Oman

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Oman's Information


Capital	Muscat
Languages	Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
Ethnic Groups	Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Religion	Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.5%, Hindu 5.5%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jewish <0.1%, other 1%, unaffiliated 0.2% (2010 est.)
Government	Absolute monarchy
Independance	1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
Area	309,500.00 km²
Land Area	309,500.00 km²
Population	3,355,262.00 The vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely poplulated
Location	Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
No. Bordering Countries	3
Bordering Countries	Saudi Arabia 658 km, UAE 609 km, Yemen 294 km
GDP(PPP)	$173,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$43,700.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are China, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, and textiles.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and India.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, and livestock.
Climate	Dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain	Central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Where is Oman?

Located in the Middle East, Oman has a 1,561.00 km border with Saudi Arabia (658 km), UAE (609 km) and Yemen (294 km). It has a 2,092.00 km coastline. Oman and the United Arab Emirates signed a ratified a border agreement in 2003.

The capital of the Sultanate of Oman is Muscat. It is the largest Metropolitan city in the country as well as the largest city in Muscat Governorate. As the capital, Muscat is the administrative headquarters of the Omani government. It covers an area of 1,400 square miles, and it is divided into six provinces. Muscat is one of the alpha cities in the world, and its economy relies mostly on trade and porting, mainly because it is a port city. Muscat is home to major trading companies like Saud Bahwan Group and Zubair Automotive. It is also the headquarters of Petroleum Development Oman, which is the primary gas and oil exploration and production company in Oman.

Geography

Oman has a mean elevation of 310 m above sea level.

It has a desert climate that is hot and humid along the coast. Its terrain mostly consists of desert with rugged mountains in the north and south.

Population

Oman has a population of 3,355,262 making it the 134th largest in the world. The majority of the population can be found in and around the Al Hagar Mountains.

Arabic is the official language. The major ethnic groups reported are Arab, Baluchi, and South Asian. The majority of the country identifies as Muslim.

The national and official language of Oman is Arabic. The sign language of the deaf community in the country is the Omani Sign Language. English is however spoken widely in the country, and it is accepted as a second language of Oman. Most business operations in Oman are conducted in English hence expatriates do not encounter much trouble when they move to the country. Most of the schools in the nation also teach English as a second language, and official notices and road signs are mostly in both English and Arabic. Other Semitic dialects such as Jibali and Balochi are also spoken in Oman, as well as Urdu, Hindu, French, and Swahili.

Government

Oman is an independent country. The Portuguese were expelled from the country in 1650. Its constitution was last ratified in 1996.

The Sultanate of Oman occupies the southeastern coast of Arabia. Its neighbors are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea. Oman covers an area of 119,500 square miles and, as per 2016, the population estimate for the nation was 4,424,762. The country is made up eleven governorates or regions which are divided into 60 provinces, locally known as wilayats. Oman is one of the few nations in the Arab world that maintains diplomatic relations with Iran. The state has a predominant Islam population, and non-Muslim residents in the country are mostly expatriates.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Oman's GDP is $173,000,000,000.00 (USD) with $43,700.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 69th largest economy and its citizens the 36th richest in the world. The currency of Oman is the Rial (OMR).

Its major export partners are China, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea. Its main exports are petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, and textiles. Its major import partners are the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and India. Its major imports include machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, and livestock.

Flag

The national flag of the Sultanate of Oman is referred to as Alam e Uman in Arabic. It has three colors namely red, white, and green, and bears the national emblem of the country. The nation adopted the flag by a Royal Decree on December 17, 1970, after Sultan Qaboos ascended to the throne and changed the name of the country from Muscat and Oman to the Sultanate of Oman. There are three types of national flags in Oman, which are distinguished by proportion. The National Flag is 1:2, the ceremonial flag is 5:7, and the State Flag is 4:7. Other variants of the national flag of Oman include the Naval Ensign of Oman and the Standard of the Sultan of Oman.