Oman
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| سلطنة عُمان Salṭanat ʿUmān Sultanate of Oman
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| Motto none |
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| Anthem Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani |
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| Capital (and largest city) |
Muscat |
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| Official languages | Arabic | |||||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | |||||
| - | Sultan | Qaboos bin Said Al Said | ||||
| Independence | ||||||
| - | Expulsion of the Portuguese | 1651 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 309,500 km² (70th) 119,498 sq mi |
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| - | Water (%) | negligible | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | July 2005 estimate | 2,567,0001 (140th) | ||||
| - | Density | 8.3 /km² (211th) 21.5 /sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $40.923 billion (85th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $14,100 (41st) | ||||
| HDI (2004) |  0.810 (high) (56th) |
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| Currency | Rial (OMR) |
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| 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 , Salṭanat ʿUmān, IPA: [sʌltˤʌnʌt ʕʊmæːn]) is a country in Southwest Asia, on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west, and Yemen in the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea in the south and east, and the Gulf of Oman in the northeast. The country also contains Madha, an enclave enclosed by the United Arab Emirates, and Musandam, an exclave also separated by Emirati territory.
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[edit] History
Islam had reached Oman within the prophet Muhammad's lifetime. By the middle of the eighth century C.E., Omanis were practicing a unique brand of the faith, Ibadhism, which remains a majority sect only in Oman. Ibadhism has been characterized as "moderate conservatism," with tenets that are a mixture of both austerity and tolerance.
The Portuguese occupied Muscat for a 140-year period (1508–1648), arriving a decade after Vasco da Gama discovered the seaway to India. In need of an outpost to protect their sea lanes, the Europeans built up and fortified the city, where remnants of their colonial architectural style still remain.
The Ottomans drove out the Portuguese, but were pushed out themselves about a century later (1741) by the leader of a Yemeni tribe, who began the current line of ruling sultans. After one last, brief invasion a few years later by Persia, Oman was free for good of foreign-occupying powers.
Isolated from their Arab neighbors by the desert, the Omanis became an economic power in the early 1800s, largely by using their position on the Indian Ocean and seafaring knowledge gained from the Portuguese to gain access to foreign lands. They took control of the coasts of present-day Iran and Pakistan, colonized Zanzibar and Kenyan seaports, brought back enslaved Africans, and sent boats trading as far as the Malay Peninsula.
At this time, the country became known as Muscat and Oman*, denoting two centers of power, not just the capital and the interior but also the sultan and the imam, the Ibadhist spiritual leader.
The British slowly brought about a collapse of Muscat and Oman's "empire" by the end of the nineteenth century without use of force. Through gradual encroachment on its overseas holdings economically and politically, they caused Oman to retreat to its homeland. In time Britain held such sway in Muscat and Oman itself that it became in effect, and later in fact, a British protectorate.
Having control of the country's military, the British helped subdue rebel tribesmen in the 1950s, driving most into Yemen. But the sultan ran a repressive regime, with laws forbidding numerous activities, including the building and even repair of his subjects' own homes without permission. In 1970, almost certainly with British backing, he was overthrown by his son, the present ruler, Qaboos bin Said Al Said, and the country declared independence the following year as the Sultanate of Oman.
Qaboos is generally regarded as a benevolent absolute ruler, who has improved the country economically and socially. Oman has maintained peaceful ties on the Arabian Peninsula ever since ending another tribal rebellion in the southwest in 1982 by forging a treaty with Yemen. Oman's oil revenue has been consistently invested in the national infrastructure, particularly roads, schools, hospitals, and utilities. More than ever, the country is poised to take advantage of its strategic trade location on the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf to further its economic growth and role in the world.
Except for those who travel to remote Middle East locales, the country has seldom been in the public eye other than for the use of its military bases by U.S. forces in recent years. American and British bombing raids were launched in 1991 from Oman against Iraq in the Gulf War. A decade later, U.S. forces stationed there were involved in raids against Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden.
[edit] Politics
Chief of state and government is the hereditary sultān, Qabūs ibn Saˤīd as-Saˤīd, who appoints a cabinet called the "Diwans" to assist him. In the early 1990s, the sultan instituted an elected advisory council, the Majlis ash-Shura, though few Omanis were eligible to vote. Universal suffrage for those over 21 was instituted on 4 October 2003. Over 190,000 people (74% of those registered) voted to elect the 83 seats. Two women were elected to seats. The country today has two women ministers.
The sultan functions as an absolute ruler.
[edit] Subdivisions
Oman is divided into four governorates (muhafazah) and five regions (mintaqat). These regions are subdivided into provinces (wilayat). The governorates and regions are:
[edit] Governorates
- Masqat (Muscat)
- Musandam
- Dhofar
- Al Buraymi (created 15/10/2006)
[edit] Regions
[edit] 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's climate is hot and dry in the interior and humid along the coast. During past millennia Oman was covered by ocean. Fossilized shells exist in great numbers in areas of the desert up to 50 miles from the modern coastline.
[edit] 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, inside UAE territory, known as Wadi-e-Madhah. It is located halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the rest of Oman [1]. Belonging to Musandam governorate, it covers approximately 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi). The boundary was settled in 1969. The north-east corner of Madha is closest to the Khorfakkan-Fujairah road, barely ten metres (30 ft) away. Within the exclave is an UAE enclave called Nahwa, belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah. It is about eight kilometres (five mi) on a dirt track west of the town of New Madha. It consists of about forty houses with its own clinic and telephone exchange [2].
[edit] Cyclone Gonu
Oman was hit by Cyclone Gonu on June 6. Large areas in the capital area region in the Governorate of Muscat and in Amerat and Quriyat were severely affected. Gonu first hit the southern city of Sur late on June 5, 2007. [3]
[edit] Economy
The economy of Oman is dominated by its dependence on crude oil. A joint venture called IPC drilled a number of dry holes from 1956 onwards though the logistics of doing this were extremely difficult due to the lack of transport infrastructure.
A lack of success, combined with worsening logistical problems and a glut of oil on the world market, led most of the partners to withdraw from the venture in 1960. Only Royal Dutch/Shell and Partex opted to remain in Oman to continue the search for oil. They struck oil at Fahud in 1962 at a site just a few hundreds of metres from the last dry hole.
In June 1967, the Compagnie Française des Pétroles rejoined the partnership by taking over a 10% equity share from Partex, resulting in the following shareholding: Shell 85%, Compagnie Française des Pétroles 10% and Partex 5%. The company changed its name to Petroleum Development (Oman). Shortly followed by the first export of Omani oil on 27 July 1967.
On 1 January 1974 the Government of Oman acquired a 25% shareholding in the Petroleum Development (Oman); half a year later they increased it to 60%, backdated to the beginning of the year. As a result foreign shareholding in PD(O) was now made up of Royal Dutch/Shell (34%), Compagnie Française des Pétroles (now Total) (4%) and Partex (2%).
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. Oil represents about 90% of Oman's exports.
The income generated was quickly deployed into building infrastructures of roads, schools, hospitals, water and electricity generating plants. All of this activity has made Oman a major success story for economic growth despite being the only oil-producing nation in the Middle East that is not a member of OPEC.
Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalise its markets and joined the World Trade Organization in November 2000. GDP growth improved in 2001 despite the global economic slowdown.
On 20 July 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved a US-Oman Free Trade Agreement. [4] Regarding labor rights, the Government of Oman made numerous commitments to revise its labor laws to satisfy Congressional concerns. With respect to the assertions that the Agreement threatened the ability of the United States Government to protect its essential national security, the Congressional Research Service prepared several papers explaining that such was not the case. 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." The treaty will immediately end all duties on trade in industrial and consumer goods and give American farmers duty-free access to Oman's market for 87% of their products. [5] Proponents of the deal claim that the pact will help liberalise the Omani market and open it to U.S. goods. [6]
US President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on September 26 2006 [7].
[edit] Demographics
Oman is the world's easternmost Arabian country. The majority of Omanis are Arabs, although there are sizable Pakistani Baloch and Swahili minorities. As in most other of the smaller, oil-rich Persian Gulf Arab countries, a large number of foreign workers live here, mostly from India and other parts of Pakistan. The official language is Arabic, but the minorities speak their own languages. A non-Arabic Semitic language Bathari is spoken in Dhofar.
Islam is the predominant religion, mostly Ibādiyya Muslims, with a Sunni population in Dhofar, and a Shi'a population near Muscat. Exact numbers are not certain. The largest religious minority are the Hindus, who account for 13% of the population.[1]
[edit] Tourism
Oman is known for its popular tourist attractions. Wadi's deserts, beaches, and mountains are areas which make Oman unique to its neighboring GCC nations (Wadis in particular). Jebel Shams is Oman's tallest mountain, highest point, and is a popular destination for camping. Most of the major malls are located in Muscat, the capital. The largest mall in the country is the Muscat City Centre which was built by Majid Futtaim, an Emirati business man. Other popular tourist activities include sand skiing in the desert, mountain-climbing, camel racing, and camping.
The Muscat Festival is usually held at the beginning of every year. During this event, traditional dances are held, temporary theme parks open, and concerts take place. Another popular event is the Khareef Festival, which is similar to Muscat Festival; however it is held in August in Salalah, Dhofar. During this latter event, mountains are packed as a result of the cool breeze weather during that period of time which rarely occurres in Muscat.
[edit] Culture
- See also: Islam in Oman, Music of Oman, and Cinema of Oman
Even though Oman is a modern country, western influences are quite restricted. The Ibādī form of Islam is also conservative like Sunni Islam and Shi'a Islam. About 75% of Oman is Muslim. As is the case with most Middle Eastern countries, alcohol is only available in some hotels and few restaurants.
Although Arabic is Oman's official language, there are native speakers of different dialects, as well as Balochi, or offshoots of Southern Arabian, a Semitic language only distantly related to Arabic. Swahili is also widely spoken in the country due to the historical relations between Oman and Zanzibar. The dominant indigenous language is a dialect of Arabic and the country has also adopted English as a second language. Almost all signs and writings appear in both Arabic and English
Oman is famous for its khanjar knives, which are curved daggers worn during holidays as part of ceremonial dress. Today traditional clothing is worn by most Omani men. They wear an ankle-length, collarless robe called a dishdasha that buttons at the neck with a tassel hanging down. Traditionally this tassel would be dipped in perfume. Today the tassel is merely a traditional part of the dishdasha.
Women wear hijab and abaya. Some women cover their faces and hands, but most do not. The abaya is a traditional dress and it is current having different styles. The Sultan has forbidden the covering of faces in public office. On holidays, such as Eid, the women wear traditional dress, which is often very brightly colored and consists of a mid-calf length tunic over pants.
A very important part of Omani culture is hospitality. If invited into an Omani house, a visitor is likely to be greeted with a bowl of dates, qahwa (coffee with cardamom - standard Arabic قهوة)and fruit. The coffee is served fairly weak in a small cup, which should be shaken after three servings to show that you have finished. The dates are in lieu of sugar. Halwa and other sweets are often given at celebrations such as Eids.
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[edit] See also
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[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
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[edit] Government
- Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Omani Ministry of Information
- Omani Ministry of Higher Education
- Omani Ministry of Education
- Omani Ministry of Manpower
[edit] General information
- al-Bab - Oman
- ApexStuff.com - An informative site on Oman and Tourism
- Encyclopaedia Britannica, Oman - Country Page
- BBC News Country Profile - Oman
- CIA World Factbook - Oman
- Oman Essentials - A quick look at the Sultanate of Oman
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Oman
- Lonely Planet - Oman
- Nizwa.NET
- Open Directory Project - Oman directory category
- US State Department - Oman includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
- Yahoo! - Oman directory category
- World Arab, Arts, Architecture and Design Design Competition, Events, Arts and Forum
[edit] Other
- OmanForum Oman's most popular English forum
- Soccerblaze A popular Omani football blog
- OmaniaNet, a very popular forum in Oman This website is closed by the Omani authorities in November 2006 pending investigations
- OmaniaNet in English
- The second largest English Omani Forum on the net
- Andy Carvin's Oman Photo Gallery
- Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA)
- Petroleum Development Oman
- newsBriefsOman
- Pictures of Cyclone Gonu in local media
- Oman Photo Gallery
- Pictures and video from a backpackers trip to Oman
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 Bahrain · Kuwait · Oman · Qatar · Saudi Arabia · United Arab Emirates
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