The Sultanate of Oman's governorate of Dhofar stretches from Salalah in the south, across the verdant pastures and woodlands of the monsoon mountains to the vast dunes of the Empty Quarter in the north. As well as being a place for wildlife it is a land of fascinating landscapes and is also home to people who, at least since the late Stone Age, have shaped the land that shaped them. Some 2,000 years ago the region first became famous for its frankincense, transported as essential supplies to Roman temples. It was this that first gave Dhofar its mystical allure and was to attract explorers such as Ibn Battuta and Marco Polo. In more recent times it is best known for the phenomenon of the summer khareef or monsoon season that each year attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors seeking to escape the heat of the Arabian summer and to enjoy one of the most bio-diverse areas of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of Oman's mammal, bird, reptile and plant species are found in Dhofar, including the critically endangered Arabian leopard roaming the high mountains that tower almost 2,000 metres above sea level. Along the Arabian Sea coast the deep cold waters support a diversity of sea life that is not found elsewhere in the region, and includes the endangered Arabian Sea humpback whale. During the magical khareef season, from late June to early September, the Southwest Monsoon sweeps in from the Arabian Sea and transforms the brown mountain landscape to a luscious green. While most of Arabia endures desiccating summer temperatures approaching 50° Celsius the mountains of Dhofar are blessed with light rainfall, swirling monsoon clouds and temperatures that rarely reach 30 degrees. This is truly Arabia Felix or Happy Arabia, a term used by the Romans to describe southern Arabia. As a result of this extraordinary phenomenon, Dhofar is blessed with a variety of breathtaking landscapes unlike anything seen anywhere else in the region. To the south are the richly verdant mountains of Jabal Al Qara and Jabal Al Qamar, to the north the reddish-orange sand dunes of the great sand seas of the world famous Ar Rub Al Khali or Empty Quarter, and between lies the vast stony desert of the Najd. Along the shorelines, spectacular seascapes include both wild monsoon-swept rocky shores and pristine sandy beaches, while offshore lie the harshly beautiful and remote Juzur Al Hallaniyyat (Islands). These unique places are home to a very special biodiversity that includes globally iconic animal and plant species such the Arabian leopard, Arabian Sea humpback whale and the frankincense tree. Andrew Spalton and Hadi Al Hikmani have brought together spectacular and rare images with an exhaustively researched text to present the first comprehensive account of the region - essential for anyone with an interest in the wildlife, landscapes, climate, ancient history and people of southern Arabia.