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Sohar, situated along Oman's northern Batinah coast in the Muscat Governorate, occupies a strategic position at the crossroads of maritime trade routes and industrial development. The city lies on a narrow coastal plain flanked by the Hajar Mountains to the south and the Gulf of Oman to the north, creating a distinctive urban-rural gradient where industrial zones transition into agricultural areas and desert hinterlands. At an elevation of just 4 meters above sea level, Sohar's flat terrain and coastal location facilitate both industrial expansion and vulnerability to maritime influences. The city's geography profoundly shapes its air quality: the port-industrial complex along the waterfront generates concentrated emissions that interact with sea breezes, while the surrounding arid landscape contributes frequent desert dust. Sohar's position within Oman's primary industrial belt—home to the Sohar Industrial Port, oil refineries, and manufacturing facilities—creates persistent anthropogenic pollution sources. Meanwhile, the urban core experiences traffic emissions and construction dust, with limited natural ventilation due to the mountain barrier to the south. This geographic configuration traps pollutants in the coastal zone, particularly during periods of atmospheric stability, making Sohar's air quality a complex interplay of industrial activity, natural dust sources, and constrained dispersion patterns characteristic of desert coastal cities.

Sohar's air quality follows a distinct seasonal pattern driven by its hot desert climate and regional meteorology. During winter (December-February), cooler temperatures and occasional Shamal winds from the northwest provide moderate dispersion of pollutants, though morning temperature inversions can trap emissions near the surface, creating brief poor air quality episodes. Spring (March-May) marks the beginning of peak pollution season as temperatures rise sharply, atmospheric stability increases, and frequent dust storms from the Rub' al Khali desert blanket the region—these months combine natural dust with industrial emissions for consistently degraded air quality. Summer (June-September) brings extreme heat that accelerates photochemical reactions, transforming vehicle and industrial emissions into secondary pollutants, while the southwest monsoon (Khareef) brings humidity that can trap particulates; despite occasional sea breezes, this season demands caution for outdoor activities. Autumn (October-November) offers gradual improvement as temperatures moderate and shifting wind patterns begin clearing the atmosphere, though residual dust and industrial emissions persist. Sensitive groups—particularly those with respiratory conditions—should avoid extended outdoor exposure during spring dust events and summer peak heat, instead favoring early morning hours in winter and autumn when dispersion is better. The March-June period requires particular vigilance due to the convergence of dust storms, industrial emissions, and unfavorable meteorological conditions.