Oman flag
Basic facts of OmanOfficial name: Sultanate of Oman
Capital: Masqaţ
Area: 309,500 sq km, 119,500 sq mi
Population 3,309,440 (2008 estimate)
Population growth rate: 3.19 percent (2008 estimate)
Population density: 16 persons per sq km, 40 persons per sq mi
Urban/rural distribution:
Share urban 77 percent (2003 estimate)
Share rural 23 percent (2003 estimate)
Largest citiey: Masqaţ
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Hindi, other dialects
Religious affiliations: Ibadi Muslim (Islam is the official religion) 75 percent
Other Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 13 percent
Hindu 6 percent
Christian 5 percent
Other 1 percent
Life expectancy:
Total 73.9 years (2008 estimate)
Female 76.3 years (2008 estimate)
Male 71.6 years (2008 estimate)
Literacy rate:
Total 78.3 percent (2005 estimate)
Female 70.5 percent (2005 estimate)
Male 84.9 percent (2005 estimate)
Form of government: Monarchy
Total number of military personnel 41,700 (2004)
Introduction:
Oman, nation occupying the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula (see Arabia). Oman is a desert country in which high mountain peaks gaze down on dazzling white sand beaches. It is the principal home of the Ibadis, a minority Islamic sect distinct from both Sunni and Shia Islam (see Islam). For centuries a hub of Indian Ocean trade, Oman was an imperial power from the 17th through the 19th century. Oman is ruled by a monarch called a sultan, and the country’s official name is the Sultanate of Oman.
Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) border Oman to the west. The Arabian Sea (part of the Indian Ocean) lies to the east and the Gulf of Oman to the north. Its northernmost extension, on the Musandam Peninsula (separated from the rest of Oman by the UAE), overlooks the Strait of Hormuz and has a few miles of Persian Gulf coastline. Masqaţ, also known as Muscat, is the capital of Oman and the center of the country’s largest metropolitan area.
Masqat,Oman
Omani capital city of Masqaţ on the Gulf of Oman. The ancient port of Masqaţ and its neighboring city of Maţraḩ form a major trade center, with modern shipping facilities, excellent highways, and an international airport.
Dates: An Ancient Crop
Date palms are the leading crop in Oman and important to Omani culture. The date provides nourishment and is part of many Omani meals. The date palm is used as a source of building materials and is also planted to provide shade. Cultivated more than 5,000 years ago, the hardy date palm is one of the world's oldest crop plants and thrives in Oman's hot, dry climate.
Ancient Canals
Ancient canals constructed in the 7th century still provide water for farming in Oman. This photo shows women drawing water from a canal.