The Sultanate of Oman (Saltanat Uman)
Muscat
Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan and Prime Minister
Sultanate
Consultative Council
6 regions and 2 governorates: Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam, Zufar.
Legal system
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive branch
Chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al
Said since 23 July 1970.
Head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al
Said since 23 July 1970.
Cabinet:
Legislative branch
Bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis
al-Dawla (48 seats). Whose members are appointed by the Sultan. The Majlis
has advisory powers only. There is a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura
(83 seats), whose members are elected.
Elections: last held NA September 2000 (next to be held NA
September 2003)
Judicial branch
Supreme Court
Major religion
Islam. The practice of other religions is allowed in Oman and there are churches in the country.
2,622,198, including 527,078 non-nationals (estimation of July 2001).
Land area
212,457 sq km (82,030 sq mi)
7.5 per sq km (19.4/sq mi)
9% urban, 91% rural
72.2 yrs
40 per 1000 live births
0-14 years: 41.51%
15-64 years: 56.12%
65 years and over: 2.37% (male 32,863; female 29,331) (estimation
of 2001)
Population growth rate
3.43% (2001 est.)
Birth rate
37.96 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate
4.1 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Infant mortality
22.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)
life expectancy at birth
Total population: 72.04 years
Male 69.9 years
Female 74.29 years (estimation of 2001)
languages
Arabic (official), English is widely spoken along Baluchi, Urdu and Indian dialects.
Economic overview
Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000, largely because of the upturn in oil prices. The government is moving ahead with privatizing its utilities and due to the development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2000.
Currency
Omani rial (OMR)
Exchange rates
Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
GDP purchasing power parity
$19.6 billion (estimation of 2000)
GDP - real growth rate
4.6% (estimation of 2000)
GDP - per capita
$7,700 (estimation of 2000)
GDP - composition by sector
Agriculture: 3%
Industry: 40%
Services: 57% (estimation of 1999)
Industries
Crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
Industrial production growth rate
4% (estimation of 2000)
Agriculture - products
Dates, bananas, limes, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
Exports
$11.1 billion (estimation of 2000)
Exports - commodities
Petroleum, fish, metals, textiles
Exports partners
Japan 27%, Thailand 18%, China 12%, UAE 12%, South Korea 12%, US (estimation of 1999)
Imports
$4.5 billion (estimation of 2000)
Imports commodities
Machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
Imports partners
UAE 26%, Japan 16%, UK 9%, Italy 7%, Germany 6%, US (estimation of 1999)
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Official holidays
Note: dates vary every year according to the Gregorian calendarates according to the lunar year.
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Adha
New Islamic year
Eid al-Adha