The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2000 to 2025 Middle East

Background Oman, in 26 editions.

The entry for Oman published Background in 26 editions of 36, from 2000 to 2025. The text changed in 16 editions. Each is shown as published. Background in every entry.

editions changed the text
16
the first edition with it
2000
the latest edition with it
2025

Published as “Background” (2000 to 2025).

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2025 edition

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The same text in 2024 and 2025.

The inhabitants of the area of present-day Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent 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, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and ruled as sultan for the next five decades.

His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and avoid external entanglements.

In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response, QABOOS implemented economic and political reforms such as granting Oman’s legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits and issued a royal directive mandating a national public- and private-sector job creation plan.

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 2012. QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.

The inhabitants of the area of present-day Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent 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, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father, father and ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties with to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and to avoid external entanglements.
Inspired by In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa beginning inspired demonstrations in January 2011, some Omanis staged demonstrations, calling Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response to those protester demands, response, QABOOS in 2011 pledged to implement implemented economic and political reforms, reforms such as granting Oman’s bicameral legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house, which took place in November 2011. house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits, and, in August 2012, benefits and issued a royal directive mandating the speedy implementation of a national public- and private-sector job creation plan for thousands of public and private sector Omani jobs. plan. 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 have the power to advise the Royal Court on the needs of local districts across Oman's 11 governorates. Sultan QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died on 11 January in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.

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Central Intelligence Agency. “Oman: Background.” The World Factbook, 2000–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/oman/background.

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