World Atlas 2010 (4th edition)

292

Oman

ASIA

FACTFILE

OFFICIAL NAME: Sultanate of Oman

DATE OF FORMATION: 1951

CAPITAL: Muscat

POPULATION: 2.85 million

TOTAL AREA: 82,031 sq. miles

(212,460 sq. km)

DENSITY: 35 people per sq. mile

LANGUAGES: Arabic*, Baluchi, other

RELIGIONS: Ibadi Muslim 75%, other Muslim

and Hindu 25%

ETHNIC MIX: Arab 88%, Baluchi 4%,

Persian 3%, Indian and Pakistani 3%,

African 2%

GOVERNMENT: Monarchy

CURRENCY: Omani rial = 1000 baisa

Oman occupies a strategic position on the Arabian

Peninsula, at the entrance to the Persian Gulf. It is the

least developed Gulf state, despite modest oil exports.

GEOGRAPHY

Mostly gravelly desert, with

mountains in the north and south. Some

narrow fertile coastal strips.

CLIMATE

Blistering heat in the west. Summer

temperatures often climb above 113°F

(45°C). Southern uplands receive rains

June–September.

PEOPLE & SOCIETY

Urban drift has seen most Omanis

move to northern towns. The majority

are Ibadi Muslims who follow an

appointed leader, the imam. Ibadism is

not opposed to freedom for women, and

a few women hold positions of authority.

Baluchi from Pakistan are the largest

group of foreign workers.

THE ECONOMY

Oil and natural gas account for

almost all export revenue. Commercially

extractable reserves are limited. Other

exports include fish, animals, and dates.

Foreigners work in all sectors.

INSIGHT: Until the late 1980s,

Oman was closed to all but

business or official visitors

100 km

100 miles

0

0

2000m/6562ft

1000m/3281ft

500m/1640ft

200m/656ft

Sea Level

YEMEN

SAUDI

ARABIA

UAE

INDIAN

OCEAN

Arabian

Sea

Gulf

of

Oman

Strait of Hormuz

Musandam

Peninsula

Ar Rub' al Khálí

flúr

Ar Rustáq

flalálah

flawqirah

flamad

Al Kha§ab

Bahlah

Duqm

Al Qábil

fluíár

MUSCAT