The Sultanate
of Oman, is an Arab country in southwest Asia on the southeast
coast of the Arabian Peninsula.
His Majesty Qaboos bin Said Al Busaidi is the Sultan of the
Sultanate of Oman.
Governorates and Regions of Oman
Oman is divided into four governorates (muhafazah) and five
regions (mintaqat). The regions are subdivided into
districts
(wilayat).
 Governorates
4. Al Buraimi (established 2006)
7. Dhofar
8. Musandam
9. Muscat
Regions
1. Ad Dakhiliyah
2. Az Zahirah (Ad Dhahirah)
3. Al Batinah
5. Al Wusta
6. Al Sharqiyah
The Governorate of Muscat is the most densely populated region
in the Sultanate with a population of more than
half a million. It is Oman's political, economic, and administrative
center. Muscat is host to a balance between the traditional
heritage of Omani society and its modern contemporary features.
This preserves Oman's historical
and cultural identity while presenting Muscat's embrace of
modernity.
Geography
Coastline:
2,092 km
Bordering Countries:
Saudi Arabia,
UAE and Yemen
A vast desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain
ranges along the north (Jebel Akhdar) and
southeast coast. The country's capital city is Muscat. The
other main cities are Sohar, Nizwa, Sur, Salalah,
Musandam and Buraimi. Oman's climate is hot and dry in the
interior and humid along the coast. During past
millennia Oman was covered by ocean. Fossilized shells exist
in great numbers in areas of the desert up to 80 km
from the modern coastline.
Economy
Currency:
Omani Riyal (RO, OMR)
Fiscal Year:
Calendar year
Central Bank: Central
Bank of Oman
Stock Market: .Muscat
Stock Market
Commercial export of oil began in 1967 and since Sultan Qaboos's
accession to the throne in 1970, many more
oil fields have been found and developed. Oman has also made
active plans to diversify its economy and is placing
a greater emphasis on other areas of industry, such as tourism
and natural gas.
Demographics
Languages:
Arabic, Swahili, Urdu, English, Baluchi
Religion:
..
Islam
Ethnic Groups:
Arab,
Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi),
African
Life Expectancy:
. 74 years
In Oman, about 50% of the population lives in Muscat and
the Batinah coastal plain northwest of the capital; about
200,000 live in the Dhofar (southern) region, and about 30,000
live in the remote Musandam Peninsula on
the Strait of Hormuz. Some 600,000 expatriates live in Oman,
most of whom are guest workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh,
Egypt, Jordan, India and the Philippines.
Since 1970, the government has given high priority to education
to develop a domestic work force, which the
government considers a vital factor in the country's economic
and social progress. In 1986, Oman's first university,
Sultan Qaboos University, opened. Other post secondary institutions
include a law school, technical college,
banking institute, teachers training college, and health sciences
institute. Some 200 scholarships are awarded
each year for study abroad. A number of private colleges and
universities exist, providing diploma and degree
programmes.
Tourism
Oman is known for its popular tourist attractions. Wadis,
deserts, beaches, and mountains are areas which make
Oman unique to its neighboring GCC nations (Wadis in particular).
Jebel Shams is the highest mountain of the
country and part of Al Hajar Mountains range. It is a popular
destination for camping.
Most of the major malls are located in Muscat, the capital.
The largest mall in the country is the Muscat City Centre
which was built by Majid Al Futtaim, an Emirati business man.
Other popular tourist activities include sand skiing
in the desert, mountain-climbing, camel racing, diving and
camping.
The Muscat Festival is usually held at the beginning of every
year. During this event, traditional dances are
performed, temporary theme parks open, and concerts take place.
Another popular annual event is the Khareef Festival, which
is similar to Muscat Festival; however it is held in the
months of July and August in Salalah, Dhofar.
Culture
Although Arabic is Oman's official language, Baluchi, Swahili,
Hindi & English are also widely spoken in the country.
Almost all signs and writings appear in both Arabic and English.
Oman is famous for its khanjar knives, which are curved daggers
worn during holidays as part of ceremonial dress.
Today traditional clothing is worn by most Omani men. They
wear an ankle-length, collarless robe called a dishdasha
that buttons at the neck with a tassel hanging down. Traditionally
this tassel would have been dipped in perfume.
Today the tassel is merely a part of the dishdasha.
Women wear hijabs and abayas. Some women cover their faces
and hands, but most do not. The Sultan has
forbidden the covering of faces in public office. On holidays,
such as Eid, the women wear traditional dress, which
is often very brightly colored and consists of a mid-calf
length tunic over pants.
A very important part of Omani culture is hospitality. If
invited into an Omani house, a visitor is likely to be
greeted with a bowl of dates, qahwa (coffee with cardamom)
and fruit. The coffee is served fairly weak in
a small cup, which should be shaken after three servings to
show that you have finished. The dates are in lieu of
sugar. Halwa and other sweets are often given at celebrations
such as Eid. Traditionally hands are used
instead of spoons for eating Omani Halwa.
Sports
Popular Sport:
Football, hockey
National Sports
Team: 5
National Clubs:
48
Kit Colors:
..
Red , White
The government aims to give young people a fully rounded
education by providing activities and experience in
the sporting, cultural, intellectual, social and scientific
spheres, and to excel internationally in these areas
and for this reason, in October 2004, the government created
a Ministry of Sports Affairs to replace the General Organisation
for Youth, Sports and Cultural Affairs.
The Oman national football team is the national team of Oman
and is controlled by the Oman Football Association.
It has never qualified for the World Cup but has qualified
for the Asian Cup in the years 2004 and 2007 and has
won the Gulf Cup in 2009.
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