سلطنة عُمان Sultanate of Oman
Flag National Emblem
Motto: none
Anthem: Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani
Capital (and largest city)		Muscat 23°36′N, 58°33′E
Official languages		Arabic
Demonym		Omani
Government		Absolute monarchy
-	Sultan	Qaboos bin Said Al Said
Independence
-	Expulsion of the Portuguese	1651
-	End of British protectorate	1970
Area
-	Total	309,500 km² (70th) 119,498 sq mi
-	Water (%)	negligible
Population
-	mid 2006 estimate	3,204,897[1] (139th)
-	2003 census	2,300,000
-	Density	8.3/km² (182th) 21.5/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$52.3 billion (81th)
-	Per capita	$19,879 (44th)
GDP (nominal)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$35.992 billion (70th)
-	Per capita	$13,846 (40st)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.814 (high) (58th)
Currency		Rial (OMR)
Time zone		(UTC+4)
-	Summer (DST)	(UTC+4)
Internet TLD		.om
Calling code		+968
1	Population estimate includes 693,000 non-nationals.

Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman (Arabic: سلطنة عُمان, transliteration: salṭanat ʿAumān) is a country in southwest Asia, on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates on the northwest, Saudi Arabia on the west, and Yemen on the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the south and east, and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The country also contains Madha, an exclave enclosed by the United Arab Emirates, and Musandam, an exclave also separated by Emirati territory. Image File history File links Flag_of_Oman. ... The national flag of Oman consists of three stripes (white, green and red) with a red bar on the left that contains the national emblem of Oman. ... The National Emblem of Oman consists of a khanjar dagger in a sheath that is superimposed upon two crossed swords. ... For other uses, see Motto (disambiguation). ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a countrys government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... --67. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... In Oman, about 50% of the population lives in Muscat and the Batinah coastal plain northwest of the capital; about 200,000 live in the Dhofar (southern) region, and about 30,000 live in the remote Musandam Peninsula on the Strait of Hormuz. ... Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area 3,500 km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 606,024 [2] 184. ... An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in the countries, states, and other territories. ... Arabic can mean: From or related to Arabia From or related to the Arabs The Arabic language; see also Arabic grammar The Arabic alphabet, used for expressing the languages of Arabic, Persian, Malay ( Jawi), Kurdish, Panjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Urdu, among others. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Absolute monarchy is a monarchical form of government where the monarch has the power to rule his or her land or country and its citizens freely, with no laws or legally-organized direct opposition in force. ... This is a list of Sultans of Oman. ... Sayyed Qaboos bin Sa’id Al ‘Bu Sa’id GCB GCMG GCVO (Arabic: قابوس بن سعيد آل سعيد born November 18, 1940 in Salalah) is the current Sultan of Oman. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here surface areas between 100,000 km² and 1,000,000 km². ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... A percentage is a way of expressing a proportion, a ratio or a fraction as a whole number, by using 100 as the denominator. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... PPP of GDP for the countries of the world (2003). ... There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Look up Per capita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article includes two lists of countries of the world[1] sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the same year. ... World map of GDP (Nominal and PPP). ... Look up Per capita in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Map of countries by 2006 GDP (nominal) per capita (IMF, October 2007). ... This page talks about Human Development Index, for other HDIs see HDI (disambiguation) World map indicating Human Development Index (2007). ... This talks about the countries in the Human Development Index, for information on the Human Development Index, please Click Here World map indicating Human Development Index (2007) (Colour-blind compliant map) For red-green color vision problems. ... ISO 4217 Code OMR User(s) Oman Inflation 1. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... UTC redirects here. ... A country code top-level domain (ccTLD) is a top-level domain used and reserved for a country or a dependent territory. ... .om is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Oman. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... Arabic redirects here. ... Due to the fact that the Arabic language has a number of phonemes that have no equivalent in English or other European languages, a number of different transliteration methods have been invented to represent certain Arabic characters, due to various conflicting goals. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ...  Southwest Asia in most contexts. ... Arabia redirects here. ... The Arabian Sea (Arabic: بحر العرب; transliterated: Bahr al-Arab) is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui, the north-east point of Somalia... Gulf of Oman The Gulf of Oman (Arabic: خليج عمان; transliterated: khalÄ«j Ê¿umān, Persian: دریای عمان یا دریای پازس; transliterated: daryā-ye Ê¿omān,Pars) Persian sea is a strait that connects the Arabian Sea with the Persian Gulf; it is generally included as a branch of the Persian Gulf, not as an arm of... The Omani territory of Madha (Arabic: ) or Wadi Madha is surrounded by the United Arab Emirates, halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the rest of Oman. ... D is Bs exclave, but is not an enclave. ... The Musandam peninsula is a region of Oman that is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. ...

History

Main article: History of Oman

From the 6th century B.C. to arrival of Islam in the 7th century A.D., Oman was controlled and/or influenced by three Iranian dynasties of Achaemenid, Parthians, and Sassanids ^[2]. Achaemenid (6th-4th century B.C.) controlled and/or influenced over the Oman peninsula. This was most likely exerted from a coastal center such as Sohar ^[2]. By about 250 B.C., Parthian dynasty brought the Persian Gulf under their control and extended their influence as far as Oman. Because they needed to control the Persian Gulf trade route, the Parthians established garrisons in Oman. In the third century A.D., the Sasanids succeeded the Parthians and held area until the rise of Islam four centuries later ^[3]. This does not cite its references or sources. ... Language(s) Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balouchi, Ossetian and various other Iranian languages. ... Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Dynasty was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire, including Cyrus II the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I. At the height of their power, the Achaemenid rulers of Persia ruled over territories roughly emcompassing some parts of todays Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon... Reproduction of a Parthian warrior as depicted on Trajans Column The Parthian Empire was the dominating force on the Iranian plateau beginning in the late 3rd century BCE, and intermittently controlled Mesopotamia between ca 190 BCE and 224 CE. Origins Bust of Parthian soldier, Esgh-abad Museum, Turkmenia. ... Head of king Shapur II (Sasanian dynasty A.D. 4th century). ... Achaemenid Empire The Achaemenid Dynasty was a dynasty in the ancient Persian Empire, including Cyrus II the Great, Darius I and Xerxes I. At the height of their power, the Achaemenid rulers of Persia ruled over territories roughly emcompassing some parts of todays Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon... Sohar (صحار in Arabic) is located in the Al-Batinah province of the Sultanate of Oman, 240 kilometers north-west of the capital Muscat. ...

On the advent of Islam, the faith reached Oman within Prophet Muhammad's lifetime. The conversion of Omanis is usually ascribed to Amr ibn al-As, who visited the region between 627-32.^[4] By the middle of the eighth century AD, Omanis were practicing a unique sect 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 peace. For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... Amr ibn al-Ās (Arabic: عمرو بن العاص) (d. ... Al-Ibadhiyah is a form of Islam distinct from the Shiite and Sunni sects. ...

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. Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area 3,500 km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 606,024 [2] 184. ... For other uses, see Vasco da Gama (disambiguation). ...

Revolting tribes drove out the Portuguese, but were pushed out themselves about a century later (1741) by the leader of a Yemeni tribe leading a massive army from varying other tribes, who began the current line of ruling sultans. A brief Persian invasion a few years later was the final time Oman would be ruled by a foreign power. Oman has been self governing ever since.

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. Sayyed Qaboos ibn Sa`id Al Bu Sa`id (born November 18, 1940) is the current Sultan 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. Enlightened absolutism (also known as benevolent or enlightened despotism) is a form of despotism in which rulers were influenced by the Enlightenment. ...

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. For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... Osama bin Muhammad bin Awad bin Laden (Arabic: ‎; born March 10, 1957[1]), most often mentioned as Osama bin Laden or Usama bin Laden, is a Saudi Arabian militant Islamist and is widely believed to be one of the founders of the organization called al-Qaeda. ...

Map of Oman

Image File history File links Map of Oman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Map of Oman File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of Oman

The Sultan's Palace in Muscat

Chief of state and government is the hereditary sultān, Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said 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 84^[5] seats. Two women were elected to seats. The country today has three women ministers. H.E. Dr. Rawiyah bint Saud al Busaidiyah - Minister of Higher Education, H.E. Dr. Sharifa bint Khalfan al Yahya'eyah - Minister of Social Development and H.E. Dr. Rajiha bint Abdulamir bin Ali - Minister of Tourism. Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said rules Oman with the aid of his ministers. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 683 pixel, file size: 91 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Oman Metadata This... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixel Image in higher resolution (1024 × 683 pixel, file size: 91 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Oman Metadata This... Diwan, also transliterated as Deewan or Divan, is a term for a collection of poems of a single author; it may be a selected works, or the whole body of work of an Urdu, Persian or Ottoman Turkish poet. ... ... Voting is a method of decision making wherein a group such as a meeting or an electorate attempts to gauge its opinion—usually as a final step following discussions or debates. ... Elections Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Universal suffrage (also general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of the right to vote to all adults, without distinction as to race, sex, belief, intelligence, or economic or social status. ... is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The sultan functions as an absolute ruler. Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      An autocracy is a form of government in which the political power is held by a single self appointed ruler. ...

Governorates and regions

Governorates and regions of Oman

Main articles: Administrative divisions of Oman and Districts of Oman

Oman is divided into four governorates (muhafazah) and five regions (mintaqat). The regions are subdivided into districts (wilayat). The governorates and regions are: A governorate is a country subdivision. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Governorate. ... Look up Region in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Mintaqah is an arabic language term for an administrative unit. ... Local government areas called districts are used, or have been used, in several countries. ... A wilāyah (Arabic: ولاية) or vilayet (Turkish: vilâyet) or (ولایت in Persian) is an administrative division, usually translated as province. ...

Governorates

• 4. Al Buraimi (established 2006)
• 7. Dhofar
• 8. Musandam
• 9. Muscat

Al Buraimi (Arabic: ) is the newest governorate of Oman which was split from the Ad Dhahirah region. ... The Dhofar (Arabic ظفار Ẓufār) region lies in Southern Oman, on the eastern border of Yemen. ... The Musandam peninsula is a region of Oman that is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. ... Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area 3,500 km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 606,024 [2] 184. ...

Regions

• 1. Ad Dakhiliyah
• 2. Az Zahirah (Ad Dhahirah)
• 3. Al Batinah
• 5. Al Wusta
• 6. Al Sharqiyah

Ad Dakhiliyah (Arabic: الداخلية) is one of the regions (mintaqah) of Oman with Nizwa town as the regional center. ... Az Zahirah is one of the regions (mintaqah) of Oman. ... Az̧ Z̧āhirah is one of the regions (mintaqah) of Oman. ... Al Bāţinah (Arabic: الباطنة) is one of the regions (mintaqah) of Oman. ... Al Wusta (Arabic: الوسطى) is one of the regions (mintaqah) of Oman. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of Oman

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 80 km from the modern coastline. Oman is a country situated in Southwest Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE. It is considered one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called Cradle of Humanity. ... For the Jebel Akhdar region of Libya, see Jebel Akhdar (Libya) The Jebel Akhdar or Djebel Akhdar (Arabic for Green Mountains) is a mountainous region in Oman, rising to a height of 3075 meters. ... Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area 3,500 km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 606,024 [2] 184. ... Mutrah Harbor Matrah, (Arabic: ‎) population 600,000, is a city located in the Muscat province of Oman. ... Sur is a capital city of Ash Sharqiyah, northeastern Oman, on the coast of the Gulf of Oman. ... Salalah from space, November 2004 Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area ?,???km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 178,447[2] ???.??/km² 2nd Timezone: (UTC) +4 Latitude Longitude 17. ...

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. The series of small towns known collectively as Dibba are the gateway to the Musandam peninsula on land and the fishing villages of Musandam by sea. Boats may be hired at Dibba for trips into the Musandam peninsula by sea. The Musandam peninsula is a region of Oman that is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. ... Historical map of the area (1892) Map Of Strait of Hormuz Satellite image The Strait of Hormuz (Arabic: ‎, Persian: ‎) is a narrow, strategically important stretch of ocean between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf in the southwest. ... D is Bs exclave, but is not an enclave. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... The Musandam peninsula is a region of Oman that is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. ... The Musandam peninsula is a region of Oman that is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... The Musandam peninsula is a region of Oman that is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. ...

Oman has one other exclave, inside UAE territory, known as Madha. It is located halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the rest of Oman.^[6] Belonging to Musandam governorate, it covers approximately 75 km² (29 sq mi). The boundary was settled in 1969. The north-east corner of Madha is closest to the Khorfakkan-Fujairah road, barely 10 m (32.8 ft) away. Within the exclave is a UAE enclave called Nahwa, belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah. It is about 8 km (5 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.^[7] The Omani territory of Madha (Arabic: ) or Wadi Madha is surrounded by the United Arab Emirates, halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the rest of Oman. ... The Musandam peninsula is a region of Oman that is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. ... Square kilometre (US spelling: Square kilometer), symbol km², is an SI unit of surface area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... The flag of the UAE Fujairah (Arabic: الفجيرة) is one of the seven emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, on the Gulf of Oman in the countrys east. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... According to The Encyclopedia of International Boundaries there is one enclave within the Omani Madha exclave, named Nahwa, belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah. ... “Miles” redirects here. ...

Cyclone Gonu

Oman was hit by Cyclone Gonu on June 6 2007. Large areas in the capital area region in the Governorate of Muscat Amerat and Quriyat were severely affected. Gonu first hit the southern city of Sur late on June 5, 2007.^[8] Oman is one of the few countries with no National Red Crescent or Red Cross Society. Despite that, the government managed to keep everyone alert and safe using the media and the areas that were affected have recovered. Current storm status Category 3 cyclone (1-min mean) As of: 1100 UTC June 5 Location: 21. ... The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the worlds largest group of humanitarian non-governmental organisations. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of Oman

The Omani economy has been radically transformed over a series of development plans beginning with the First Five­-year Plan (1976-1980). At Sultan Qaboos's instruction, a vision of Oman's economic future up to the year 2020 was set out at the end of the first phase of the country's develop­ment 1970-1995. Vision 2020, outlined the country's economic and social goals over the 25 years of the second phase of the development process (1996­-2020). Oman is a remarkably stable country in the Middle East. ... ISO 4217 Code OMR User(s) Oman Inflation 2% Source The World Factbook, 2006 est. ... The Central Bank of Oman was established in December 1974 and began operations on 1st April 1975. ...

The direct rule of the sultan gives Oman a largely stable economic and social system free of party politics. Sultan Qaboos, encourages market-oriented policies and private sector development as the mechanism for prosperity and growth.

Ruwi CBD Area

Commercial export of oil began in 1967 and since Sultan Qaboos' accession to the throne in 1970, many more oil fields have been found and developed. In June 1999, PDO discovered a new oil field in southern Oman after drilling and testing three wells which demonstrated the commercial viability of the reservoir. This is the most significant find in five years. Work is continuing on the RO 503.876 million ( US$1,300 million ) oil refinery project in Sohar, which was due to go into operation in 2006 with a 116,400 barrels a day refining capacity. In 2004 Oman Oil Refinery was supplied with about 78,200 barrels a day for refining, while PDO began using steam injection technology in several wells to increase their productivity. Petroleum Development of Oman (PDO) is the foremost exploration and production company in the Sultanate. ... PDO can refer to The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) is a long-lived El Niño-like pattern of Pacific climate variability, which has a great impact on the global ecosystem. ...

Since the slump in oil prices in 1998 , Oman has made active plans to diversify its economy and is placing a greater emphasis on other areas of industry, such as tourism and natural gas. Oman's Basic Statute of the State expresses in Article 11, that, "The National Economy is based on justice and the principles of a free economy." Tourist redirects here. ... For other uses, see Natural gas (disambiguation). ...

The Vision Conference: Oman 2020, held in June 1995, has developed the following aims with regard to securing Oman's future prosperity and growth:

• To have economic and financial stability
• To reshape the role of the Government in the economy and to broaden private sector participation
• To diversify the economic base and sources of national income
• To globalise the Omani economy
• To upgrade the skills of the Omani workforce and develop human resources

In 2006, employees' salaries were increased by an average of fifteen percent, placing Oman in the category of high-medium income countries of the world.^{[citation needed]}

In 2008, public sector employees' were also increased in salaries (some up to 48%). Some companies in private sector also managed to increase their staffs' salaries due to the high prices that increased in the market.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Oman

In Oman, about 50% of the population lives in Muscat and the Batinah coastal plain northwest of the capital; about 200,000 live in the Dhofar (southern) region, and about 30,000 live in the remote Musandam Peninsula on the Strait of Hormuz. Some 600,000 expatriates live in Oman, most of whom are guest workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Jordan, India and the Philippines. In Oman, about 50% of the population lives in Muscat and the Batinah coastal plain northwest of the capital; about 200,000 live in the Dhofar (southern) region, and about 30,000 live in the remote Musandam Peninsula on the Strait of Hormuz. ... Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area 3,500 km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 606,024 [2] 184. ... The Musandam peninsula is a region of Oman that is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates. ... Historical map of the area (1892) Map Of Strait of Hormuz Satellite image The Strait of Hormuz (Arabic: ‎, Persian: ‎) is a narrow, strategically important stretch of ocean between the Gulf of Oman in the southeast and the Persian Gulf in the southwest. ...

Of total population, about 55% are Ibadi Muslims who are related to the early Kharajites. Sunnis account for 38% of the population while Shia Jaffaris are 4%. The remaining 3% of the population are Hindus, Christians and other minorities, most of whom are expatriates.^[1] Al-Ibāḍiyyah (Arabic الاباضية) is a form of Islam distinct from the Shiite and Sunni denominations. ...

Since 1970, the government has given high priority to education to develop a domestic work force, which the government considers a vital factor in the country's economic and social progress. In 1986, Oman's first university, Sultan Qaboos University, opened. Other post secondary institutions include a law school, technical college, banking institute, teachers training college, and health sciences institute. Some 200 scholarships are awarded each year for study abroad. Sultan Qaboos University, located in Muscat, Oman, is the only public university in the Sultanate of Oman. ...

Nine private colleges exist, providing 2-year post secondary diplomas. Since 1999, the government has embarked on reforms in higher education designed to meet the needs of a growing population, only a small percentage of which are currently admitted to higher education institutions. Under the reformed system, four public regional universities will be created, and incentives are provided by the government to promote the upgrading of the existing nine private colleges and the creation of other degree-granting private colleges.

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Oman

Al-Bustan Palace Hotel

Oman is known for its popular tourist attractions. Wadis, 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 hFuttaim, an Emirati business man. Other popular tourist activities include sand skiing in the desert, mountain-climbing, camel racing, and camping. Ras-al-Hadd Beach Oman is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x663, 130 KB)Image provided by talal. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1000x663, 130 KB)Image provided by talal. ... Wadi alMujib, Jordan A wadi (Arabic: ) is traditionally a valley. ... Map indicating CCASG members Official languages Arabic Type Trade bloc Membership Arab states of the Persian Gulf (6) Leaders  -  Secretary-General Abdul Rahman ibn Hamad al-Attiyah Establishment  -  As the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) May 25, 1981  Population  -   estimate 40,338,196[1]  GDP (nominal)  estimate  -  Total $1 Trillion   -  Per... Classification City Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said Area 3,500 km² [1] Population  - Total (2005)  - Density  - Oman calculated rank 606,024 [2] 184. ...

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 occurs in Muscat. The Dhofar (Arabic ظفار Ẓufār) region lies in Southern Oman, on the eastern border of Yemen. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of Oman

See also: Islam in Oman, Music of Oman, and Cinema of Oman

Although Arabic is Oman's official language, there are native speakers of different dialects, as well as Balochi (the language of the Baloch from Pakistan), or offshoots of Southern Arabian, a Semitic language only distantly related to Arabic, but closely related to Semitic languages in Eritrea and Ethiopia. Swahili and French are also widely spoken in the country due to the historical relations between Oman and Zanzibar the two languages have been linked historically. 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. A significant number also speak Hindi, due to the influx of Indian migrants during the late 1980s and the 1990s. oman people very well known for thier hospitility This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... During his visit to Muscat, Oman, Vice President Dick Cheney is on a tour of the countrys massive Grand Mosque, which spans an area of about 25 square miles (65 km²), March 16, 2002 The majority of Omanis are Ibadhi Muslims, followers of Abd Allah ibn Ibad. ... Oman is an Arab country located on the Arabian Peninsula. ... West Asian cinema refers collectively to the film output and film industries of the West Asia. ... South Arabian is a technical designation within Semitic linguistics for one of two main branches of South Semitic. ... In linguistics and ethnology, Semitic (from the Biblical Shem, Hebrew: שם, translated as name, Arabic: سام) was first used to refer to a language family of largely Middle Eastern origin, now called the Semitic languages. ... Map of Zanzibars main island Zanzibar is part of Tanzania Coordinates: , Country Tanzania Islands Unguja and Pemba Capital Zanzibar City Settled AD 1000 Government  - Type semi-autonomous part of Tanzania  - President Amani Abeid Karume Area  - Both Islands  637 sq mi (1,651 km²) Population (2004)  - Both Islands 1,070... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

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. The khanjar (Arabic خنجر) is the traditional dagger of Oman. ...

Women wear hijabs and abayas. Some women cover their faces and hands, but most do not. The abaya is a traditional dress and it is currently 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. “Higab” redirects here. ... A shop selling abayasin Bahrain The abaya is an overgarment worn by some women in Muslim-majority countries. ... The word Eid can mean several things: There are two Islamic festivals of Eid: One is called Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, The other is Eid ul-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى) or Eid-e Qurban (Persian: عید قربان) which is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim...

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. The term date can refer to: A day according to a calendar; see calendar date. ... This article is about the herbs. ...

Food

Main article: Cuisine of Oman

The Cuisine of Oman is fairly simple and often utilizes marinades and the impregnating of meats with spices. Chicken, fish, and mutton are regularly used in dishes. A favorite drink is laban, a salty, buttermilk yogurt drink, flavored with cardamom. Dates, dry fruits and pistachio nuts are also very popular. Arab cuisine Cuisine of Oman Categories: | | ... This article is about the herbs. ...

Male national dress

This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Omani man in Nizwa

Main article: dishdash

The national dress for Omani men is a simple, ankle-length, collarless gown with long sleeves called the dishdasha. The colour most frequently worn is white, although a variety of other colours such as black, blue, brown and lilac can also be seen. Its main adornment is a tassel (furakha) sewn into the neckline, which can be impregnated with perfume. Underneath the dishdasha, a plain piece of cloth covering the body is worn from the waist down. Omani men may wear a variety of head dresses. The mussar is a square of finely woven woollen or cotton fabric, wrapped and folded into a turban. Underneath this, the kummah, an intricately embroidered cap, is sometimes worn. The shal, a long strip of cloth acting as a holder for the khanjar (a silver, hand-crafted knife or dagger) may be made from the same material as the mussar. Alternatively, the holder may be fashioned in the former of a belt made from leather and silver, which is called a sapta. On formal occasions, the dishdasha may be covered by a black or beige cloak, called a bisht. The embroidery edging the cloak is often in silver or gold thread and it is intricate in detail. Some men carry the assa, a stick, which can have practical uses or is simply used as an accessory during formal events. Omani men, on the whole, wear sandals on their feet. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Men wearing dishdashas A thawb/ thobe (Arabic: , ), dishdasha (, ), kandura (, ) or khameez (, ) is an ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe. ... A man wearing a thawb (white gown) under a bisht (black overcoat worn over the thawb) A thawb or khameez (Arabic: ‎) is an ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe. ... For other uses, see hilt and maize. ... This article is about headwear. ... The khanjar (Arabic خنجر) is the traditional dagger of Oman. ... Bisht refers to the title of Rajputs in Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand. ... The Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA), formed in 1922, is a body consisting of both amateur and professional astronomers. ...

Female national dress

This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Omani women have very colourful costumes which vary from region to region. The main components of a woman's outfit comprise a dress which is worn over trousers (haaf) and the headdress, called the lihaf or hijab. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ...

There are numerous traditional styles of Omani costume seen in Muscat. However, there are three main types which show vibrant colours, embroidery and decorations. One style of costume is rather flowing and resembles that worn by the women of the Interior, while another is decorated with distinctive silver bands. The embroidery on these dresses can take around two months to complete. In mathematics, the interior of a set S consists of all points which are intuitively not on the edge of S. A point which is in the interior of S is an interior point of S. The notion of interior is in many ways dual to the notion of closure. ...

In the Dhofar region, the dress (or thob) is known as the Abu Dhail, which means 'one with a tail'. This dress is shorter at the front than at the rear and is made from luxurious velvet or cotton, shot with gold and silver embroidery, beads and sequins. It has a square neckline and is generally worn with a lightweight, cotton or silk sh'ela (head dress) which may also be sewn with pearls, sequins and sometimes small gold coins for special celebrations. Elaborate jewellery is often worn with this dress, around the head, neck, wrists, ankles, fingers and toes. The Dhofari women rarely wear a birka (mask), but the older ladies, originating from the Nejd (the desert area) and the mountains may do so. The birka is often dyed gold or indigo. Some women pierce their noses on both sides and can be seen wearing a carnelian stone, which is a dull red, and a gold flower stud. Indigo is often used as a skin preparation which is rubbed into the face and then washed off using the leaves of the becium dhofarense imparting a bluish tinge which is enhanced by the dresses and robes. However, more and more western dress is being seen, just as in all other Middle-eastern states. Location in Sweden During the Viking Age, Birka or Birca  , on the island of Björkö (also Bierkø, literally: Birch Island) in Sweden, was an important trading center which handled goods from Scandinavia as well as Central and Eastern Europe and the Orient. ... Najd (Nejd) is a region in central Saudi Arabia and the location of the nations capital, Riyadh. ... Imprint of a carnelian seal with Brahmi inscription Kusumadasasya (Flowers servant). 4-5th century CE, probably Punjab. ...

Sports

The government aims to give young people a fully rounded education by providing activities and experience in the sporting, cultural, intellectual, social and scientific spheres, and to excel internationally in these areas and for this reason, in October 2004, the government created a Ministry of Sports Affairs to replace the General Organisation for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs.

The International Olympic Committee awarded the former GOYSCA its prestigious prize for sporting excellence in recognition of its contributions to youth and sports and its efforts to promote the Olympic spirit and goals.

The Oman Olympic Committee played a major part in organizing the highly successful 2003 Olympic Days, which were of great benefit to the sports associations, clubs and young participants. The Football Association took part, along with the Handball, Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball, Athletics, Swimming, and Tennis Associations. In 2010 Muscat will host the 2010 Asian Beach Games for the first time.

See also

Map of Oman This is a list of cities and towns in Oman: Adam Bahla Barka Buraimi Duqm Haima Ibra Ibri Khasab Madha Masirah Matrah Mudhaybi Mudhaireb Muscat Nizwa Quriyat Raysut Rustaq Ruwi Saham Shinas Saiq Salalah Seeb Sohar Sumail Sur Suwaiq Thumrait Categories: | ... The regions of Oman are subdivided into provinces (wilaya). ... Telephones - main lines in use: 300,000 (1999) Telephones - mobile cellular: 120,000 (1999) Telephone system: modern system consisting of open wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable domestic: open wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations international: satellite earth stations - 2... Education is free, though not compulsory. ... When Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said assumed power in 1970, Oman had limited contacts with the outside world, including neighboring Arab states. ... The situation of human rights in Oman is not well publicized. ... This article is about transport in Oman. ... Ras-al-Hadd Beach Oman is a country on the Arabian Peninsula. ... The crossed Khanjar motif of the state coat of arms is a common motif in flags and badges of the SAF The Sultan of Omans Armed Forces (SAF) are the Royal Army of Oman, Navy, Air Force and other defence forces of the Sultanate of Oman. ... The National Organisation for Scouts and Guides, the national Scouting and Guiding organization of Oman, was founded in 1948, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1977 and of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1996. ... TheWeek is a free, 48-page, all-colour, independent weekly published from Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. ... Current storm status Category 3 cyclone (1-min mean) As of: 1100 UTC June 5 Location: 21. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 318th day of the year (319th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

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Government

• State Council
• Majlis As-shura
• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry of Information
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Tourism

Media

• Oman News Agency
• Oman state TV and Radio
• Oman newspaper
• Al-Watan newspaper
• Al-Shabiba newspaper
• Azzamn newspaper
• Times of Oman
• Oman Tribune
• Oman Observer
• The Week

General information

• Encyclopaedia Britannica, Oman - Country Page
• BBC News Country Profile - Oman
• CIA World Factbook - Oman
• Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Oman
• Open Directory Project - Oman directory category
• US State Department - Oman includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
• Yahoo! - Oman directory category
• Oman Travel & Tourism Portal
• Oman Guide

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(u) Uses the non-monarchical title President. v • d • e Afro-Asiatic-speaking nations   Berber      Algeria  Egypt Image File history File links Flag_of_the_League_of_Arab_States. ... Headquarters Cairo, Egypt1 Official languages Arabic Membership 22 Arab states 2 observer states Leaders  -  Secretary General Amr Moussa (since 2001)  -  Council of the Arab League Sudan  -  Speaker of the Arab Parliament Nabih Berri Establishment  -  Alexandria Protocol March 22, 1945  Area  -  Total 13,953,041 (Western Sahara Included) = 13,687,041... “Palestinian government” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_League_of_Arab_States. ... The flag of the Organ of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Membership in the OIC:  Member Members once temporarily suspended Withdrew Observer Attempted to join but blocked OIC redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_OIC.svg Beschreibung The flag of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). ... 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Alo, also known unofficially as Tu`a, is one of the three official chiefdoms of the French territory of Wallis and Futuna, which encompasses the eastern two thirds (53 km² out of 83 km²) of Futuna Island, and mostly uninhabited Alofi Island (32 km², pop. ... Ankole, originally known as Nkore, is one of the four traditional kingdoms of Uganda. ... For other uses, see Ashanti (disambiguation). ... The flag of Buganda Buganda is the kingdom of the 52 clans of the Baganda people, the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda. ... Bunyoro flag The current Kingdom of Bunyoro-Kitara and its districts Bunyoro is a region of Uganda, and from the sixteenth to the nineteenth century one of the most powerful kingdoms of East Africa. ... The flag of Busoga Kingdom of Busoga and its districts Busoga is the kingdom of the 11 principalities of the Basoga people, one of the five traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda. ... This article is about the Māori people of New Zealand. ... Sigave is one of the three official chiefdoms of the French territory of Wallis and Futuna, which is located on the western part of Futuna Island. ... This article is about the Dalai Lama lineage. ... Original Kingdom of Toro and its districts Kingdom of Toro since 1993 Toro is one of the four traditional kingdoms located within the borders of Uganda. ... For the Pacific island, see Wallis Island. ... Yogyakarta Sultanate or Kesultanan Yogyakarta is a monarchy in the province of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. ... Zululand was the Zulu-dominated area of what is now northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. ... The Commonwealth Realms, shown in pink A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the sixteen sovereign states within the Commonwealth of Nations that recognise Elizabeth II as their respective monarch. ... Governor-General (or Governor General) is a term used both historically and currently to designate the appointed representative of a head of state or their government for a particular territory, historically in a colonial context, but no longer necessarily in that form. ... The Afro-Asiatic languages constitute a language family (Languages of Africa) with about 375 languages (SIL estimate) and more than 300 million speakers spread throughout North Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, and Southwest Asia (including some 200 million speakers of Arabic). ... The Berber languages (or Tamazight) are a group of closely related languages mainly spoken in Morocco and Algeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Algeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ...  Libya  Mali Image File history File links Flag_of_Libya. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mali. ...  Mauritania  Morocco Image File history File links Flag_of_Mauritania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Morocco. ...  Niger  Tunisia Image File history File links Flag_of_Niger. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ... v • d • e Chadic      Cameroon  Central African Republic  Chad The Chadic languages are a language family spoken across northern Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Central African Republic and Cameroon, belonging to the Afro-Asiatic phylum. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Cameroon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Central_African_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chad. ...  Niger  Nigeria Image File history File links Flag_of_Niger. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Nigeria. ... v • d • e Cushitic     Cushitic  Djibouti  Eritrea The Cushitic languages are a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic languages, named after the Biblical figure Cush by analogy with Semitic. ... The Cushitic languages are a subgroup of the Afro-Asiatic languages, named after the Biblical figure Cush by analogy with Semitic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Djibouti. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Eritrea. ...  Ethiopia  Kenya Image File history File links Flag_of_Ethiopia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Kenya. ...  Somalia Image File history File links Flag_of_Somalia. ... Beja  Egypt  Eritrea Beja (also called Bedawi, Bedauye, To Bedawie) is an Afro-Asiatic language of the southern coast of the Red Sea, spoken by about two million nomads in parts of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Eritrea. ...  Sudan Image File history File links Flag_of_Sudan. ... v • d • e Egyptian     Egypt v • d • e Omotic  Ethiopia v • d • e Semitic     Arabic / Maltese  Algeria  Bahrain  Egypt  Iraq  Israel  Jordan The language of the Egyptian hieroglyphs and their modern descendant, the Coptic language is classifed under this category. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... The Omotic languages are Afro-Asiatic languages spoken in northeast Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ethiopia. ... 14th century BC diplomatic letter in Akkadian, found in Tell Amarna. ... Arabic redirects here. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Algeria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Bahrain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Egypt. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iraq. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Jordan. ...  Kuwait  Lebanon  Libya  Malta  Mauritania  Morocco Image File history File links Flag_of_Kuwait. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Lebanon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Libya. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Malta. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mauritania. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Morocco. ...  Oman  PNA  Qatar  Saudi Arabia  Sudan1 Image File history File links Flag_of_Oman. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Palestine. ... This article is about the Palestinian territories as a geopolitical phenomenon. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Qatar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Sudan. ...  Syria  Tunisia  UAE  W. Sahara  Yemen Image File history File links Flag_of_Syria. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Tunisia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates. ... UAE redirects here. ... Western Sahara (Arabic: الصحراء الغربية; transliterated: ; Spanish: Sahara Occidental) is a territory of northwestern Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Yemen. ... Northwest Semitic2  Iraq  Israel  Syria The Northwest Semitic languages form a medium-level division of the Semitic language family. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iraq. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Syria. ... South Semitic  Eritrea  Ethiopia  Oman  Yemen South Semitic is one of the three macro-classifications in Semitic linguistics, the other two being North Semitic (e. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Eritrea. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ethiopia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Oman. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Yemen. ... 1 excluding Southern Sudan.    2 Aramaic and Hebrew.