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Sultanate of Oman
Flag

National Emblem

Anthem: Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani

Muscat
Capital
(and largest city)
2336N 5833E 23.6N 58.55E
Official language(s)
Arabic
Demonym
Omani
Government
Islamic absolute monarchy
- Sultan
Qaboos bin Said al Said
- Chancellor
Fahad ibn Mahmood Al Said
Establishment
- Imamate established[1] 751
- Constitution
1966
Area
309,550 km2 (70th)
- Total
119,498 sq mi
- Water (%)
negligible
Population
- 2009 estimate
2,845,000[2] (139th)
- 2003 census
2,341,000
9.2/km2 (219th)
- Density
23.8/sq mi
GDP (PPP)
2008 estimate
- Total
$68.331 billion[3]
- Per capita
$24,674[3]
GDP (nominal)
2008 estimate
- Total
$59.946 billion[3]
- Per capita
$21,646[3]
HDI (2007)
0.846[4] (high) (56th)
Rial (OMR)
Currency
Time zone
(UTC+4)
- Summer (DST)
(UTC+4)
Drives on the
right
Internet TLD
.om
Calling code
968
1

Population estimate includes 693,000 non-nationals.

Oman (pronounced oh-MAHN; Arabic: Umn), officially the Sultanate of

Oman (Arabic: Salanat Umn), is an Arab 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.

Contents
[hide]

1 History
o 1.1 Stone Age
o 1.2 Oman before Islam
o 1.3 The arrival of Islam
o 1.4 The Portuguese settlement
o 1.5 Oman and East African Empire
o 1.6 Dhofar rebellion
2 Politics
3 Military
4 Geography
o 4.1 Climate
o 4.2 Flora and fauna
o 4.3 Environment
5 Demographics
6 Religion
7 Economy
o 7.1 Oil and gas
o 7.2 Mineral resources
o 7.3 Industry
o 7.4 Development plans
o 7.5 Tourism
o 7.6 Labour
o 7.7 Inflation
o 7.8 Transport
8 Education
o 8.1 Science and technology
o 8.2 Meteorites
9 Health
10 Culture
o 10.1 Food
o 10.2 Sport
11 International Rankings
12 See also
13 References

14 External links

[edit] History
Main article: History of Oman

[edit] Stone Age

Wattayah, located in the governorate of Muscat, is the oldest known human settlement
in the area and dates back to the Stone Age, making it around 5,000 years old.
Archaeological remains from different dates have been discovered here, the earliest
representing the Stone Age, then the Heliocentric Age and finally, the Bronze Age.
Findings have consisted of stone implements, animal bones, shells and fire hearths.
The latter date back to 7615 BC and are the oldest signs of human settlement in the
area.
Other discoveries include hand-moulded pottery bearing distinguishing pre-Bronze
Age marks, heavy flint implements, pointed tools and scrapers.
On a mountain rock-face in the same district, animal drawings have been discovered.
Similar drawings have also been found in the Wadi Sahtan and Wadi Bani Kharus
areas of Rustaq. These drawings consist of human figures carrying weapons and being
confronted by wild animals. Siwan in Haima is another Stone Age location and some
of the archaeological finds have included arrowheads, knives, chisels and circular
stones which may have been used to throw at animals.

[edit] Oman before Islam

Oman's Names Sumerian tablets refer to a country called Magan, a name thought to
refer to Omans ancient copper mines. Mezoun is derived from the word muzn,
which means abundant flowing water. The present-day name of the country, Oman, is
believed to originate from the Arab tribes who migrated to its territory from the Uman
region of Yemen. Many tribes settled in Oman making a living by fishing, herding or
stock breeding and many present day Omani families are able to trace their ancestral
roots to other parts of Arabia.
From the 6th century BC to the arrival of Islam in the 7th century AD, Oman was
controlled and/or influenced by three Persian dynasties, the Achaemenids, Parthians
and Sassanids. Achaemenids in the 6th century BC controlled and influenced the
Oman peninsula. This was most likely exerted from a coastal center such as Sohar. By
about 250 B.C. the 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 the area until the rise of Islam
four centuries later.[5]

[edit] The arrival of Islam

The Omanis were among the first people to embrace Islam voluntarily. The
conversion of the Omanis is usually ascribed to Amr ibn al-As, who was sent by the
prophet Muhammad around 630 AD to invite Jaifar and Abd, the joint rulers of
Oman at that time, to accept the faith, in which he eventually succeeded.
In accepting Islam, Oman became an Ibadhi state which is named after alkhoarej,
ruled by an elected leader, the Imam. During the early years of the Islamic mission
Oman played a major role in the Wars of Apostasy that occurred after the death of

Muhammad and also took part in the great Islamic conquests by land and sea in Iraq,
Persia and beyond. However, its most prominent role in this respect was through its
extensive trading and seafaring activities in East Africa, particularly during the19th
century, when it propagated Islam in many of East Africas coastal regions, and
certain areas of Central Africa.
Omanis also carried the message of Islam with them to China and the Asian ports.
Oman was ruled by Umayyads between 661-750, Abbasids between 750-931, 932933 and 934-967, Qarmatians between 931-932 and between 933-934, Buyids
between 967-1053, Seljuks of Kirman between 1053-1154.

[edit] The Portuguese settlement

The Portuguese occupied Muscat for a 140-year period 15081648, 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.
Rebellious 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
various 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.

[edit] Oman and East African Empire

The Sultan's Palace buildings in Zanzibar which was once Oman's capital and
residence of its Sultans.
In the 1690s Saif bin Sultan, the imam of Oman, pressed down the East African coast.
A major obstacle was Fort Jesus, housing the garrison of a Portuguese settlement at
Mombasa. After a two-year siege, it fell to Saif in 1698.
Thereafter the Omanis easily ejected the Portuguese from Zanzibar and from all other
coastal regions north of Mozambique. Zanzibar was a valuable property as the main
slave market of the east African coast, and became an increasingly important part of
the Omani empire, a fact reflected by the decision of the greatest 19th century sultan
of Oman, Sa'id ibn Sultan, to make it from 1837 his main place of residence. Sa'id
built impressive palaces and gardens in Zanzibar.

Rivalry between his two sons was resolved, with the help of forceful British
diplomacy, when one of them, Majid, succeeded to Zanzibar and to the many regions
claimed by the family on the East African coast. The other, Thuwaini, inherited
Muscat and Oman.

[edit] Dhofar rebellion

Main article: Dhofar Rebellion
The Dhofar Rebellion was launched in the province of Dhofar against the Sultanate
of Muscat and Oman and Britain from 1962 to 1975. As the radical-leaning rebellion
threatened to overthrow the Sultan's rule in Dhofar and produced disorder in other
parts of Oman, Sultan Said bin Taimur was deposed by his son Qaboos bin Said, who
introduced major social reforms to deprive the rebellion of popular support and
modernised the state's administration. The rebellion ended with the intervention of
Iranian Imperial ground forces and major offensives by the expanded Sultan of
Oman's Armed Forces.

[edit] Politics

The Sultan's Al Alam Palace in Muscat

Main article: Politics of Oman
Chief of state and government is the hereditary sultn, 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 seats.[6]
Two women were elected to seats. The country today has three women ministers
Rawiyah bint Saud al Busaidiyah - Minister of Higher Education, Sharifa bint
Khalfan al Yahya'eyah - Minister of Social Development and Rajiha bint Abdulamir
bin Ali al Lawati - Minister of Tourism. There are no legal political parties nor, at
present, any active opposition movement. As more and more young Omanis return
from education abroad, it seems likely that the traditional, tribal-based political
system will have to be adjusted.[7] A State Consultative Council, established in 1981,
consisted of 55 appointed representatives of government, the private sector, and
regional interests.

[edit] Military

Main article: Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces

Oman's armed forces, including Royal Household troops foreign personnel numbered
41,700 in 2002. The army had 25,000 personnel equipped with over 100 main battle
tanks and 37 Scorpion tanks. The air force of 4,100 operates 40 combat aircraft. The
navy numbers 4,200 with 13 patrol and coastal combatants.
Paramilitary includes the Tribal Home Guard (Firqats) of 4,000 organized in small
tribal teams, a police coast guard of 400, and a small police air wing. The elite Royal
Household brigade, naval unit, and air unit number 6,400, including 2 special forces
regiments.
In 2005 Oman spent 11.4% of GDP on military expenditures. (See: List of countries
by military expenditures)

[edit] Geography
Geography of Oman
Coastline

2,092 km

Bordering
countries

Saudi Arabia,
UAE and
Yemen

Main articles: Geography of Oman and Geology of Oman

Desert landscape in Oman.

A vast gravel desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along
the north (Al Hajar Mountains) and southeast coast, where the country's main cities
are also located: the capital city Muscat, Sohar and Sur in the north, and Salalah in the
south.

Coast of Sur, Oman.

Oman's climate is hot and dry in the interior and humid along the coast. During past
epochs Oman was covered by ocean. Fossilized shells exist in great numbers in areas
of the desert away from the modern coastline.
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 Khasab for trips into the Musandam peninsula by sea.
Oman has another exclave, inside UAE territory, known as Madha. It is located
halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the rest of Oman.[8] 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 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.[9]

[edit] Climate
Main article: Climate of Oman
Annual rainfall in Muscat averages 100 mm (3.9 in), falling mostly in January. Dhofar
is subject to the southwest monsoon, and rainfall up to 640 mm (25.2 in) has been
recorded in the rainy season from late June to October. While the mountain areas
receive more plentiful rainfall, some parts of the coast, particularly near the island of
Masirah, sometimes receive no rain at all within the course of a year. The climate
generally is very hot, with temperatures reaching 54 C (129.2 F) in the hot season,
from May to September.

Month
Average high F
(C)
Average low F
(C)

[hide]Climate data for Oman

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
81
(27)

79
(26)

84
(29)

93 102 104 100 97 97 95 86

81
(34) (39) (40) (38) (36) (36) (35) (30) (27)

63
(17)

63
(17)

70
(21)

75
84 88 86 82 81 75 70
64
(24) (29) (31) (30) (28) (27) (24) (21) (18)

Precipitation
inches (mm)

0.5
1
0.6 0.7 0.3
0
0
(12.7) (25.4) (15.2) (17.8) (7.6) (0) (0)

0
(0)

0
0 0.3 0.5
(0) (0) (7.6) (12.7)

Source: [Link][10] 2009-10-26

[edit] Flora and fauna

Desert shrub and desert grass, common to southern Arabia, are found. Vegetation is
sparse in the interior plateau, which is largely gravel desert. The greater monsoon
rainfall in Dhofar and the mountains makes the growth there more luxuriant during
summer. Coconut palms grow plentifully in Dhofar and Frankincense grows in the
hills. Oleander and varieties of Acacia abound. The Al Hajar Mountains are a distinct
ecoregion, the highest points in eastern Arabia with wildlife including the Arabian
tahr.
Indigenous mammals include the Leopard, Hyena, Fox, Wolf, and Hare, Oryx and
Ibex. Birds include the Vulture, Eagle, Stork, Bustard, Arabian Partridge, Bee Eater,
Falcon and Sunbird.

[edit] Environment
Maintaining an adequate supply of water for agricultural and domestic use is Oman's
most pressing environmental problem. The nation has limited renewable water
resources, with 94% used in farming and 2% for industrial activity. Drinking water is
available throughout the country, either piped or delivered. Both drought and limited
rainfall contribute to shortages in the nation's water supply.
The nation's soil has shown increased levels of salinity. Pollution of beaches and other
coastal areas by oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman is
also a persistent problem.
In 2001, the nation had nine endangered species of mammals and five endangered
types of bird. Nineteen plant species are also threatened with extinction. Decrees have
been passed to protect endangered species, which include the Arabian Leopard,
Arabian oryx, mountain gazelle, goitered gazelle, Arabian tahr, green sea turtle,
hawksbill turtle and olive ridley turtle. In 2007 Oman's Arabian Oryx Sanctuary
became the first site ever deleted from UNESCO's World Heritage list because of the
government's decision to reduce the site to 10% of its former size.[11]

[edit] Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Oman
Demographics of Oman
Languages

Arabic,
English

Religion

Islam

Ethnic
groups

Arab, South
Asian and
African

Life
expectancy

73.13 years

The Ministry of Economy estimates that in mid 2006 the total population was 2.577
million. Of those, 1.844 million were Omanis. The population has grown from 2.018
million in the 1993 census to 2.340 million in the 2003 census.
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, India and the Philippines.

[edit] Religion
Around 70% of the population consists of Ibadhi Muslims.[12] Sunni Muslims of the
Hanafi rites constitute around 17% of the total. Imami Shia Muslims and the Zikri
form the remaining 8% of the population.[12] While the Imami Shia largely originate
from Bahrain, Iran and the Ahsa province of Saudi Arabia, Shi'a Muslims form a
well-integrated community, concentrated in the capital area and along the northern
coast.
The Government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation, but most citizens are
Muslims.
Non-Muslim religious communities individually constitute less than 5 percent of the
population and include various groups of Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Sikhs,
Baha'is, and Christians. Christian communities are centered in the major urban areas
of Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah and include Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and
various Protestant congregations. These groups tend to organize along linguistic and
ethnic lines. More than fifty different Christian groups, fellowships, and assemblies
are active in the Muscat metropolitan area. The majority of non-Muslims are
noncitizen immigrant workers from South Asia, although there are small communities
of ethnic Indian Hindus and Christians that have been naturalized.[13]

[edit] Economy
Main article: Economy of Oman
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be
challenged and removed. (July 2008)

Economy of Oman

Currency

Omani Riyal (R$, OMR)

Fiscal year

Calendar year

Central Bank

Central Bank of Oman

Stock Market

Muscat Stock Market

Omani citizens enjoy good living standards, but the future is uncertain with Oman's
limited oil reserves.[14] The other sources of income, agriculture and local industries,
are small in comparison and count for less than 1% of the country's exports.
Agriculture, often subsistence in its character, produces Dates, Limes, Grains and
vegetables. Less than 1% of the country is under cultivation but, in general, food has
to be imported. Industries contribute only with 4%, but there are governmental plans
to increase this.
Oil production is extracted and processed by Petroleum Development Oman. In recent
years, proven oil reserves have been holding approximately steady, although oil
production has been decreasing.[15][16] Oman has other mineral resources including
Copper, Asbestos and Marble, but this is little exploited.

[edit] Oil and gas

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. Oman's future economy is expected to
depend on Sohar, which is growing very fast.
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."

[edit] Mineral resources

Oman's mineral resources include chromite, dolomite, zinc, limestone, gypsum,
silicon, copper, gold, cobalt and iron. Several industries have grown up around them
as part of the national development process which, in turn, have boosted the minerals
sectors contribution to the nations GDP as well as providing jobs for Omanis.
Copper has been mined in Oman for thousands of years. The mineral sectors
operations include mining and quarrying. Several projects have recently been
completed including: an economic feasibility study on silica ore in Wadi Buwa and
Abutan in the Wusta Region, which confirmed that there were exploitable reserves of
around 28 million tonnes at the two sites; a feasibility study on the production of
magnesium metal from dolomite ore; a draft study on processing limestone
derivatives; a project to produce geological maps of the Sharqiyah Region ; economic
feasibility studies on the exploitation of gold and copper ores in the Ghaizeen area; a
study on raw materials in the wilayats of Duqm and Sur for use in the Sultanates
cement industry; and a study on the construction of a new minerals laboratory in
Ghala in the Governorate of Muscat.

[edit] Industry
The industrial sector is a cornerstone of the Sultanates long-term (1996-2020)
development strategy. Industry is not only one of the main sectors involved in
diversifying the sources of national income and reducing dependence on oil; it is also
capable of helping to meet Omans social development needs and generate greater
added value for national resources by processing them into manufactured products.
The Seventh Five-Year Development Plan creates the conditions for an attractive
investment climate. Under its strategy for the industrial sector the government also
aims to develop the information technology and telecommunications industries. The
Knowledge Oasis Muscat complex has been set up and expanded, and Omani
companies are developing their technological potential through collaboration with
various Japanese and German institutions.
There is also an industrial estate in Sohar - where the Sultanates heavy industries are
based - as well as other estates in Sur, Salalah, Nizwa and Buraimi. Natural gas is
transported to the industrial estates in Sohar and Salalah, helping to promote
expansion of those industries that depend on natural gas; the government grants these
industries tax exemptions, as an incentive to encourage their expansion and

development. By 2020 the industrial sector is expected to contribute 15% to the

countrys GDP.

[edit] Development plans

Muscat
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 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 globalize the Omani economy
To upgrade the skills of the Omani workforce and develop human resources

A free-trade agreement with the United States took effect 1 January 2009, eliminating
tariff barriers on all consumer and industrial products. It also provides strong
protections for foreign businesses investing in Oman.[17]

[edit] 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). With a coastline of 1700 km, Oman offers some of the cleanest, most
stunning beaches a visitor could hope to see. Few beaches are private, except some
attached to the beach resort hotels, or those adjoining military or official property.
Wadis are green, lush oases of palm trees, grasses, and flowering. Some wadis have
year-round running water, with deep, cool pools in which it is quite safe to swim if the
currents are [Link] (pl. aflaaj) means a system for the distribution of water and is
commonly used to describe the irrigation channel system downstream of the water's
[Link] aflaaj in Oman were built more than 1,500 years ago, whilst others were
built at the beginning of the 20th century. In many cases, the only water has had to be
attained by drilling into the ground to a depth of dozens of meters.
Numerous forts and castles are included among Oman's cultural landmarks and,
together with its towers and city walls, they have historically been used as defensive
bastions or look-out points. Forts were often the seats of administrative and judicial
authority. There are over 500 forts, castles and towers in Oman which has a coastline
of 1,700 km, so they were needed to protect it from potential invaders. The
architectural styles vary, being determined by the architects who built them or the
periods in which they were built.
The traditional Arabic market place is called the souq and these are found in many of
the towns throughout the country. One of the oldest preserved souqs in Oman is in
Muttrah, on the Corniche. Gold and silver jewellery is found in abundance as well as
numerous wooden carvings, ornaments and spices. Muttrah souq is a maze of
pathways leading in and out of each other. Household goods make up the bulk of the
souq, but browsing through some of the smaller shops may result in a lucky find. G
Today,the Capital area has a number of shopping malls, mainly situated in Qurum, but
in recent times, spreading to the Al Khuwair area, which house a variety of shops,
ranging from boutiques to chain stores. The largest mall in the country is the Muscat
City Centre.
Other popular tourist activities include sand skiing in the desert, scuba diving, rock
climbing, trekking, surfing & sailing, cave exploration, bull fighting and camel races.
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.

[edit] Labour
The estimated workforce was 920,000 in 2002. A large proportion of the population
were still engaged in subsistence agriculture or fishing. The skilled local labour force
is small, and many of the larger industries depend on foreign workers from Pakistan,
Bangladesh, the Philippines, India, and Sri Lanka foreign laborers constituted over
80% of the modern-sector workforce in 1996.
Oman Law was amended during February of 2010 to allow the formation of Labour
Unions. There are now approximately 70 Labour Unions within the Sultanate. The
law forbids a strike for any reason. Collective bargaining is not permitted, however
there exist labour-management committees in firms with more than 50 workers. These
committees are not authorized to discuss conditions of employment, including hours
and wages. The Labour Welfare Board provides a venue for grievances.[citation needed]
The minimum working age for Omani citizens is 13, but this provision is not enforced
against the employment of children in family businesses or on family farms. The
minimum working age for expatriate citizens is 21. The minimum wage for nonprofessional workers was $260 per month in 2002. However, many classes of workers
(domestic servants, farmers, government employees) are not required to receive the
minimum wage and the government is not consistent in its enforcement of the
minimum wage law. The private sector working week is 40 to 45 hours long, while
government officials have a 35-hour working week.[citation needed]

[edit] Inflation
As oil prices have risen to a record high, so has inflation. The government depends
mostly on oil revenue, more than on tax returns from companies and other
government-owned companies. The government is also Oman's largest employer, so
the high interest that government gets increases the prices of food and construction
equipment. The government did support the fuel prices so it doesn't increase the
inflation and to make the price suitable for people on low wages.
In 2006, government employee salaries were increased by 15%, placing Oman in the
category of high-medium income countries.[citation needed] and a year after increase
employees' were also increased in salaries so, employees with low wages have a
higher increase that may go up to 48% and employees who earn more get a lesser
increase in their salaries which end at 5%. The minimum wage has been changed from
120 Rial a month to 140 Rials because of high records of inflation driven by high
prices of oil.

[edit] Transport
Main article: Transport in Oman

[edit] Education
Main article: Education in Oman
Before 1970, only three formal schools existed in the whole country with less than
1000 students receiving education in them. Since Sultan Qaboos came to power in
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. Today there are over 1000 state schools and about 650,000 students.
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.
Pre-university education in Oman has three stages: primary, preparatory, and
secondary. Six years of primary schooling are followed by preparatory school.
Academic results of the preparatory exams determine the type of secondary education
the student will receive.
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.
The adult illiteracy rate was estimated at 28.1% for the year 2000 (males, 19.6%;
females, 38.3%). In 1998, there were 411 primary schools with 313,516 students and
12,052 teachers. Student-to-teacher ratio stood at 26 to 1. In secondary schools in
1998, there were 12,436 teachers and 217,246 students. As of 1999, 65% of primaryschool-age children were enrolled in school, while 59% of those eligible attended
secondary school. In the same year, public expenditure on education was estimated
at3.9% of GDP. In 1993, there were 252 literacy centers and 176 adult education
centers. Three teachers' colleges were functioning as of 1986. The Institute of
Agriculture at Nazwa became a full college by 1985. Sultan Qaboos University
opened in 1986. In 1998, all higher-level institutions had 1,307 teachers and 16,032
students.

[edit] Science and technology

Most research conducted in Oman has been done at the behest of the government;
agriculture, minerals, water resources, and marine sciences have drawn the most
attention. Sultan Qaboos University, founded in 1985, has colleges of science,
medicine, engineering, and agriculture. In 198797, science and engineering students
accounted for 13% of college and university enrollments.
The Institute of Health Sciences, under the Ministry of Health, was founded in 1982.
Muscat Technical Industrial College, founded in 1984, has departments of computing

and mathematics, laboratory science, and electrical, construction, and mechanical

engineering. The Oman Natural History Museum, founded in 1983, includes the
national herbarium and the national shell collection. All of these organizations are
located in Muscat.

[edit] Meteorites
The central desert of Oman is an important source of meteorites for scientific analysis.
[18]
Since 1999, search campaigns in Oman have provided about 20% of the world's
meteorites. These include rare meteorites from Mars and the Moon. The meteorite
accumulations in the gravelly central desert play an important role in increasing
knowledge of conditions in the early solar system.

[edit] Health
As of 1999, there were an estimated 1.3 physicians and 2.2 hospital beds per 1,000
people. In 1993, 89% of the population had access to health care services. In 2000,
99% of the population had access to health care services.[citation needed].. During the last 3
decades, the Oman health care system has demonstrated and reported great
achievements in health care services and preventive and curative medicine. In 2001,
Oman was ranked number 8 by the World Health Organization.

[edit] Culture
Main article: Culture of Oman
See also: Islam in Oman, List of traditional games 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 western-Pakistan,
eastern Iran), and southern Afghanistan 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.

Khanjar knife, traditional dagger of Oman, circa 1924

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 hijabs and abayas. Some women cover their faces and hands, but most
do not. The abaya is a traditional dress and currently comes in 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.

[edit] Food
Ted during celebrations, which consists of mashed rice flavoured with spices. Another
popular festival meal is shuwa, which is meat cooked very slowly (sometimes for up
to two days) in an underground clay oven. The meat becomes extremely tender and it
is impregnated with spices and herbs before cooking to give it a very distinct taste.
Fish is often used in main dishes too, and the kingfish is a popular ingredient.
Mashuai is a meal comprising whole spit-roasted kingfish served with lemon rice.
The rukhal bread is a thin, round bread originally baked over a fire made from palm
leaves. It is eaten at any meal, typically served with Omani honey for breakfast or
crumbled over curry for dinner. Chicken, fish and mutton are regularly used in dishes.
Although spices, herbs, onion, garlic and lime are liberally used in traditional Omani
cuisine, unlike similar Asian food, it is not hot. Omani cuisine is also distinct from the
indigenous foods of other Arab states of the Persian Gulf and even varies within the
Sultanate's different regions. There are also significant differences in cuisine between
different regions of Oman.

[edit] Sport
Sports of Oman

Popular
Sport

Football,
volleyball,
hockey.

National
5
Team Sports
National
Clubs

48

Colors

Red , White

Main article: Sport in Oman

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 2009 Gulf Cup of Nations, the 19th edition, took place in Muscat, Oman, from 4
January to 17 January 2009 and was won by Oman.
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.

_____ Oman F.A. _____

[edit] International Rankings

Organization

Institute for Economics and Peace [1]

Survey

Global Peace Index[2]

Ranking

21 out of 144

United Nations Development

Programme

Human Development Index

Transparency International

Corruption Perceptions Index 39 out of 180

World Economic Forum

Global Competitiveness Report 41 out of 133

[edit] See also

Geography portal

Main article: Outline of Oman

Cities in Oman
Communications in Oman
Foreign relations of Oman
Human rights in Oman

Index of Oman-related
articles

[edit] References

Transport in Oman
Tourism in Oman
Scouting and Guiding in
Oman
Theweek
Cyclone Gonu

Al Nuaim

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