Oman - History, Subdivisions, Geography, Economy, Demographics, Culture

Official name Sultanate of Oman

Local name 'Umãn Timezone GMT +4 Area 300 000 km²/115 800 sq mi population total (2002e) 2 522 000 Status Sultanate Date of independence 1951 Capital Muscat Languages Arabic (official), English, Baluchi (and other Mahri languages), Urdu and Indian dialects also spoken Ethnic groups Arab, with small Baluchi, Iranian, Indian, Pakistani, and W European minorities Religions Ibadhi Muslim (75%), Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim and Hindu (25%) Physical features Located on the SE corner of the Arabian peninsula; the tip of the Musandam peninsula in the Strait of Hormuz is separated from the rest of the country by an 80 km/50 mi strip belonging to the United Arab Emirates; several peaks in the Hajjar Mt range, Jabal Akhdar ridge rises to 3000 m/10 000 ft; vast sand desert in NE; Dhofar uplands in SW. Climate Desert climate, hot and arid; hot, humid on coast (Apr–Oct); average annual temperature 22°C (Jan), 33°C (Jul); light monsoon rains in S (Jun–Sep); average annual rainfall 99 mm/3·9 in. Currency 1 Omani Rial (OMR) = 1000 baizas Economy Oil discovered, 1964, now provides over 90% of government revenue; natural gas an important source of industrial power; c.70% of the population relies on agriculture; alfalfa, wheat, tobacco, fruit, vegetables, fishing. GDP (2002e) $22·4 bn, per capita $8300 Human Development Index (2002) 0·751 History Dominant maritime power of the W Indian Ocean in 16th-c; independent from UK, 1951; separatist tribal revolt, 1964, led to a palace coup that installed the present Sultan in 1970; opened airbases to Western forces, following Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, 1990; independent state ruled by a Sultan who is both Head of State and Premier, and who appoints a Cabinet and a 59-member Consultative Council.

سلطنة عُمان Sulṭanat ʿUmān Sultanate of Oman
Flag National Emblem
Motto: none
Anthem: Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani
Capital (largest city)	Muscat 23°61′N 58°54′E
Official languages	Arabic
Government	Absolute monarchy
- Sultan	Qaboos bin Said Al Said
Independence
- Portuguese expelled	1650
Area
- Total	309,500 km² (70th) 119,498 sq mi
- Water (%)	negligible
Population
- July 2005 estimate	2,567,0001 (140th)
- Density	8.3/km² (211th) 21.5/sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
- Total	$40.923 billion (85th)
- Per capita	$16,862 (41st)
HDI  (2003)	0.781 (medium) (71st)
Currency	Rial (OMR)
Time zone	(UTC+4)
- Summer (DST)	(UTC+4)
Internet TLD	.om
Calling code	+968
1 Population estimate includes 577,293 non-nationals.

The Sultanate of Oman (Standard Arabic: سلطنة عُمان , Saltanat ˤUmān) is a country in Southwest Asia, on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea in the south and east, and the Gulf of Oman in the northeast.

History

The Sultanate of Oman was once known by its Sumerian name Magan.

By the beginning of the first century of the Common Era, Arab tribes began to settle in Oman.

In 751, Ibādī Muslims established an imāmate in Oman.

Oman has been a centre for traders for centuries.

In the early nineteenth century, Muscat and Oman grew to be a major power, having possessions in Baluchistan and Zanzibar, but these were gradually all lost.

During 1970, while Oman was still a protectorate, Sultān Saˤīd ibn Taymūr was ousted by his son, Sultān Qabūs ibn Saˤīd as-Saˤīd, who has reigned since then.

Military bases in Oman were used in 2001 by US forces involved in ground raids against Taliban forces in Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden.

Subdivisions

Oman is divided into three governorates (muhafazah) and five regions (mintaqat). Ad Dakhiliyah
Al Batinah
Al Wusta
Ash Sharqiyah
Az Zahirah (Ad Dhahirah)

Geography

A vast desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along the north (Jebel Akhdar) and southeast coast, where the country's main cities are also located: the capital city Muscat, Matrah and Sur in the north, and Salalah in the south.

Oman is considered to be one of the fifteen states that make up the so-called "Cradle of Humanity".

Exclaves and enclaves

The peninsula of Musandam (Musandem), which has a strategic location on the Strait of Hormuz, is separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates and is thus an exclave.

Oman has one other exclave, this time inside UAE territory, known as Wadi-e-Madhah.

Economy

The economy of Oman is dominated by its dependence on crude oil. Only Royal Dutch/Shell and Partex opted to remain in Oman to continue the search for oil.

On 1 January 1974 the Government of Oman acquired a 25% shareholding in the Petroleum Development (Oman);

In a Royal Decree of 15 May 1980, the company was registered as a limited liability company (LLC) under the name Petroleum Development Oman.

Today Oman produces around 700,000 barrels (110,000 m³) of oil per day and there have been significant discoveries of natural gas and development of a liquefied natural gas terminal.

Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. Regarding labor rights, the Government of Oman made numerous commitments to revise its labor laws to satisfy Congressional concerns. A recent State Department report criticized Oman for not taking enough action to reduce human trafficking but also acknowledged that the country "is making significant efforts to do so."

Demographics

Oman is the world's easternmost Arabian country.

Culture

See also: Islam in Oman and Music of Oman

Even though Oman is a modern country, western influences are quite restricted.

Although Arabic is Oman's official language, there are native speakers of different dialects, as well as Baloochi, or offshoots of Southern Arabian, a Semitic language only distantly related to Arabic. Almost all signs and writings appear in both Arabic and English

Oman is famous for its khanjar knives.