Oman

The Sultanate of Oman is situated in southwest Asia in the Arabian Peninsula in Middle East, bordering the United Arab Emirates on the northwest, the Arabian Sea on the south and east and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast, Saudi Arabia on the west and Yemen on the southwest. Muscat is the capital of Oman. Oman includes Madha, an exclave enclosed by the United Arab Emirates and Musandam, an exclave separated by Emirati territory.

HISTORY:- Before the advent of Islam, three Iranian dynasties, the Achaemenids, the Parthians and the Sassanids ruled over Oman successively. In the 7th century, Islam was introduced while the Arabs migrated into the country in the 9th century BC. In 1508, the Portuguese settlers started occupying the country by annexing Muscat, and completely took over Oman in 1648. Ahmad ibn Sa'id resisted the Ottoman Turk invasion in 1741. During his reign, Omani capital was shifted from Muscat to Zanzibar. The conflict between the sultans and the imams of Oman finally came to an end in 1959 as the last Ibadi imam was evicted from Oman. In 1970, Sa'id bin Taimur was overthrown in a palace coup in favour of his son Qabus ibn Sa'id. The new sultan abolished many of his father’s ruthless laws. He established a modern government in Oman. Later Sultan Qaboos declared Oman’s first written constitution the ‘Basic Statute of the State’ in 1996. In the following year, Omani Women were granted with the power of nomination in the Shura Council. In 2003, Sultan Qaboos announced universal suffrage for 2003 Majlis al-Shura elections.

GEOGRAPHY:- Oman is located at 21 00 N, 57 00 E in Middle East. The country possesses total 212,460 sq km on earth with no internal water sources. The coastline is 2,092 km long bordering the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. The lowest point is Arabian Sea (0 m) and the highest point is Jabal Shams (2,980 m). Oman is composed of desert plains in the center and rugged mountains in the north and the south.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Oman varies from dry, desert, hot, and humid climate along the coasts to hot, dry climate in the interior. Strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) can be noticed in the far south of Oman.

GOVERNMENT:- Oman has a Constitutional Monarchy. There is no formal constitution in the country. Sultan Qaboos issued a basic law in 1996. The legal system is a mixture of the English common law and the Islamic law. The three principal branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Sultan and the Prime Minister (chief of state and head of government), and the cabinet. The monarch is hereditary. The sultan is the Prime minister of Oman. The cabinet is appointed by the monarch.

Legislative branch comprises the bicameral Majlis Oman, consists of Majlis al-Dawla (70 seats) and the Majlis al-Shura (84 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court. The Civil courts are divided into 4 divisions: Criminal courts, Shari'a courts, Commercial courts, and Labor courts.

 There is no existence of any political parties in Oman. Suffrage is universal at the age of 21, but no suffrage is imposed for the military and security persons in Oman.

Sultan, Prime Minister                                                Qaboos bin Sa'id Al Said

Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Finance      Qaboos bin Sa'id Al Said

Minister of Royal Office Affairs                                    Ali bin Majid al-Ma'amari

Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs                  Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmud al-Said

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Oman is divided into 5 regions (Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah) and 4 governorates (Al Buraymi, Masqat, Musandam, Zufar).

CULTURE:- Oman is globally famous for its khanjar knives. Hijabs and abayas are traditional dresses of Omani women while men wear dishdasha and turban. The Omani cuisine manly comprises meats with spices. Football, Handball, Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball, Athletics, Swimming, and Tennis are widely practiced by the Omanis. Omani hospitality is unique with its serving a bowl of dates and qahwa to the guests.

ECONOMY:- The middle-income economy of Oman highly depends upon its tiny oil deposits. Oman ratified a free trade agreement with the US and through the Gulf Cooperation Council, it anticipates signing similar agreements with the EU, China and Japan.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $61.61 billion; per capita $24,000.

Real growth rate: 6.4%.

Inflation: 5.5%.

Unemployment: 15% (2004 est.).

Arable land: 0.2%.

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

Labor force: 920,000 (2002 est.).

Budget:  

Revenues: $13.99 billion

Expenditures: $13.68 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt: 3.8% of GDP (2007 est.)

Debt - external: $5.297 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Industries: Crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber.

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

Exports: $19.01 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): petroleum, re-exports, fish, metals, textiles.

Imports: $8.709 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants.

Major trading partners: China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, UAE, UK, Italy, Germany, U.S. (2004).

Monetary unit: Omani rial

LANGUAGE:- Arabic is the official language of Oman but English, Baluchi, Urdu, some Indian dialects are also spoken.

CITIES:- The capital of Oman Muscat is the largest city. Other major cities are Salalah, Nizwa, Sohar, Sur.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Oman is 3,204,897 with an average growth rate of 3.2%.

Density per sq mi: 39

Literacy rate: 81.4% (2003 est.).

RACE:- Arab, Baluchi, African, South Asian including Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi are the inhabitants of Oman.

RELIGION:-

Ibadhi Muslim 75%

Other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu) 25%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 35.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 3.68 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 17.45 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.91 years

Total fertility rate: 5.62 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 390

UNICEF:- UNICEF keeps eyes to some of the major issues of Oman like HIV prevention and awareness, juvenile justice, children rights, immunization and vaccination, basic education for all and children education.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 34,965 km; paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways); unpaved: 25,292 km (2001).

Ports and harbors: Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut.

Airports: 139 (2002).