Famous Sights and Interesting Facts of Oman

In this article, we are going to learn everything about Oman from its past to its culture to its government and many more. Read the whole article so that you get to know the zeal of Oman!

Brief about Oman

You must be aware that Oman is a Nations Online country profile of the Sultanate in the Middle East. The country is situated on the southeastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, adjoining the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman; the Musandam Peninsula in the north of the country connects the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf too. Do you know that Oman shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and maritime borders with Iran and Pakistan?

Till 1970 Muscat and Oman were known as the oldest independent state in the Arab world. In the 19th century, the country was the most powerful in the region; it contained Zanzibar and other territories. The country has a strong connection with Britain till the late 19th century.

Oman is smaller than Poland and twice the size of Georgia. In figures, Oman covers an area of 309,500 km2.

Oman provides a variety of attractive topographical features. There are valleys between rough mountain ranges with terraced orchards where pomegranates, apricots, and roses flourish and vast spaces of an extended plateau with gravel desert incorporated with wadis and big pools of water in the middle. The main cities of Oman line up neatly along the coast.

As per 2020 data, the country has a population of 4.45 million people, of whom 61% citizens are Omanis. Muscat is the capital of Oman. Arabic is the official and spoken language in the country. We all know the fact that the majority of Oman’s population is Muslim.

Oman is known for what?

Oman is known for many things. However, Arabian horses, dromedaries, wild asses, green turtles, the Oryx antelope, frankincense trees, and date palms are a few things for which Oman is famous.

Oman is also popular for its archaic aflaj oases irrigation system, terraced orchards, adobe fortresses, tons of mosques, wadis, dhows, meteorites, and Al Said, the world’s third-largest yacht, owned by the Sultan. Chicken, fish, lamb, and coffee are the country’s staple food.

Sultanate of Oman

Background:

Oman is located along the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. The Emirates of Sharjah and Fujairah (UAE) divide the major part of Oman from the northernmost part of the state, a peninsula prolonging into the Strait of Hormuz.

Omanis were known as the seafarers and traders historically who conquered provincial commodity trading in the Indian Ocean, East Africa, and the Arabian Gulf. As a result, a series of migrations led to the growth of settlements along with some parts of the East African coast.

Qaboos bin Said Al Said overthrew his father in 1970 and ruled as sultan till his death in 2020. His vast modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while maintaining the country’s long-standing political and military ties with the United Kingdom.

Oman’s autonomous moderate foreign policy has aimed to keep good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. After several Persian Gulf countries shut marine links to Qatar during the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis, Oman became the principal transit gateway.

Do you know that Oman is a member state of the League of Arab States?
Bahrain, Kuwait, & Qatar are the other Gulf States.
Portugal & United Kingdom are related countries.

Oman

Official Name: Saltanat Uman
Arabic short form: Uman
Long-form: Sultanate of Oman
Short-form: Oman
Former: Muscat & Oman
ISO Country Code: om, OMN
Local Time: UTC +4h
Country Calling Code: +968
Capital City: Muscat
Other Cities: Dhofar, Salalah, Nizwa, Sohar, Sur.

Oman Government

Type of government: Monarchy
Independence: 1650
Constitution: Sultan Qaboos promulgated the Basic Law on November 6, 1996, which explains the royal succession, established a bicameral legislature, and protects Omani residents’ basic civil liberties.
Political parties: None

Oman Geography:

Location: the Middle East, between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates, on the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf.
Terrain: Desert plain in the center, with rough mountains to the north and south.
Area: 309,500 km2

Climate In Oman

Nationality: Oman/Omani
Population: 4,45 million as per 2020 data.
GNI per capita PPP: $41,680 per year
Ethnic groups: Baluchi, East African, Arab, South Asian (Bangladeshi, India, Pakistan).
Religions: 75% Ibadi Muslim; Hindu, Christian, Shia Muslim, Sunni Muslim
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Swahili, Hindi, and other Indian lingoes.

Natural resources in Oman:

Copper
Petroleum
Asbestos
Some marble
Limestone
Chromium
Gypsum
Natural gas

Agriculture products Cultivated in Oman:

Dates
Bananas
Limes
Alfalfa
Vegetables
Camels
Cattles
Fish

Industries in Oman:

Natural Gas Production
Crude Oild Production & Refining
Construction
Cement
Copper

Oman Exports- Commodities:

Petroleum
Re-exports
Fish
Metals
Textiles

Oman Imports-Commodities:

Machinery & Transport Equipment
Manufacture Goods
Food
Livestock
Lubricants

Currency: Rial Omani (OMR)

Official Sites of Oman

Political system Of Oman:

Oman’s government is a sultanate, which is an absolute Arab monarchy in which the Sultan has all legislative, executive, and judicial power. The Sultan is thus the head of state and government, as well as the prime minister, head of the defense and finance ministries, and chairman of the central bank. The Sultan appoints judges after the Supreme Judicial Council nominates them.