Basic Informations

HEAD OF STATE: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said (since 1970)

AREA: 309,500 sq. km.

NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES:
Yemen Arab Republic, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

POPULATION: 2,331,391 (2003 Census).
The official language is Arabic. Islam is the official religion, but other religions are tolerated.

CAPITAL: Muscat

MAJOR CITIES: Salalah, Nizwa, Sur, Sohar

CURRENCY: Rial Omani (OR) of 1,000 baizas = US$2.58

NATIONAL DAY: 18th November

LIFE EXPECTANCY: 73.8 years

POPULATION GROWTH RATE: 2% (2003)
POPULATION DENSITY: 7.5

GOVERNMENT: A bicameral system.
The Council of Oman consists of the Consultation Council and the State Council.
The Consultation members are elected by the Omani citizens, and the State Council members are appointed by HM The Sultan.

GDP: RO7.8 million

TIME DIFFERENCE: GMT + 4 hours

OMAN – Tradition and modernity
Oman lies at the eastern corner of the Arabian peninsula. Sharjah and Fujairah (UAE) separate the main part of Oman from the northernmost part of the state, a peninsula (Musandam) extending into the Strait of Hormuz. It is for many Westerners a country waiting to be discovered.

Historically Omanis were seafarers and traders who dominated regional commodity trading in the Indian Ocean, East Africa and the Arabian Gulf. There were thus a succession of migrations which saw the growth of settlements along some parts of the East African coast.

Prior to the coming on stream of oil in 1964, the country was dependent on the agricultural sector and on fishing activities. In 1970, Oman had just 3 kms of asphalted roads. Asking a 50-year old Omani man to describe his country in the 1960s, the answer was simply: “There was nothing …”.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the son of Sultan Said, was aware of his father’s conservatism so he took over power in 1970. Since that time His Majesty has strived to modernize his country and oil revenues have given him the opportunity to develop a modern infrastructure of roads, ports and airports, as well as first-class telecommunications and broadcasting systems. Some 50 hospitals have been opened throughout the country and educational programmes for all ages successfully implemented.

Of course oil reserves will be exhausted one day and the country is therefore diversifying its economy, especially in the field of tourism. Among the Gulf states, Oman has many advantages for developing tourism: its climate, varied scenery, archaeological and historical remains, as well as its friendly people. With its high standard of hotel accommodation, it can satisfy even the most demanding travellers.
WOMEN

These days the high status Omani women enjoy is reflected in the priority accorded to them in the country’s development plans. According to the 2003 Census, 49% of the population of the Sultanate are women, many of whom are below the age of 18 and have enjoyed the same educational opportunities as boys of a similar age.

The Personal Status Law guarantees Omani women equal rights in both education and employment.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has repeatedly called upon the female population to lend their full support to the continuing the development of their country. An example of this is His Majesty’s speech on the occasion of the opening of the Second Term of the Consultation Council (Majlis a’Shura) in December 1994: “We call upon Omani women everywhere, in the villages and cities, in both urban and Bedu communities, in the hills and mountains, to roll up their sleeves and contribute to the process of economic and social development. We have great faith in the educated young Omani women to work devotedly..”. They have responded by seeking and securing jobs from government minister to supermarket check-out assistant.