Oman

Location

• Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
• consists of Oman proper and two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; the former is a peninsula that occupies a strategic location adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Muscat	797,000	Capital
Seeb	470,878
Bawshar	383,257
‘Ibrī	163,473
Şalālah	163,140
Şaḩam	140,000
Rustaq	120,000
Sohar	108,274
As Suwayq	107,143
Barkā’	81,647

Size

• 82,031 square miles
• 212,460 square kilometers
• twice the size of Georgia

History

The inhabitants of the area of present-day Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and avoid external entanglements.In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response, QABOOS implemented economic and political reforms such as granting Oman’s legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits and issued a royal directive mandating a national public- and private-sector job creation plan. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in 2012. QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.

Climate

dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialectsmajor-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)note: Omani citizens represent approximately 56.4% of the population and are overwhelming Muslim (Ibadhi and Sunni sects each constitute about 45% and Shia about 5%); Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists account for roughly 5% of Omani citizens

Government

absolute monarchy

• Constitution: history: promulgated by royal decree 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011amendment process: promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 21 years of age; universalnote: members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote
• Legal System: mixed system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law
• Executive Branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarchnote: the monarch is both chief of state and head of government
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)judge selection and term of office: judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for lifesubordinate courts: Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: Majleslegislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• high-income, oil-based economy; large welfare system; growing government debt; citizenship-based labor force growth policy; US free trade agreement; diversifying portfolio; high female labor force participation
• Budget: revenues: $29.334 billion (2018 est.)expenditures: $35.984 billion (2018 est.)
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
• Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber
• Agricultural Products: vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 4.7% (2022 est.)arable land: 0.3% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 0.1% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 4.4% (2022 est.)forest: 0% (2022 est.)other: 95.3% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: refined petroleum, cars, crude petroleum, iron ore, iron pipes (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: UAE 25%, Saudi Arabia 12%, India 8%, China 7%, Qatar 5% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, natural gas, semi-finished iron, fertilizers (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: China 43%, India 6%, Saudi Arabia 5%, UAE 5%, South Africa 4% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports