Mirbat, like most of the sea towns in the province of Dhofar, South Oman, was involved in the frankincense trade. It look over the port tradition from al-Balid in the 17th-18th centuries and became a wellknown port, trading also with Hadramaut. Today, almost the entire historic city has been abandoned in favour of a new centre buildin concrete. © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com