Oman

Full name of country: Sultanate of Oman

Region: Middle East

Official language: Arabic

Population: 3,901,992 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Omani(s) (noun), Omani (adjective)

Land area: 309,500 sq km

Capital: Muscat

National anthem: "Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem), by Rashid Bin Uzayyiz Al Khusaidi/James Frederick Mills, Arranged by Bernard Ebbinghaus

National holiday: National Day (Birthday of Sultan Qaboos), November 18 (1940)

Population growth: 1.75% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +4

Flag: The flag of Oman has a bold vertical red stripe on the hoist side, with three horizontal stripes of white (top), red (middle), and green (bottom) to the right. The national emblem, a khanjar dagger in its sheath that is superimposed on two crossed swords, appears on the top of the vertical red band. The white in the flag stands for peace and prosperity, the red for former battles, and the green for fertility. A solid red flag was the former flag of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman.

Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Government type: monarchy

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote

Legal system: mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

Oman is an independent nation in the Middle East, located on the easternmost point of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the Strait of Hormuz on the north, the United Arab Emirates on the northwest, Saudi Arabia on the west, Yemen on the southwest, the Arabian Sea on the south, and the Gulf of Oman on the east. One of the oil-producing countries of the Persian Gulf region, Oman was once famous for its frankincense trade. Its people are known as Omanis.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: The majority of Omani citizens, who comprised about 56.4 percent of the population in 2020, are of Arab descent. Immigrants accounted for about 43.6 percent of Oman's population that year. Minority groups include people of Baluchi, East African, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi descent. The ethnic Baluchi people are from the Arabian Sea coast in Iran and Pakistan. Roughly 5 percent of Omanis are nomadic herders. Most Omanis live in or around the major cities (88.4 percent in 2023).

Muscat, the capital and largest city, contains the sultan's palace and several large ancient forts, including Al-Jalali and Al-Mirani. Other notable cities in Oman include Salalah, the capital of the Dhofar region in the south and third-largest city, and Nizwa, which was the Omani capital during the sixth and seventh centuries. The site of Mina Qaboos, one of the Middle East's busiest ports, Matrah is the center of Oman's commercial activity. Most cities include a souk, which is a central marketplace.

Omanis who live in rural areas primarily inhabit the coastal region, which is the nation's agricultural center. In this area, known as al-Batinah, most residents live in villages and work on date palm plantations. Homes along Oman's coast are typically built from palm leaves, which allow maximum ventilation. Mud brick huts are common in the country's interior.

Although Arabic is the official language, English is also widely spoken. Other languages used in Oman include Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, and several Indian dialects. One Arabic colloquialism, commonly used as a greeting, is "Sa-laam Al-ay-kum," which means "Peace be unto you."

About 85.9 percent of the total Omani population are Muslims (2020 estimate). There are several sects of Islam practiced in Oman. According to 2020 estimates, 45 percent of Omani citizens belong to the Ibadi sect, while another 45 percent are Sunni Muslims. The Shia sect comprises about 5 percent. About 5 percent of Omani citizens practice either Buddhism, Christianity, or Hinduism.

Omani women typically wear an abaya, which is a silk cloak, and often wear a veil called a burqa. The typical clothing of Omani men is the dishdasha. Formalwear for men includes a turban and a ceremonial dagger called the khanjar, which is tucked into an ornate sash.

Ethnic groups generally live in harmony in Oman. Discrimination against women is common, however. Women are expected to primarily care for families and are not encouraged to seek education or employment.

Indigenous People: The earliest inhabitants of what is now Oman were hunters, and were probably members of the Al-Ariba ethnic group, from which most Arabs are descended.

The first known civilization in Oman was that of the Persians, who built an irrigation system of canals called aflaj and tunnels called qanat. As early as 5000 BCE, the Dhofari tribes in the far south of Oman established a frankincense trade that made the region wealthy and renowned.

Descendants of the area's native population inhabit the Ras Musandam region, which is the northernmost tip of the peninsula formed by Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Ras Musandam is an Omani exclave, separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates. The people in this region, known as the Shihuh, were driven from mainland Oman and have lived in Ras Musandam for centuries. The Shihuh, descended from native Southern Arabians, speak their own native dialect and have their own capital, Kumzar.

In 1507, Portuguese explorers established a military presence in Oman and seized control of the frankincense trade. In addition to Portugal, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Persia (now Iran) attempted to seize Oman by force. The Portuguese were finally expelled from Oman in 1650, and the Persians in 1741.

Education: Starting in the 1970s and continuing throughout the twenty-first century, many facets of Omani society were improved by socioeconomic reforms. Before 1970, Oman had only two primary schools and no secondary schools or universities. By the early 2020s, there were roughly 1,100 schools and seven state-run universities, including Sultan Qaboos University outside of Muscat.

Education in Oman is free and compulsory for ten years. Students attend primary school from the ages of six through nine and attend secondary school thereafter. Enrollment levels are high. Grades 11 and 12 provide vocational and religious instruction.

Oman's literacy rate was 95.7 percent (97 percent among men and 92.7 percent among women) in 2018.

Health Care: Like the education system, Oman's health care system has benefited greatly from improvements made by the sultan. Before the 1970s, Omani life expectancy was under 50 years. In 2024 the estimated average life expectancy at birth was 75.5 years for men and 79.4 years for women.

Potable tap water is now available throughout the country, and major diseases such as malaria have been wiped out. In addition to these changes, more than one hundred hospitals and health centers, along with a free health care system, have been established. The system, available to all Omanis, includes social security and welfare.  Oman ranked 59th out of 193 countries and territories on the 2022 United Nations Human Development Index, which put the country in the Very High human development category.

Food: There are many cafes and restaurants around Muscat, many of which serve Lebanese cuisine. Meats such as mutton, goat, and camel are cooked in curries and soups. Fish is also widely eaten in Oman, including tuna, shark, anchovies, and cod.

Common Omani dishes include a meat curry called qabooli, a stew called mak bousa, and harees, a meal of steamed wheat and boiled meat. Laban, a form of drinkable yogurt, is a popular beverage, as is camel's milk.

Arts & Entertainment: Indigenous crafts are a substantial aspect of Omani art, and craftworks are often sold at the souk. Traditional crafts include cloth making, pottery, weaving, rug making, brasswork, and woodcarving. The Omani Society of the Fine Arts was established in 1992 to increase interest in painting, sculpture, and calligraphy.

Shipbuilding is one of Oman's most famous art forms. The Sohar, a ship built in 1980 as a replica of a traditional Omani ship, was built without using nails, and was sailed to China.

Architecture is important to Omani culture as a way of preserving the traditions and history of the region. Muscat's buildings feature large domes and arabesque windows. The Bahla mud-brick fort is considered an architectural marvel and is listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

Music is discouraged by Ibadhi Muslims, but is used in come ceremonies and celebrations. Omani festivals often incorporate music played on drums, flutes, and a stringed instrument called the rababa. The sword dance is the most common form of ceremonial dance in Oman.

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Oman. Other popular sports in Oman include camel racing and bull-butting, a bullring sport in which the animals are not killed.

Holidays: Oman's national holiday is National Day, celebrated on the birthday of the sultan, November 18. The celebrations of National Day last two days and include a military parade and public decorations. Renaissance Day, celebrated in July, honors the sultan's efforts to modernize Oman. Most holidays observed in Oman are Muslim celebrations, such as Lailat al-Mi'raj, which commemorates the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Oman is comprised mostly of desert plains. The coastal plain, which includes the al-Batinah region, is the lowest in elevation and the most fertile.

The inland plateau contains the Wahibi Sands, where the dunes rise as high as 61 meters (200 feet). The Al-Hajar Mountain range separates the coastal plain from the central plateau. The Al-Hajar range contains Jabal Shams, which is the nation's highest point at 3,004 meters (9,855 feet) above sea level. Another significant mountain in the Hajar range is Jabal Akhdar.

In the southern Dhofar region are the Jabal al Qara Mountains. The Rub al Khali, or Empty Quarter region of Saudi Arabia, is the desert that makes up eastern Oman. The northern Ras Musandam is made up of fjords and mountains.

Two sets of islands lie off the eastern shore. These are the Kuria Muria group and the larger Masirah Island. Between Ras Musandam and the northern point of mainland Oman is a small Omani-owned enclave known as Madha.

There are no major rivers or lakes in Oman, but there are several large wadis, which are dry river beds that only contain water during periods of rain. The largest of these are the Wadi Aswad and Wadi Qitbit. In addition to wadis, there are smaller streams formed by hot springs. Oman's water area is negligible.

Natural Resources:Petroleum is Oman's most significant natural resource, and is the basis for most of the nation's economic activity. Other natural resources include copper, asbestos, marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum and natural gas.

Plants & Animals: Oman is home to several species which are endangered because of excessive hunting. Such species include the oryx, which is a kind of antelope, and the tahr, a small mountain goat, both of which are hunted for their meat.

Gazelles, foxes, leopards, wild cats, panthers, wolves, hyenas, porcupines, hyrax, hedgehogs, hares, jerboa, bats, toads and lizards are native to Oman's habitats. There are several species of large, poisonous spiders, and dangerous snakes such as the horned viper and boa constrictor.

Birds such as the kingfisher, lanner falcon, sooty falcon and houbara are found throughout Oman. Inland fish include the blind cave-fish. Dolphins live offshore, and dolphin-watching is a popular tourist activity. The Qurm Nature Reserve protects many of Oman's animal species.

Plant life in Oman reflects the region's lack of precipitation. Acacias are the most common trees, followed by date and coconut palms. Other trees include the golden shower tree and the royal poinciana.

Oleander, peach, apricot, and almond grow in the Dhofar region, as do wild pansies, cowslips, and dandelions. The camel-thorn, knib, and nabag are varieties of Omani plants with sweet, edible leaves.

Climate: Oman's climate varies across its regions, but is generally hot and humid throughout the year. Muscat often experiences summer temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit), while the desert plains can reach temperatures of 54 degrees Celsius (130 degrees Fahrenheit).

The Dhofar region experiences its own climate, characterized by the khareef (monsoon) season during summer months. During the khareef season, the average temperature of 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) drops to around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). The khareef brings light rain on a daily basis, yielding an average of 64 centimeters (25 inches). The rest of Oman receives an average annual rainfall of only 10 centimeters (4 inches).

Natural hazards in Oman include flash floods, droughts, sandstorms, and dust storms.

Economy

For much of the early twenty-first century, Oman enjoyed a stable economy with low inflation. In 2023 its gross domestic product (GDP) in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) was US$193.445 billion, and its per-capita gross domestic product was estimated to be US$38,300. The nation experienced strong growth following the discovery of petroleum deposits in 1964. The economy is largely focused on the industrial sector, although the service sector has grown as the country seeks to diversify its economy.

In addition, the sultanate instigated a plan for "Omanization," an economic program to create more jobs for Omani citizens and reduce the amount of dependence on foreign workers, though unemployment remained an issue.

Industry: Service jobs coupled with oil production make up the largest sector of Oman's economy. Industrial activity is mainly focused on crude oil production and refining. Other industrial products include natural gas, cement, copper, steel, chemicals and optic fiber.

Oman's major exports include petroleum, fish, metals, textiles, and reexports. The country's major trading partners include China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Saudi Arabia. the United States, and Brazil.

Agriculture: Most of Oman's agricultural activity is subsistence farming along the fertile al-Batinah region of the coastal plain. Dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, and various vegetables are commonly farmed. Locust plagues are a significant threat to Omani crops. The most common forms of livestock are cattle and camels.

Fishing is also a significant aspect of Omani agriculture; the catch includes abalone, sardines, anchovies, sharks, and tuna. Efforts to boost the country's agricultural sector have been stalled by the reluctance of Omani farmers and fishermen to move toward commercial production.

Tourism: Tourism is a growing sector of Oman's economy, despite setbacks related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the early 2020s. There are a number of natural and cultural tourist attractions in Oman. The sultan's palace in Muscat, along with castles such as Sunaysilah and Bilad Sur, are among the country's architectural attractions.

The Oman Dive Center is a popular tourist spot, as is the Bimmah Sinkhole. Off-road vehicles can be driven on guided tours through the dunes of the Wahibi Sands. Tourists also visit the Nakal Hot Springs. Wadi Shab and Wadi Tiwi, both of which include lush vegetation, caves, and pools, are among the most frequented wadis.

Many visitors to Oman stay in Muscat's Al-Bustan Palace Hotel, which is considered one of the world's finest hotels. Cultural attractions in Muscat include the Sultan's Armed Forces Museum, the National Museum, the Marine Museum, the Oman Museum, and the planetarium.

Government

Oman is an independent sultanate which functions as a monarchy. The sultan has the highest authority in the nation, and is the chief of state, head of government, and prime minister. His duties include appointing the executive cabinet and members of the Majlis al-Dawla (Council of State).

The voting age in Oman is twenty-one, but voters may only elect legislative officials, as the monarchy is hereditary. The bicameral Majlis Oman is the government's legislative branch. The upper chamber, the Majlis al-Dawla, consists of eighty-five sultan-appointed seats. The lower chamber, elected by popular vote, is the eighty-five-seat Majlis al-Shura (Consultative Assembly).

The highest authority in Oman's judicial branch is the Supreme Court. Oman's courts support both Islamic law (Sharia) and secular law.

Oman's monarchy underwent numerous coups d'état in the twentieth century. The imam, a religious leader elected by Muslims, attempted to overthrow the sultan in 1913. The nation was divided in civil war until 1920. In 1954, another imam rebelled, prompting Egypt and Saudi Arabia to support the overthrow.

Coups continued until 1970, when the sultan was overthrown by his son, Qaboos, in a British-backed coup. The new sultan rose to the throne, ended rebellions in the Dhofar region, and instigated numerous beneficial reforms while remaining a largely autocratic ruler. He also helped turn Oman into a regional power. Under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos, Oman helped mediate between rival powers, including hosting early-stage talks between the United States and Iran which helped lead to an agreement regulating Iran's nuclear program.

Sultan Qaboos reigned until his death in January 2020, at which point his cousin, Haytham bin Tariq bin Taimur Al-Said, was crowned the new sultan. By the time of his death Sultan Qaboos had become the longest-serving ruler in the Middle East.

Oman has had defense agreements with the United States since 1980 and agreements with bordering Arab states since 1981, at which point Oman joined the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Oman assisted Kuwait's liberation from Iraq in the Persian Gulf War (1990–1), but did not take part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Interesting Facts

• Ubar, an ancient lost city, was once located in the Rub al-Khali but is now thought to be buried under large sand dunes. Thousands of artifacts dating as far back as 5000 BCE have been discovered in the region.
• Two khanjars, the traditional ceremonial dagger of Oman, appear on the country's flag.
• In 2010 archeologists found stone tools that are more than 100,000 years old on Oman's Nejd (Najd) Plateau.
• The northeastern coast of Oman is one of the world's largest nesting grounds for green, hawksbill, and loggerhead turtles.
• Oman began collaborating with India on space technology in 2018.

Bibliography

“Oman.” The World Bank, The World Bank Group, 2023, data.worldbank.org/country/oman. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

"Oman." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 16 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/oman/. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

"Oman Country Profile." BBC News, 7 Sep. 2023, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14654150. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

“Oman—2019 Annual Research: Key Highlights.” World Travel & Tourism Council, www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/countries-2019/mongolia2019.pdf. Accessed 30 July 2019.

"Oman—2022 Human Development Index Ranking." Human Development Reports, United Nations Development Programme, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/Country-Profiles/OMN.pdf. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.