Country	Oman
Capital	Muscat
Continent	Asia
Currency	Rial(OMR)
Languages	Arabic

Locaion

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Geographic Co ordinates

21 00 N, 57 00 E

Land Boundries

Total:1,374 km
Border countries:Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km

Geography - note

strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

Population

2,967,717
Country comparison to the world:136

Nationality

Noun:Omani(s)
Adjective:Omani

Ethnic groups

Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

Religions

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Country Name

Conventional long form:Sultanate of Oman
Conventional short form:Oman
Local long form:Saltanat Uman
Local short form:Uman
Former:Muscat and Oman

Government Type

monarchy

Capital

Name:Muscat
Geographic coordinates:23 37 N, 58 35 E
Time difference:UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat (Muscat)*, Musandam*, Zufar (Dhofar)*

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National Holiday

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Constitution

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens

Legal system

based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces are not allowed to vote

Executive branch

Chief of state:Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government:Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)
Cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the monarch
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:the monarchy is hereditary

Legislative branch

bicameral Majlis Oman consists of Majlis al-Dawla or upper chamber (71 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has only advisory powers and Majlis al-Shura or lower chamber (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; body has only advisory powers)
Elections:last held on 27 October 2007 (next to be held in 2011)
Election results:new candidates won 46 seats and 38 members of the outgoing Majlis kept their positions; none of the 20 female candidates was elected

Judicial branch

Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and sharia law

Political Parties and Leaders

none

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI
Chancery:2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone:[1] (202) 387-1980
FAX:[1] (202) 745-4933

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Richard J. SCHMIERER
Embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
Mailing address:P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
Telephone:[968] 24-643-400
FAX:[968] 24-699771

Flag description

three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band

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Government - Ministry of Information Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministry Of Education
Newspapers -  Oman Daily Observer Oman News Agency TheWeek Times of Oman
                              Truth Out Al Shabiba Alwatan
Tourism -         Ministry of Tourism

Google News

This RSS feed URL is deprecatedThis RSS feed URL is deprecated, please update. New URLs can be found in the footers at https://news.google.com/news Weather update: Rains to continue in Oman until Monday - Times of Oman Times of Oman Weather update: Rains to continue in Oman until Monday Times of Oman Muscat: Residents in the northern governorates of Oman will continue seeing rain until Monday, the Public Authority for Civil Aviation said. A statement from the authority said, "The Multi-Hazard Early Warning Centre predicts the continuation of ... Hockey: Malaysia beat hosts Oman 3-1 in Asian Champions Trophy - The Star Online The Nation Hockey: Malaysia beat hosts Oman 3-1 in Asian Champions Trophy The Star Online KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia registered their second win in the men's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament by defeating Oman 3-1 at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman on Friday (Oct 19). Malaysia, who beat Japan 3-0 in the first ... India vs Pakistan Asian Champions Trophy When And Where To Watch Live Telecast, Live Streaming OnlineNDTVSports.com Our Competition Starts With Pakistan Clash, Says Harendra SinghNews18 all 29 news articles » Asian Champions Trophy: With 11-0 victory over Oman, India begin process of clearing doubts left by Asiad performance - Firstpost Firstpost Asian Champions Trophy: With 11-0 victory over Oman, India begin process of clearing doubts left by Asiad performance Firstpost After quite an extra-ordinarily chaotic first quarter, a slightly jumpy Indian team settled down to do what they do well — score goals, a good eleven at that against hosts Oman in their opening match of the Asian Champions Trophy at the Sultan Qaboos ... Asian Champions Trophy: Dilpreet Singh hat-trick helps India trample Oman 11-0India Today Asian Champions Trophy: India Begin Title Defense With Convincing Win Against OmanNews18 Holders India face lightweight Oman in Asian Champions Trophy openerTimes of India Business Standard -Sportskeeda -THE WEEK all 110 news articles » India launch title defence with 11-0 win over Oman - The Hans India The Hans India India launch title defence with 11-0 win over Oman The Hans India Having started with two forays into the Indian circle in the first quarter, Oman wilted under pressure in the second half. Dilpreet scored three goals (41st, 55th and 57th minute) and was adjudged Man of the Match, while Gurjant Singh (37th minute ... India maul Oman 11-0 in openerDaily Pioneer Asian Champions Trophy: India thrashes Oman 11-0 in their opening matchUnited News of India all 5 news articles » MILITARY: Bulford based 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade on exercise in Oman - Salisbury Journal Salisbury Journal MILITARY: Bulford based 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade on exercise in Oman Salisbury Journal MILITARY: Bulford based 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade on exercise in Oman. By David Falcke. Brigadier Zac Stenning briefing Omani officers on Ex Saif Sareea. UNDER the command of Brigadier Zac Stenning, commander of Bulford based 1 Armoured ... Malaysia's Petronas Set to Buy 10% Stake in Giant Oman Gas Field ... - Wall Street Journal Wall Street Journal Malaysia's Petronas Set to Buy 10% Stake in Giant Oman Gas Field ... Wall Street Journal Malaysia's state oil company has agreed to acquire about a 10% stake in the giant Khazzan natural gas field in Oman, giving Petronas a toehold in one of the ... Petronas set to buy 10% stake in Oman gas field - Business News ...The Star Online WSJ: Malaysia's Petronas to buy 10% stake in giant Oman gas field ...Seeking Alpha all 3 news articles » Oman weather: Rainfall likely in northern parts of Sultanate - Times of Oman Times of Oman Oman weather: Rainfall likely in northern parts of Sultanate Times of Oman Oman Meteorology said, "Musandam, Al Buraimi, A'Dhahirah, North and South Al Batinah, Muscat, A'Dakhiliyah and North and South Al Sharqiya will be affected by the depression with chances of isolated rain and the occasional thundershower associated ... Omani Women's Day: 'Turn challenges into opportunities' - Times of Oman Times of Oman Omani Women's Day: 'Turn challenges into opportunities' Times of Oman The Research Council's Dr. Maryam Belarab Al Nabhani talks about balancing family and children with her Ph.D. studies, and how she turned challenges in her life into opportunities. With Oman celebrating Women's Day this week on October 17, Times of ... Govt suspends export of workers to Oman - Daily Monitor - Daily Monitor (press release) (blog) Daily Monitor (press release) (blog) Govt suspends export of workers to Oman - Daily Monitor Daily Monitor (press release) (blog) Gender Minister Janat Mukwaya announced the suspension yesterday, but gave no timeline of when the probe committee will start work. and more » Birth spacing 'improving health of Omani women' - gulfnews.com gulfnews.com Birth spacing 'improving health of Omani women' gulfnews.com Muscat: The process of birth spacing — or maintaining a time frame between pregnancies — in Oman got its first boost in 1993, following a public declaration by Sultan Qaboos Bin Said on the issue of high population growth putting a burden on Omani ...