Oman Government

Oman is a despotic monarchy. The hereditary Sultan has ultimate powers and unrestricted authority. The Sultan of Oman issues law by decree and even the county’s judicial system is subordinate to him. The Sultan presides over the nation’s armed forces, the Central Bank, Ministry of Defence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Oman has a bicameral parliament. The upper chamber, called the Council of State, has 83 eminent members chosen by the Sultan to serve four-year terms. The lower house comprises 84 members elected by citizens to represent their provinces for four-year terms which are renewable. However, in spite of the selection being by popular vote, the Sultan has the final say on the choices.

Being a monarchy, Oman does not hold elections for the head of state. The Sultan assumes the throne by succession. The country’s law dictates that the firstborn son is the preferred heir to inherit his father’s throne. There is no term limit for the Sultan, and anyone who opposes the monarch or the government is arrested and tortured. The only elections that are held in Oman are for representatives to the lower chamber, who are chosen by a popular vote. After the elections, however, the sultan can still negotiate the results. Political parties are not allowed in the country, and candidates vie independently.

Sultan Qaboos has six royal residences, but his ceremonial palace is the Al Alam Palace which is located in Muscat. He uses it for official functions and to receive distinguished visitors. The palace was built over 200 years ago by the current Sultan’s seventh direct grandfather, Imam Sultan bin Ahmed. Sultan Qaboos rebuilt it in 1972 as his royal residence. Both houses of parliament also have their seats in Muscat.

Political parties are not allowed to operate in Oman.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

More on Graphicmaps

Published on 2019-11-06


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
Learn More	Oman

Oman Government

More on Graphicmaps

What is a Trade Embargo?

Which Two Countries Used to Have the Same Flag?

What Is the Only Two-Sided State Flag?

Which Country Flag Looks Like the Texas Flag?

Flags That Resemble the US Flag

What is Demography?