Oman

Oman lies at the eastern corner of the Arabian peninsula. Sharjah and Fujairah (UAE) separate the main part of Oman from the northernmost part of the state, a peninsula (Musandam) extending into the Strait of Hormuz.
Historically Omanis were seafarers and traders who dominated regional commodity trading in the Indian Ocean, East Africa and the Arabian Gulf. There were thus a succession of migrations which saw the growth of settlements along some parts of the East African coast.

In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the United Kingdom.
Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
(Source: Ministry of Information, Sultanate of Oman and CIA World Factbook)

Oman is a member state of the League of Arab States

border countries: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen

other Gulf States: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar

related coubtries: Portugal, United Kingdom

Official Name:
Saltanat Uman
short form: Arabic: عمان‎ ʻUmān
int'l long form: Sultanate of Oman
int'l short form: Oman
former: Muscat and Oman

ISO Country Code: om

Local Time = UTC +4h

Country Calling Code: +968

Capital City: Muscat (pop. over 400 000)

Other Cities:
Dhofar, Salalah, Nizwa, Sohar, Sur.

Government:
Type: Monarchy
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Constitution: On 6 November 1996, Sultan Qaboos issued a royal decree promulgating the Basic Law which, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens.
Political parties: None

Geography:
Location: Middle East, Southeast Arabian Peninsula, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE.
Area: 309 500 sq. km
Terrain: Central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south.

Climate: Hot, humid along the coast; hot, dry in the interior; summer monsoon in far south.

People:
Nationality: Noun--Oman. Adjective--Omani
Population: 2.4 million
GNI per capita PPP: $ 16 300 (year)
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, East African (Zanzabari), South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi)
Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%; Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu, Christian.
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Swahili, Hindi and Indian dialects.
Literacy: approx. 80% (total population)

Natural resources: Petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas.

Agriculture products: Dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish.

Industries: Crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper.

Currency: Rial Omani (OMR)

(Source: Oman Ministry of Information and others)

Oman in Figures
Oman key statistical data.