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Traveling to an exotic foreign country can be intimidating and a challenging experience. Because of this it is important that you obtain a wide range of information and advice before you go. We have provided you with a general outline of Oman below.
Please be advised that the information contained in this page can change without notice, thus you should consult with an expert for the most relevant and recent information.
Official Name: Officially known as Sultanate of Oman (locally known as Saltanat Uman). The origin of the name of this country tends to differ from being derived from a tribe of Qahtan or from the word meaning settlement to being the name of a son of the Prophet Abraham.
Capital: The capital of Oman is Muscat. It is the largest and most important city in the country. This city has a rich and long history with one of the most important trading ports that connected the east to the West. Muscat has attracted which led it to be ruled by many foreign powers such as: The Persians, Portuguese, and Ottomans.
Location: Oman is located in the far South-Eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula (Middle East). Oman borders the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Size: The total land and water area of Oman is 309,500 sq km. The total land area is 309,500sq km and the total water area is 0 sq km. Oman is slightly larger than Italy and smaller than Poland. Oman is the third largest country on the Arabian Peninsula after Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The country's land area is composed of varying topographic features: Valleys and deserts accounts for 82% of the total land mass, the mountain ranges accounts for 15%, and the coastal plain 3%.
Climate: The Climate in Oman is hot and dry in the interior and humid along its coast. Oman is extremely hot and dry throughout the year except for the Dhofar region where it receives the cool winds from the Indian Ocean. Rainfall is generally low and irregular, although rare, heavy rains are sometimes experienced.
Population: Oman has a gross population of approximately 3,418,085 million people and the country ranks 134th worldwide in gross population. This is comparable to the population of Panama or Liberia. Close to 55% of the population lives in the capital city of Muscat and the Northwest Batinah coastal plain. There are some 600,000 expatriates living in Oman, most are guest workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, India and the Philippines.
Life expectancy at Birth: The total average life expectancy at birth for Oman is 74.16 years. The life expectancy for males is 71.87 years from birth, while females live a bit longer at an average of 76.55 years. Oman is ranked 91 in the world for life expectancy, putting it between Algeria and Cook Island.
Prevalence of HIV/AIDS: The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Oman is less than 0.1%, ranking Oman at 148th globally, between Macedonia and Maldives. There are 1,300 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country.
Major Illnesses: Northern Oman is not particularly prone to any major diseases; however the southern Salalah Region of South Dhofar is particularly prone to Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, and Hepatitis. There is limited risk of malaria in remote areas of Musandam Province. Travelers should take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites.
Ethnic Groups: The major ethnic groups in Algeria are; Arab, Baluchi, Indian (Banyans and Khojas), South Asian ( Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), and African. The Baluchi also called Baloch or Baluch are originally from Persia (Iran or Pakistan) and speak a Persian dialect. Baluchistanis served as mercenaries in Oman and played an important role in the army until the change of power in 1970. Along the Northeastern coast several Indian communities have been established. In the past Indian merchants, Banyans, had always played a central role in exchanging goods and were involved in most trade with or via India. The Banyans have been settled in Oman from at least the 16th century and have preserved their Hindu beliefs and language.
Languages: There are many languages spoken in Oman, but Omanian Arabic (Masri) is the official language. English and French is widely understood by the educated classes. In the Upper Nile Valley there are about 300,000 speakers of the Nubian language. There are also many who speak Greek in and around Alexandria.
Religion:Ibadi form of Islam is the dominate denomination in Oman. 75% of Oman follows it. Ibadi is believed to be one of the earliest schools of Islam and it is considered to be very conservative. Shi'i Muslims, and other minorities make up the remainder of the population (most citizens are either Ibadhi or Sunni Muslims). The Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Baha'is, and Christians constituted less than 5% of the population and are in most cases immigrant workers.
Government: Oman is a republic, which means the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation. The administrative branch works out of 26 provinces; Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj. Oman does not enjoy a democratic society in the Western sense. There were several local and international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the Human Rights Watch, that have been condemning Oman's human rights record as poor. there have been many human rights violations such as, torture, Detentions, discriminating personal status laws governing marriage and custody, and freedom of the press.
Head of State: The Head of State in Oman is Sultan and Prime Minister Qaboos bin Said al-Said. The monarch is both the chief of state and head of government.
Head of Government: Oman is a Monarchy. There are no elections and no political parties because the monarch is hereditary. Oman has no constitution and the country has only a limited freedom of speech. Unions are forbidden and the law does not allow any strikes from its workforce. The cabinet (called Diwans) is appointed by the monarch. Previously few Omanis had the right to vote because the voters were selected among the elite which consisted about 25% of the population. This changed in 2003 when the Sultan extended the voting rights to everyone over 21 years of age. Also in 2003 women gained the right to vote and an Omani woman was appointed to head the United Nations Information Center based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Military: The Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) consists of: The Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman. Military service age and obligation is 18-30 years of age for voluntary military service and there is no conscription.
Economy: In the past Omanis were seafarers and traders who dominated regional commodity trading in the Indian Ocean, East Africa and the Arabian Gulf. Today Oman is a stable government and it is considered a high-medium income country. Its citizens have a good living standard that is dependent on its oil production. Oil is Oman's main economical resource and it has been consistently reliable but decreasing since the 1960's. In ancient times Oman was known as for its trade in Copper and Frankincense. Today Copper, Frankincense, Zinc, Silicon, Gold, Iron, and Marble have continued to contribute to its economy. Agriculture ( a long tradition) and industries are small and counts less than 1% of the country's exports. Agriculture consists of: dates, limes, grains, and vegetables. Less than 1% of the country is cultivated and most of the food is imported. Industry (metal manufacturing, petrochemicals, cement plants, and international transshipment ports) contributes 4% of the country's GDP. Since the 1990's Oman has begun to put its efforts to diversify its economy by putting more focus on tourism and the drilling of natural gas.
GDP: The purchasing power parity of Oman is USD$ 66.98 billion; this ranks Oman 82nd worldwide, putting the country above Lithuania and just below Guatemala.
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