Lighthouse Description and History

(Text extracted from nomination form submitted by Arabian Maritime and Navigation Aids Service (AMNAS), Sultanate of Oman, 2025)

Didmar Lighthouse is a 24-meter-high hexagonal pyramidal skeletal tower painted white, with a lantern, gallery, and enclosed watch room. It exhibits two white flashes every 10 seconds (Fl (2) W 10s) with a range of 23 nautical miles. The lighthouse was established in 1914 as the first lighthouse in Oman, built by the British on Didmar Island in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The decision to build it was made in 1909 by the Committee of Enquiry on Lighting and Buoying the Gulf. Initially lit by kerosene with a clockwork mechanism, it featured a 2^nd order revolving lens manufactured by Chance Brothers in 1913. The lighthouse guides ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route where 25% of the world’s oil passes.

Reason For Nomination

(Text extracted from nomination form submitted by Arabian Maritime and Navigation Aids Service (AMNAS), Sultanate of Oman, 2025)

Intrinsic Heritage Interest of the Lighthouse

Didmar Lighthouse, constructed in 1914 by the British, is recognized as the oldest lighthouse in Oman. Built during a period of imperial maritime expansion in the Arabian Gulf, it holds significant heritage value. Its location on Didmar Island in the Strait of Hormuz highlights its strategic role as a navigational aid for one of the world’s most critical shipping routes. Architecturally, the lighthouse consists of a 24-meter hexagonal pyramidal skeletal tower with a lantern and gallery. It was originally equipped with a 2nd-order revolving lens manufactured by Chance Brothers of England, reflecting the influence of British engineering on early 20th-century lighthouse design.

Conservation

Didmar Lighthouse is in excellent condition, maintained through the conservation efforts of the Arabian Maritime and Navigation Aids Service (AMNAS). In 2006, the lighthouse underwent a comprehensive refurbishment, replacing the original system with a solar-powered rotating beacon to ensure sustainable operation while preserving its historic design. The skeletal tower structure is regularly maintained to withstand the harsh marine conditions of the Strait of Hormuz

Public Access and Education

Due to its remote island location, Didmar Lighthouse is accessible only by boat from the Musandam Peninsula, approximately 15 miles to the south. The lighthouse is closed to the public, and access to the island is restricted, requiring private arrangements.

Photos and Diagrams