Oman is a small nation located in a strategic position on the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. It has coastlines on the Arabian Sea, with access to the Indian Ocean, and the Gulf of Oman, with access to the Persian Gulf. The inhabitants of Oman have benefited over centuries from Indian Ocean trade. Its land borders on The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to the west and Yemen to the south.
Recent archaeological finds indicate that Oman was an important early link in trade between the Mediterranean and the Far East. The inhabitants converted to Islam in the 7th century AD. From 1502-1650, Oman was under Portuguese control. In the late 18th century, the then newly-established sultanate in Muscat, now the nation’s capital, signed the first friendship treaty with Great Britain. Oman has benefited from Britain’s political and military advice, but has never been a British colony. The long form of the country’s name is Sultanate of Oman (formerly Muscat and Oman).
Oman has a total area of 212,460 square kilometers, slightly smaller than the state of Kansas.
The population is 3,311,640, estimated as of July 2008. Ethnic groups include Arab (the majority), Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi), and African. Most of the non-Arab inhabitants are expatriates, who constitute about 60 percent of the salaried workforce. The official language is Arabic, with English, Baluchi, Urdu, and Indian dialects also spoken.
Religions are Ibadhi Muslim (75%), other (including Sunni Muslim, Shi’a Muslim, and Hindu) (25%).
The form of government is a monarchy, the present royal line dating back to 1741.
The Sultan is also the Prime Minister. There is a bicameral legislature and a Supreme Court. The civil court is administered by region, and has judges who practice both secular and Sharia law.
The economy is heavily dependent on petroleum products, but is currently in the process of diversifying.
The currency is the Omani rial (OMR).
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