Oman

In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

• dry desert;
• hot, humid along coast;
• hot, dry interior;
• strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

• rising soil salinity;
• beach pollution from oil spills;
• very limited natural fresh water resources

party to:

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.46 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

1.2 male(s)/female

total population:

1.26 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

noun:

Omani(s)

adjective:

Omani

conventional long form:

Sultanate of Oman

conventional short form:

Oman

local long form:

Saltanat Uman

local short form:

Uman

former:

Muscat and Oman

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens

• based on English common law and Islamic law;
• ultimate appeal to the monarch;
• has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

• in Oman's most recent Majlis al-Shura elections in 2003, suffrage was universal for all Omanis over age 21 except for members of the military and security forces;
• the next Majlis al-Shura elections are scheduled for 2007

chief of state:

Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government:

Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the monarch

elections:

none; the monarch is hereditary

chief of mission:

Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani al-KHUSSAIBY

chancery:

2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988

FAX:

[1] (202) 745-4933

chief of mission:

Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III

embassy:

Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat

mailing address:

P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat

telephone:

[968] 24-698989

FAX:

[968] 24-699771

• 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

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

• dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables;
• camels, cattle;
• fish

general assessment:

modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable

domestic:

open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations

international:

country code - 968; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

total:

34,965 km

paved:

9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)

unpaved:

25,292 km (2001)

total:

1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 15,430 GRT/6,360 DWT

by type:

passenger 1 (2005)