The earliest residents of Sur looked to the sea for subsistence. The hinterland was arable, but water for irrigation was hard to come by. For these people, a visit to the Malabar Coast was far more rewarding and satisfying. Each year after the monsoon winds had spent their force, they sailed across the ocean to barter dates, frankincense and dried fish in exchange for rice, lentils & condiments. The more enterprising sailed on to Sri Lanka and then beyond, through the Strait of Malacca to China. People living in the coastal areas around Tirur and Ponani still recall the visit of the Omani vessels. "The Omani has come; the Omani has come" was a familiar piece of bazaar news. Sur has along history as one of Oman's foremost trading ports. Though now surpassed by Muscat, it is still a thriving town. A glimpse of how it used to be can bee seen in old Sur and the small suburb of Aija. Sur's dhow yards are world-renowned. Though demand for dhows has declined sharply since in the past 100 years it is still possible to see traditional dhow builders at work. Sur also has 2 forts guarding it.

Sinesia fort is the main one and is built on a hill overlooking the sea approaches to Sur. The second one, Bilad fort, is about 6km from the town centre. Close by is a small museum containing items showing Sur’s past.