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Middle East and North Africa
Oman |
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Last reviewed: 09 November 2009 |
Country information
Area: 309,500 sq km
Population: 2,867,428 (2008) (Omani Ministry of National Economy)
Life Expectancy: 73.9 years
Capital City: Muscat
People: Arab, Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan), African and Baluchi
Omani nationals: 1,967,180 (as above)
Expatriate residents: 900,248 (as above)
Language(s): Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Baluchi and Urdu
Religion(s): No state religion. The majority are Ibadhi Muslims. Sunni and Shi’a Muslims make up the rest of the Omani population. Significant numbers of South Asian Hindus and Christians.
Currency: Omani Rial
Major Political Parties: None
Government: Monarchy, with assistance from Consultative Council (Majlis ash-Shura)
Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said
Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs: Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah
Membership of international groups/organisations: Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC); Organisation of the Islamic Council (OIC); the Arab League; the United Nations
HEALTH
In 2002 the WHO considered the Oman national health service as the best in the world for value for money in health care. There are several well-equipped private hospitals and clinics.
ECONOMY
Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US$59.87bn (Omani Ministry of National Economy, 2008)GNI per head: US$18,987(est. 2008)
Annual Growth: 5.3% (2007)
Consumer Price Inflation: 7.9% (Ministry of National Economy, 2008)
Major Industries: Oil, Natural Gas, Agriculture and Fishing
Major trading partners: Japan, UAE, South Korea, China, EU, Thailand
Exchange rate: 0.385 Omani Rials: US$1 (2008)
The economy is largely dependent on the production and export of oil and gas, which began in 1967, but the policy of gradually lessening dependence on oil is meeting with continuing success. In 2005 oil & gas accounted for 79.5% of Government revenue, as compared to 72.7% in 2003, and 73.1 in 2002. Oman’s policy of economic diversification, is focusing on natural gas, port developments in Sohar and Salalah, information and communication technology, fisheries, manufacturing and, in particular, modern tourist facilities, which are being expanded throughout the country. Another important economic policy is ‘Omanisation’, the replacement of migrant workers with Omani nationals. The aim is to address the pressing need to provide work for the growing number of young Omanis, and prepare the country for the post-oil era.
HISTORY
Recent History
Sultan Qaboos came to power in July 1970. Ousting his father Sa’id in a virtually bloodless coup (known as "The Renaissance") Qaboos reversed his father’s very conservative policies, secured the regime by defeating the alliance of internal insurgents and South Yemeni forces in the Dhofar War (1968-75), and has led the country through nearly 40 years of steady development. Relying on a moderate stream of oil revenue his government has built up a solid infrastructure with sound educational and health systems. The Sultan rules by decree, but has introduced measures to broaden popular participation in government.
Longer Historical Perspective
Oman is the oldest independent state in the Gulf, and was founded in 1650 after its independence from Portugal. However, settlements in Oman date back from the third century BC, when it was on the trade route from ancient Mesopotamia to the Indian sub-continent. The region became more important, and wealthy, as a frankincense producer in the early centuries AD.
Portuguese Rule and Oman's Empire
The Portuguese arrived, as the first Europeans in Oman in 1506 and used the country as a staging post on the route to India. However, they were expelled in 1650, after which time Oman consolidated its influence as an independent, commercial power. By the 19th Century Oman had established an empire that included Zanzibar (in what is now Tanzania) and Baluchistan (in what is now Pakistan). It gave up the last of these holdings in 1958.
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Oman values its good relations with its GCC partners (Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait), and has good working relations with Iran. Oman plays an active role in the multilateral association, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), and has been involved in promoting further co-operation between the GCC states and Yemen and Iran.
On wider issues, such as the Israeli/ Palestinian dispute, Oman supports the united Arab position expressed at the Beirut summit in March 2002, of continuing to suspend all ties with Israel until peace talks resume. Like many of the Arab countries Oman supports the Arab peace initiative and the creation of an independent Palestinian State.
The UK and Oman share excellent bilateral relations, particularly on defence, as illustrated by the Joint Military Exercise SAIF SAREEA II in November 2001. At that time it was the largest deployment of UK forces since the Gulf War of the early 1990s and indicated the UK's commitment to Oman.
Oman has diplomatic relations with over 140 countries – a network which includes two female ambassadors - and is a member of over 105 regional and international organisations.
Recent Official Visits
Inward
- July 2009: Dr Omar Zawawi, Advisor to HM Sultan Qaboos on External Relations
- December 2008: HE Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Omani Minister of Commerce and Industry
- May 2007: HE Yusuf bin Alawi, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- November 2006: HE Maqbool bin Ali Sultan, Omani Minister of Commerce and Industry
- July/August 2003: HM Sultan Qaboos
Outward
- November 2009: HRH Duke of York (UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment
- October 2009: Minister of the Armed Forces
- April 2009: Bill Rammell, FCO Minister of State
- February 2009: Bob Ainsworth, Armed Forces Minister
- November 2008: Jim Knight, Schools Minister
- August 2008: Gordon Brown, Prime Minister
- March 2008: Dr Kim Howells, FCO Minister of State
- February 2008: Lord Mayor of London
- December 2007: The Red Arrows Display Team
- February 2005: HRH The Duke Of York
- October 2001: The Prime Minister
GEOGRAPHY
The Sultanate of Oman occupies the south-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula bordering Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the West and the Republic of Yemen in the South. The coastline extends 1,700km from the Strait of Hormuz in the north, to the borders of the Republic of Yemen in the south and overlooks three seas - the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Oman's terrain has a varied topography, consisting of plains, desert, mountain ranges and wadis. Around 82% of Oman consists of desert, and most cities are located on the coast. There are several islands located in Oman's waters, the largest of which is Masirah in the south-east, which is accessed by boat and plane.
TRADE AND INVESTMENT WITH THE UK
In 2008, UK exports to Oman were £433m. This meant UK exports increased by 62% compared to 2007. In 2008, imports from Oman to the UK also rose by 67% from £83m in 2007 to £139m.
UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) helps British firms doing business with Oman, and regularly supports trade missions to Oman.
UK Trade & Investment Country Profile: Oman
POLITICS
In November 1996, the Sultan introduced a Basic Law, Oman's first written constitution. The Law established a succession mechanism, codified the system of government; set out the provisions for the development of the political and legal systems; and provided a blueprint for the direction of future economic policy. For the first time, the Sultan also laid down clearly his own powers and those of his Ministers and Councils.
The Basic Law also created an appointed 40-member upper Chamber (State Council – "Majlis ad Dowla"), to complement the elected lower chamber (Shura Council) of the "Council of Oman". The new dual chamber Council of Oman was enjoined to express views and put forward proposals 'without fear or favour'. Four women were appointed to the State Council in 1997 and a further five were appointed in 2003. After the 2007 Shura Elections in which no women were returned, the number of women appointed to the Dowla was increased to 14.
The 2003 elections marked a new move towards democracy, as the Sultan extended the franchise to all Omanis over the age of 21 for the first time. Elections in 2007 continued Oman’s democratic progress. The Shura Council’s powers are limited, but growing. The Sultan has responsibility for drawing up new legislation, making public appointments, and holds the Ministerial portfolios of defence, finance and foreign policy.
In March 2004 the Sultan appointed Oman’s first female Cabinet Minister. There are now (April 2008) three female Cabinet Ministers and one other woman holding Ministerial rank.
HUMAN RIGHTS
The Basic Law sets out and protects some human rights, such as an independent judiciary, and the freedoms of association, speech, and the press, though in practice the public media exercise rigorous self-censorship and the internet is monitored. Suffrage has been extended to all Omanis over 21. Oman retains the death penalty. Oman has acceded to two of the six core UN human rights conventions on Human Rights: the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
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Contacts
Address:
Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman
167 Queen's Gate
London SW7 5HE
Military Section, Cultural Section and Health Section
64 Ennismore Gardens
London SW7 1NH
Telephone:
(020) 7225 0001
(020) 7589 0202 Military
(020) 7589 0220 Cultural
(020) 7589 0002 Health
(020) 7225 0001 Commercial
Fax:
(020) 7584 3653 Military
(020) 7584 6435 Cultural
(020) 7581 2545 Health
(020) 7589 2505 Commercial
Office hours:
Mon–Fri: 0900–1530