"text":"The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al-Said overthrew his father, and has since ruled as sultan, but he has never designated a successor. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries. Inspired by the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning in January 2011, some Omanis began staging marches, demonstrations, and sit-ins calling mostly for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response to those protester demands, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement economic and political reforms, such as granting legislative and regulatory powers to the Majlis al-Shura and introducing unemployment benefits. Additionally, in August 2012, the Sultan announced a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector jobs. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in December 2012. Announced by the Sultan in 2011, the municipal councils will have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates. The Sultan returned to Oman in March 2015 after eight months in Germany, where he received medical treatment."
}
},
"Geography":{
"Location":{
"text":"Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE"
},
"Geographic coordinates":{
"text":"21 00 N, 57 00 E"
},
"Map references":{
"text":"Middle East"
},
"Area":{
"total":{
"text":"309,500 sq km"
},
"land":{
"text":"309,500 sq km"
},
"water":{
"text":"0 sq km"
}
},
"Area - comparative":{
"text":"twice the size of Georgia; slightly smaller than Kansas",
"text":"Muslim (official; majority are Ibadhi, lesser numbers of Sunni and Shia)) 85.9%, Christian 6.5%, Hindu 5.5%, Buddhist 0.8%, Jewish \nnote: approximately 75% of Omani citizens, who compose almost 70% of the country's total population, are Ibadhi Muslims; the Omani government does not keep statistics on religious affiliation (2013) (2010 est.)\nreligious affiliation:\n\n \n\n"
"text":"mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law"
},
"International law organization participation":{
"text":"has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt"
},
"Suffrage":{
"text":"21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote"
},
"Executive branch":{
"chief of state":{
"text":"Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government"
},
"head of government":{
"text":"Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972)"
},
"cabinet":{
"text":"Cabinet appointed by the monarch"
},
"elections/appointments":{
"text":"the Ruling Family Council determines a successor from the sultan's extended family; if the Council cannot form a consensus within 3 days of the sultan's death or incapacitation, the Defense Council will relay a predetermined heir as chosen by the sultan"
"text":"bicameral Council of Oman or Majlis Oman consists of the Council of State or Majlis al-Dawla (83 seats; members appointed by the sultan from among former government officials and prominent educators, businessmen, and citizens) and the Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (84 seats; members directly elected in single- and two-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve 4-year terms); note - following political reforms in 2011, legislation from the Consultative Council is submitted to the Council of State for passage and amendments"
"text":"percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; note - three prominent figures from the Arab Spring 2011 protests won seats; one woman also won a seat"
}
},
"Judicial branch":{
"highest court(s)":{
"text":"Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)"
},
"judge selection and term of office":{
"text":"judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judge tenure NA"
},
"subordinate courts":{
"text":"Courts of Appeal; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts"
"text":"Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad al-MUGHAIRI (since 9 November 2005)"
},
"chancery":{
"text":"2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008"
},
"telephone":{
"text":"[1] (202) 387-1980"
},
"FAX":{
"text":"[1] (202) 745-4933"
}
},
"Diplomatic representation from the US":{
"chief of mission":{
"text":"Ambassador Greta C. HOLTZ (since 27 September 2012)"
},
"embassy":{
"text":"Jamait Ad Duwal Al Arabiyya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat"
},
"mailing address":{
"text":"P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat"
},
"telephone":{
"text":"[968] 24-643-400"
},
"FAX":{
"text":"[968] 24-64-37-40"
}
},
"Flag description":{
"text":"three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility"
},
"National symbol(s)":{
"text":"khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords; national colors: red, white, green"
},
"National anthem":{
"name":{
"text":"\"Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani\" (The Sultan's Anthem)"
},
"lyrics/music":{
"text":"Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS"
},
"note":{
"text":"adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said gained power in 1970; first performed by the band of a British ship as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the bandmaster of the HMS Hawkins was asked to write a salutation to the Sultan on the occasion of his ship visit"
}
}
},
"Economy":{
"Economy - overview":{
"text":"Oman is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources, which generates 77% of government revenue. It is using enhanced oil recovery techniques to boost production. Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP from 46% to 9% by 2020. Muscat also is focused on creating more jobs to employ the rising numbers of Omanis entering the workforce. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. However, increases in social welfare benefits, particularly since the Arab Spring, have challenged the government's ability to effectively balance its budget as oil prices decline. Despite government acknowledgement that Oman’s expansive social welfare benefits are unsustainable, Oman authorities are comfortable with short-term budget deficits and have approved an expansionary 2015 budget. Concurrently, Oman has expanded efforts to support the development of small and medium-size enterprises and entrepreneurship. Government agencies and large oligarchic group companies have announced new initiatives to spin off non-essential functions to entrepreneurs, incubate new businesses, train and mentor up and coming business people, and provide financing for start-ups."
"text":"crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber"
"Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy":{
"text":"62.85 million Mt (2012 est.)"
}
},
"Communications":{
"Telephones - fixed lines":{
"total subscriptions":{
"text":"380,000"
},
"subscriptions per 100 inhabitants":{
"text":"12 (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Telephones - mobile cellular":{
"total":{
"text":"6.2 million"
},
"subscriptions per 100 inhabitants":{
"text":"192 (2014 est.)"
}
},
"Telephone system":{
"general assessment":{
"text":"modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations"
},
"domestic":{
"text":"fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems"
},
"international":{
"text":"country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat (2008)"
}
},
"Broadcast media":{
"text":"1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and 2 additional stations now operating (2007)"
},
"Radio broadcast stations":{
"text":"AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)"
},
"Television broadcast stations":{
"text":"13 (plus 25 repeaters) (1999)"
},
"Internet country code":{
"text":".om"
},
"Internet users":{
"total":{
"text":"2.1 million"
},
"percent of population":{
"text":"65.8% (2014 est.)"
}
}
},
"Transportation":{
"Airports":{
"text":"132 (2013)"
},
"Airports - with paved runways":{
"total":{
"text":"13"
},
"over 3,047 m":{
"text":"7"
},
"2,438 to 3,047 m":{
"text":"5"
},
"914 to 1,523 m":{
"text":"1 (2013)"
}
},
"Airports - with unpaved runways":{
"total":{
"text":"119"
},
"over 3,047 m":{
"text":"2"
},
"2,438 to 3,047 m":{
"text":"7"
},
"1,524 to 2,437 m":{
"text":"51"
},
"914 to 1,523 m":{
"text":"33"
},
"under 914 m":{
"text":" ++ 26 (2013)"
}
},
"Heliports":{
"text":"3 (2013)"
},
"Pipelines":{
"text":"condensate 106 km; gas 4,224 km; oil 3,558 km; oil/gas/water 33 km; refined products 264 km (2013)"
},
"Roadways":{
"total":{
"text":"60,230 km"
},
"paved":{
"text":"29,685 km (includes 1,943 km of expressways)"
"text":"Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman) (2013)"
},
"Military service age and obligation":{
"text":"18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)"
},
"Manpower available for military service":{
"males age 16-49":{
"text":"985,957"
},
"females age 16-49":{
"text":"737,812 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Manpower fit for military service":{
"males age 16-49":{
"text":"837,886"
},
"females age 16-49":{
"text":"642,427 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually":{
"male":{
"text":"31,959"
},
"female":{
"text":"30,264 (2010 est.)"
}
},
"Military expenditures":{
"text":"8.61% of GDP (2012) ++ 6.13% of GDP (2011) ++ 8.61% of GDP (2010)"
}
},
"Transnational Issues":{
"Disputes - international":{
"text":"boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details of the alignment have not been made public"
