SULTANATE OF OMAN

Oman

Oman officially the Sultanate of Oman 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.

It is one of the most peaceful countries in the Middle East

Area - Total309,550 km2 (70th)  Official Languages: Arabic, Urdu

Population - mid 2006 estimate 2,577,000 (139th) -  2003 census2,341,000 

Capital: Muscat (largest city)

Oman’s Location and Muscat

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Oman

WHITE: The white stands for peace and prosperityRED: Red stands for battles against foreign invadersGREEN: Green stands for fertility and the Green Mountains

Quick History of Oman

Stone Age Wattayah, located in the governorate of Muscat, is the oldest human

settlement and dates to the Stone Age, making it around 10,000 years old.

Oman before Islam Oman, is believed to originate from the Arab tribes who migrated to its

territory from the Uman region of Yemen. The arrival of Islam The conversion of Omanis is usually ascribed to Amir Ibn al-As, who

visited the region by the middle of the eighth century AD The Portuguese settlement The Portugese occupied Muscat for a 140-year period 1508–1648,

arriving a decade after Vasco da-Gama discovered the seaway to India.

Quick History of Oman

Oman and East African Empire In the 1690s Saif bin Sultan, the imam of

Oman, pressed down the east African Coast 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

Quick History of Oman

Stone tools from Stone Age

Saif bin SultanDhofar Rebellion

Copper mine called Magan

Climate

Annual rainfall in Muscat averages 10 cm (4 in), falling mostly in January. Dhofar is subject to the southwest monsoon, and rainfall up to 64 cm (25 in) has been recorded in the rainy season from late June to October

Religion

About 75% of the population consists of Ibadhi Muslims. Sunni Muslims, Shi'i Muslims, and other minorities make up the remainder of the population

Religion

Ibadhi MuslimsIbadhi Mosque in Oman

Economy

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.

Oil and gas

Oil and gas Refinery in Oman

Oman’s Minister of Oil and Gas (HE Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Rumhy )

Economy

Mineral resources Copper has been mined in Oman for

thousands of years. Several industries have grown up around them as part of the national development process which, in turn, have boosted the minerals sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP as well as providing jobs for Omanis.

Mineral resources

chromite, dolomite, zinc, limestone, gypsum, silicon, copper, gold, cobalt and iron

Copper has been mined for thousand of years in Oman

Culture

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 and eastern Iran), or offshoots of Southern Arabian, a Semitic language only distantly related to Arabic, but closely related to Semitic languages in Eritrea and Ethiopia

Culture

Food The Omani people are well known for their

hospitality and offers of refreshment. To be invited into someone's home will mean coffee kahwa, a strong, bitter drink flavoured with cardamom, and dates or halwa, a sticky sweet gelatinous substance which is made from brown sugar, eggs, honey and spices

Culture

Male national dress The national dress for Omani men is a simple, ankle-length,

collarless gown with long sleeves called the dishdasha. The Khanjar The curved dagger, the khanjar is a distinguishing feature of

the Omani personality as well as an important symbol of male elegance. It is traditionally worn at the waist

Female national dress The main components of a woman's outfit comprise a dress

which is worn over trousers (sirwal) and the headdress, called the lihaf or hijab

Male w/khanjar and Female Omani

Healthcare System in Oman

The quality of health care in Oman is generally high and equal to that in western Europe and the USA, except for highly specialised treatment.

Owing to Oman’s small population and the numerous medical facilities in the private and public sectors, long waiting lists are almost unheard of. For specialised treatment, however, it’s sometimes necessary to seek medical assistance outside Oman, and locals who can afford it often do so

Healthcare System in Oman

As of 1999, there were an estimated 1.3 physicians and 2.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. In 1993, 48% of the population had access to health care services. In 2000, 92% of the population had access to health care services.