Previously, the BBC had a relay facility consisting of both HF and MF broadcasting transmitters stationed there.

[4] The ocean bottom environment surrounding Masirah is hostile as the majority of the area is covered in either sand or hard rock.

Despite the poor quality ocean bottom, the area is very productive with marine fisheries, and any hard objects (barrels, engines) are immediately colonised by local fauna.

[5] On 5–6 June 2007, 7000 people on the island were forced to temporarily leave their homes due to the high storm waves produced by the powerful Cyclone Gonu, the strongest to hit the Persian Gulf region in 60 years.

[6] A critically-endangered local population of humpback whales also migrate in the waters surrounding the island and Masirah gulf.

[7][8] The island has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports many species of waders and seabirds, as well as Egyptian vultures.

Precipitation is low, and falls mainly from February to April as well as in the brief monsoon season from June to August.

Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age archaeological sites are dotted over the island, with one study finding shell middens dating to 6000BC, stone axes from 3000BC and fish line sinkers from 4000BC[12] The Magan Civilization was present, with archaeological records from 2000-2700BC, Indus region pottery shards, and local copper mining in small quantities around 1500BC.

The island has good supplies of fine-quality tortoise shell.There was occupation by the Portuguese navy in the sixteenth century.

[12] The modern history of the island is little researched, but it is known that the fishermen were accomplished sailors, constructed their own boats, and trade with the mainland was well advanced.

[18] The base continued to expand into the 1970s, supporting British and Oman forces fighting insurgents during the Dhofar Rebellion and providing transit facilities for long-distance RAF flights.

For kitesurfers, Masirah is an attractive spot in summer because of the monsoon winds which blow steadily at over 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph).