Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
The inhabitants of the area of present-day Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world.
- Capital
- Muscat
- Government
- absolute monarchy
- Population
- 3,969,824
- Area
- 309,500 sq km
- Location
- Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
- Climate
- dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
- Natural resources
- petroleum; copper; asbestos; some marble; limestone; chromium…
- Languages
- Arabic (official); English; Baluchi; Swahili…
- Religions
- Muslim 85.9%; Christian 6.4%; Hindu 5.7%; other and unaffiliated 2%
- Independence
- 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
- Administrative divisions
- 11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafaza); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al…
- Currency
- Omani rials (OMR)
- Export partners
- China 43%; India 6%; Saudi Arabia 5%; UAE 5%…
- Import partners
- UAE 25%; Saudi Arabia 12%; India 8%; China 7%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain