|
|
|
World > Middle East > Oman
 |
Oman |
Introduction:
|
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 the restrictive rule of his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. 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.
|
| Official name: |
Sultanate of Oman |
| Capital: |
name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Government type: |
monarchy |
| Population: |
3,204,897
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2007 est.) |
| Languages: |
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects |
| Official Currency: |
Omani Rial (OMR) |
| Currency code: |
OMR |
| Area: |
total: 212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Climate: |
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south |
|
Map of Oman
|
|
