Tourism to the Sultanate of Oman is booming and the demand for new hotels is soaring, so Madame Micebook has been thinking about a trip for some time. But when the year kicked off with the declaration that 31 new hotels are set to open, she didn’t need any further encouragement to book herself a trip for the mother of all site inspections.

First up is Muscat, where Madame will be staying at The Chedi, one of her favourite places on the planet, before heading on to explore one of this year’s biggest openings, W Muscat.

Situated in the upbeat Shatti Al Qurum beachfront, W Muscat offers 279 luxurious rooms and suites where Omani heritage meets contemporary design. All rooms are offer views of azure waters of the Gulf of Oman, while five tantalising restaurants offer an inimitable experience to every foodie, from mouth-watering steaks at CHAR to the soon-to-be-opened Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar. Meanwhile planners have 850m2 of meeting space to play with, capable of hosting a range of events and set ups.

Another major 2019 opening in Muscat that Madame can’t wait to visit, is the forthcoming Jumeirah Muscat Bay. The luxury hotel group is set to open a five-star waterfront retreat at the end of the year in the popular Jissah area.

Elsewhere, Sahab Resort & Spa (right & main image) is a new 27-room property perched at the edge of a canyon boasting breath-taking views over the Jabal Akhdar plateau and valleys in the western Al Hajar mountain range. The authentic Omani resort, built with natural, unpolished stone still retains impressions of the many fossils dating thousands of years, mined from the mountains of Jabal Akhdar.

Hyatt will be bringing its luxury eco-conscious brand, Alila, to Hinu Bay next year. The resort will offer 120 private suites and 25 villas, alongside several dining venues, a Spa Alila and a diving centre.

And finally, for the ultimate in Queen-of-Sheba style experiences, the stunning Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara has teamed up with Oman Expeditions to offer a luxury mobile camping adventure under the stars. Guests can travel via 4×4 vehicles to camp by the dunes or on a secluded stretch of beach along the Dhofar coastline. Meanwhile in the foothills of the mountains, a camel trek, accompanied by members of the Mahrah, a tribe who have walked along the frankincense trading routes since the days of the Queen of Sheba herself, proves particularly magical.