dhofar coast from the Al Hallaniyat Islands to Mirbat. Although the coral communities are relatively diverse, Oman’s reefs are only marginally developed, especially along the Arabian Sea coast. The exception is the country’s only true reef which is south of the Barr al Hickman peninsula in the Gulf of Masirah with large areas of monospecific stands of foliose Montipora sp. Elsewhere Porites is the most important reef builder, and extensive monospecific carpets of Pocillopora and Acropora are common features. Reef development appears to be limited by high rates of bioerosion, which are facilitated by the productive waters, and frequent lesions made by grazing predators (e.g. COTS and parrotfish).

Recently, 107 species of reef building corals were recorded in the Gulf of Oman, and an additional 20 species probably occur on Oman’s Arabian Sea coast. About 15% of these corals are regionally endemic and about 10% are new species, which are being described. These results confirm earlier reports that Oman’s coral fauna is unusual because some families are strongly under-represented (Acroporidae and Fungidae) while other families are over represented (e.g.Favidae, Poritidae).

There are 4 principal areas of coral growth along the Omani coast: Musandam Peninsula; Daymaniyat Islands, Capital Area and Sharquiya coast to Ras al Hadd; South-west coast of Masirah Island and Barr Al Hikman; and Dhofar area, especially the Al Hallaniyat Islands and Mirbat Peninsula. About 107 species of hard corals have been recorded in Oman but it is estimated that an additional 20 species will probably be found with more taxonomic effort.