Official Name : Sultanate of Oman
Capital: Muscat
Location: Oman is bounded in the north-east by the gulf of oman and south-east by the Arabian Sea, south-east by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. There is an enclave at the northern tip of the Musandam Peninsula between the United Arab Emirates of Ras al-Khaima in the west and Fujairah in the south-easte >>>
Area: Oman covers an area of about 309,500 sq km (about 119,500 sq mi). Until the 1990s Oman had border disputes with its three neighbors; agreements were reached with Saudi Arabia in 1990, with Yemen in 1992, and with the United Arab Emirates in 1993. The borders with Yemen and Saudi Arabia were demarcated in 1995; the border with the United Arab Emirates awaits final demarcation. Oman is largely a desert land, with five distinct geographical regions.
Language: Arabic is the official language of Oman, and English and Asian languages such as Hindi, Urdu, and Baluchi are also widely spoken. Swahili is spoken by some, a legacy of Oman´s former East African presence. English is widely used in business.
Religion: Islam is the official religion, although other religions are tolerated under the country´s Basic Law. Muslims make up 86 percent of the population. Three-fourths of the Muslims are Ibadis, a minority sect dating from the 8th century. Most of the remainder adhere to Sunni Islam and the rest to Shia Islam. Indian Hindus account for 13 percent of the population. There are also small numbers of non-Omani Christians.
Population: In 1997 Oman had an estimated population of 2,283,324, giving it an average density of 7 persons per sq km (19 per sq mi).The population has grown steadily, doubling between 1960 and 1993. In 1997 the growth rate was a relatively high 3.5 percent. Oman has a very young population; two-fifths of all native Omanis are under the age of 15. Only 14 percent of Omanis live in cities and towns.
While most of the rest are settled in villages, a few Bedouins still practice their nomadic ways. Much of Oman´s urban population resides in the Greater Capital Area, which includes Masqat proper, the capital; Mattrah, a major port; and Ruwi, the commercial hub of Oman.
The new port of Mina´ Qaboos is also in this metropolitan area, as is Mina´ al Fahl, a loading terminal for oil supertankers. Other important cities include Nizwá, the historic seat of the Ibadi imamate (Muslim community headed by an imam) in interior Oman; Sur, an important fishing port located south of Masqat, and Salalah, the largest city and principal port of Dhofar.
Currency: The basic unit of currency in Oman is the Omani Rial (0.38 rial equals U.S. $1; fixed rate). It is divided into 1000 baiza. The rial is the only currency circulated, although in some rural areas transactions occur outside the cash economy.
Oman Time Difference: GMT + 4
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Up until just 20 or so years ago the Sultanate of Oman, the second largest country in Arabia, was secretive and reclusive, its people kept from the modern world by a repressive ruler to the point that the gates of the capital city, Muscat, were closed from dusk to dawn. The surly Sultan, however, was overthrown by his British-educated son in 1970, and since then Oman has been gradually gaining confidence and wealth, catching up with the times and cautiously welcoming a trickle of tourists at Seeb International Airport.
Oman occupies the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered
by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It's topography is varied and dramatic, with rocky mountains and deep water inlets in the north, rolling dunes and salt flats in the central interior, verdant green hills in the southern Dhofar province, and a coastline stretching thousands of miles with magnificent beaches and cosy coves.
Sultan Qaboos bin Said has realised that tourism is an integral part of his modernization program, but thus far it is the wealthy who are being urged to bring their holiday funds to spend in Oman. Sightseeing and activities are mainly restricted to Muscat and the southern town of Salalah, famed for its seafood, frankincense trees and the ruins of the palace of the Queen of Sheba. Accommodation is offered mainly in luxury resort hotels.
Making use of oil revenue Muscat has taken on the veneer of a prosperous modern Arab city, without losing its old world charm and heritage, featuring forts, palaces and other historic sites of interest to visitors, as well as an exciting traditional souq (bazaar) and some stunning long sandy beaches like Qurum, Bandar Al-Jissah and Yeti.
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Little is known about Oman's pre-Islamic past but it is clear from recent archeological discoveries and research that early civilizations existed at least 5000 years ago.
Sumerian tablets refer to a country named "Magan" as a source of copper. It seems certain that they referred to Oman.Evidence from excavations near Sohar shows that the copper mining and smelting industry was well developed by the year 2000BC.
Frankincense from Dhofar, which was so important in the social religious life of ancient peoples also provides evidence of the existence of an early trading community. It is also clear that there were farming and fishing settlements from the earliest times.
The ancestors of present day Omanis are believed to have arrived in two waves of migration over a number of years, the first from Yemen and the second from northern Arabia at a time when various parts of the country were occupied by the Persians.
The call of the Prophet Mohammed to the Omanis to become Muslims altered the course of their history. It was in about 630 AD that Amr Ibn al-As arrived in Oman bearing a letter from the Prophet to Abd and Jaifar, the two sons of al-Julanda, who ruled Oman jointly. Having embraced Islam, they were instrumental in defeating the Persians.
The early Imamate in Oman arose out of a vision to create the true and ideal Muslim state. The first Ibadhi Imam, Julanda bin Mas'ud, was elected in 751 AD but he died in battle and it was not until 801 AD after a period of turmoil that Warith bin Kaab was elected. There then followed a period of peace, stability and prosperity lasting more than three hundred years.
Maritime trade flourished and Sohar became the greatest sea port in the Islamic world. As they traveled and traded, the Omanis spread the message of Islam, as well as Arab culture and language, reaching as far east as China.
Portuguese Occupation: In the early 16th century after the Portuguese under Vasco de Gama had discovered the sea route round the Cape of Good Hope to India, they occupied Muscat for a century and a half in order to dominate the trade which had until then been an Arab Monopoly. The Portuguese were expelled from Muscat in 1650 by Sultan bin Saif al-Yarubi.
The Ya'aruba Dynasty: Since the expulsion of the Portuguese no other foreign power has ever occupied Oman, apart from a brief period when the Persians made a partial occupation. The Ya'aruba Imams introduced a period of renaissance in Omani fortunes both at home and abroad, uniting the country and bringing prosperity. It was under the Ya'aruba dynasty that many of the imposing castles and beautiful buildings that have been restored recently, such as the fort at Nizwa and the Palace at Jabrin, were built.
