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Oman

 Flag of Oman

Last reviewed: 09 November 2009

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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.

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Contacts

Oman

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