The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and he has since ruled as sultan. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa in 2010-11, Omanis began staging marches and demonstrations to demand economic benefits, an end to corruption, and greater political rights. In February and March 2011, in response to protester demands, QABOOS pledged to create more government jobs and promised to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Majlis al-Shura and the introduction of unemployment benefits. Also in March, the Gulf Cooperation Council pledged $20 billion in financial aid to Oman and Bahrain over a 10-year period to assist the two nations in their struggle with Arab protests. Amid concessions made to oppositionists, the government during the summer continued to crack down on protests and demonstrations, and increasingly clamped down on the media. In October 2011, QABOOS issued a royal decree expanding the legislative powers of the Majlis al-Shura to draft and propose amendments to legislation.

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

21 00 N, 57 00 E

Middle East

slightly smaller than Kansas

2,092 km

dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

590 sq km (2003)

1 cu km (1997)

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural freshwater resources

strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Ibadhi Muslim (official) 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%

3,090,150 (July 2012 est.)

2.043% (2012 est.)

24.33 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

3.42 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

-0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

MUSCAT (capital) 634,000 (2009)

32 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)

2.87 children born/woman (2012 est.)

3% of GDP (2009)

1.901 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

1.9 beds/1,000 population (2008)

urban: 97% of population

rural: 61% of population

total: 87% of population

urban: 3% of population

rural: 39% of population

total: 13% of population

0.1% (2009 est.)

1,100 (2009 est.)

fewer than 100 (2009 est.)

3.9% of GDP (2006)

monarchy

11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar)

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens

mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law are not allowed to vote

bicameral - consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the sultan; has only advisory powers) and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has authority to draft legislation but is subordinate to the Sultan)

Supreme Court

political parties are illegal

none

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

Khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords

Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves and a rapidly growing labor force, Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020 and creating more jobs to employ the rising numbers of Omanis entering the workforce. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. However, increases in social welfare benefits, particularly since the Arab Spring, will challenge the government's ability to effectively balance its budget if oil revenues decline. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques, Oman succeeded in increasing oil production, giving the country more time to diversify, and the increase in global oil prices through 2011 provided the government greater financial resources to invest in non-oil sectors.

$90.66 billion (2012 est.)

$86.38 billion (2011 est.)

$81.92 billion (2010 est.)

$79.97 billion (2012 est.)

5% (2012 est.)

5.4% (2011 est.)

5% (2010 est.)

$28,500 (2012 est.)

$28,000 (2011 est.)

$27,500 (2010 est.)

968,800

15% (2004 est.)

NA%

25.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

44.5% of GDP (2012 est.)

6.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

3.6% of GDP (2012 est.)

3.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

3.5% (2012 est.)

4.1% (2011 est.)

2% (31 December 2010 est.)

0.05% (31 December 2009 est.)

6% (31 December 2012 est.)

6.19% (31 December 2011 est.)

$8.671 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$7.971 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$71.42 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$63.16 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$26.2 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$23.18 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$19.72 billion (31 December 2011)

$20.27 billion (31 December 2010)

$17.3 billion (31 December 2009)

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

3.5% (2011 est.)

$10.22 billion (2012 est.)

$10.67 billion (2011 est.)

$48.43 billion (2012 est.)

$47.09 billion (2011 est.)

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

China 30.2%, South Korea 10.9%, UAE 10.6%, Japan 10.4%, India 9.2%, Thailand 5.3%, US 4.6% (2011)

$23.37 billion (2012 est.)

$21.35 billion (2011 est.)

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

UAE 27.7%, Japan 11.9%, US 6.1%, India 5.4%, China 4.2%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, Germany 4% (2011)

$15.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$14.37 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$9.768 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$9.033 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

$NA

$NA

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -

0.3845 (2012 est.)

0.3845 (2011 est.)

0.3845 (2010 est.)

0.3845 (2009)

0.3845 (2008)

calendar year

18.59 billion kWh (2010 est.)

15.34 billion kWh (2009 est.)

0 kWh (2010 est.)

0 kWh (2010 est.)

4.202 million kW (2009 est.)

100% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2009 est.)

890,500 bbl/day (2011 est.)

701,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

4.902 billion bbl (1 January 2012 est.)

106,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

98,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)

19,680 bbl/day (2008 est.)

33,150 bbl/day (2008 est.)

27.1 billion cu m (2010 est.)

17.52 billion cu m (2010 est.)

11.49 billion cu m (2010 est.)

1.9 billion cu m (2010 est.)

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.)

55.2 million Mt (2010 est.)

287,600 (2011)

4.809 million (2011)

1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and 2 additional stations now operating (2007)

.om

14,531 (2012)

1.465 million (2009)

130 (2012)

3 (2012)

condensate 107 km; gas 4,209 km; oil 3,558 km; refined products 263 km (2010)

Mina' Qabus, Salalah, Suhar

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman) (2012)

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

11.4% of GDP (2005 est.)

boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public