Oman is a Southwest Asian country. Located in the Southeast of the Arabian peninsula, it covers an area of 212 460 km2. Bathed by the Gulf of Oman in the northeast and the Arabian Sea in the southeast, it borders Yemen in the southwest, Saudi Arabia in the west and the United Arab Emirates in the northwest. Oman also belongs to the territory of the small enclave located at the end of the Musandam peninsula and the Strait of Hormuz. The island territory includes the islands Masirah and Al-Hallaniyah. The main cities in Oman are Muscat, the capital, with 56 400 residents (2004), Nizwa (84 500 residents), Sama’il (48 500 residents) And Salalah (185 800 residents). In Oman, a fertile coastal plain (Batinah) can be seen in the far north, the Hagar Mountains, which are over 3000 meters high, and a plateau with small fishing ports in the south.
Climate
The climate is predominantly hot desert.
Economy
It is mainly based on oil exports. It practices subsistence agriculture, so it is necessary to resort to food imports. It produces bananas, limes, vegetables, among other foods, and raises camels and cattle. It is also dedicated to fishing. The government supports private investments, both national and international, as a form of economic development. Oman’s main trading partners are the United Arab Emirates, Japan, the United States of America and Iran. Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide emissions, per capita (metric tons, 1999), is 8.5.
Population
The population of Oman is estimated at 2,622,198 residents, which corresponds to a very low population density (14,13 residents/km2 ). The birth and death rates are, respectively, 36.24% and 3.81%. Average life expectancy is 73.37 years. The value of the Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.755 and the value of the Gender-adjusted Development Index (IDG) is 0.736 (2001). It is estimated that, in 2025, the population will be 5 294 000 residents. The main ethnic groups are Arabs from Oman (74%), Indians (13%), Bangladeshis (4%), Pakistanis (3%) and Egyptians (2%). Islam is followed by 88% of the population, followed by Hinduism (7%) and Christianity (4%). The official language is Arabic.
History
The two waves of migration that formed the original population of Oman were made up of Nizari from the north and Yemeni from the south. This double origin led to the formation of two factions that opposed each other over time and that led to successive wars. The adhesion of the tribes of Oman to Islam was made after the death of the prophet Muhammad. The Sultanate of Oman is a monarchy in which the Sultan, head of state and government, is assisted by a group of sixty councilors. This sultanate is considered the guardian of the gulf. The port of Muscat, today the capital of the country, was in the 5th century BC. A thriving center of commerce and a Portuguese base between 1508 and 1648. It maintains the current dynasty since 1741. In the 19th century the country established ties with Great Britain. The London government intended to defend the interests of the East India Company and put an end to piracy activities in the Gulf ports. Muscat was the scene of Franco-British rivalries in the Gulf before English colonization. The English presence (1820) imposed peace, favored economic activities such as oyster fishing, maritime trade and shipbuilding. Oyster fishing would decline with Japanese competition. The fishermen’s misery was such that it became a theme for oral literature, for sung and rhythmic poetry and for the drums that today animate the culture of the countries of the United Arab Emirates. favored economic activities such as oyster fishing, maritime trade and shipbuilding. Oyster fishing would decline with Japanese competition. The fishermen’s misery was such that it became a theme for oral literature, for sung and rhythmic poetry and for the drums that today animate the culture of the countries of the United Arab Emirates. favored economic activities such as oyster fishing, maritime trade and shipbuilding. Oyster fishing would decline with Japanese competition. The fishermen’s misery was such that it became a theme for oral literature, for sung and rhythmic poetry and for the drums that today animate the culture of the countries of the United Arab Emirates. For Oman democracy and rights, please check homeagerly.
The discovery of oil in Oman, in 1967, started a process of development and modernization that this poor and sparsely populated state was not used to. More than half of the population is foreign, coming from India, Pakistan, Iran, South Korea and also several countries in Europe. Oman gained independence in 1971 but continues to have close military links with Britain and the United States of America. However, the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in August 1990, followed by the Gulf War (January and February 1991), however, showed the country’s great fragility and vulnerability in the face of external political events.
Abbreviationfinder.org: Provides most commonly used abbreviations and initials containing the country name of Oman. Listed by popularity.
1UpTravel.com – Maps of Oman
Browse a collection of city, country, shaded relief and political maps of Oman. Includes the maps of Muscat, Jazirat Masirah, Jaza’ir Khuriya Muriya and Strait of Hormuz.
