Oman – country information

Country name	Oman
Official name	Sultanate of Oman
Capital	Maskat
Continent	Asia
Area	309,500 km2
Population	3,957,000 (2013)
Foundation of a state	1/1/1650
The highest mountains	Jabal Akhdar (Jabal Sham) 3018 m
State system	absolute monarchy with an appointed council
The biggest cities	Muscat (capital) 500,000, Nizwa 85,000
Official language	Arabic
Ethnicity/National Composition	Omani Arabs 73.5%, Indians 15%, Pakistanis 3.5%, Bangladeshis 2.5%, others 5.5%
Religious affiliation	Muslims 86%, Hindus 13%, others 1%
Currency	1 Omani rial (OMR) = 1000 baiza
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$28,843 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	73.37 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture and fishing 3.5%, mining 45.5%, industry 5.5%, construction 3.5%, services 42%

Oman – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
Yemen	San’a	527,968 km2	25,235,000
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	2,149,690 km2	29,994,272
United Arab Emirates	Abu Dhabi	83,600 km2	8,264,070

Country overview

According to Abbreviationfinder, Oman is located in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula on the coast of the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea and borders Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The small Omani enclave of Ru’us al-Jibal at the tip of the Musandam Peninsula guards the entrance to the Persian Gulf in the Strait of Hormuz.

Country data

Location: Middle East

Time zone: CET + 3 (during summer time: CET + 2)

Total area: 309,500 km²

Land area: 309,500 km²

Water area: 0 km²

Length of the state border: 1,573 km

including:
Yemen: 288 km
Saudi Arabia: 676 km
United Arab Emirates: 609 km

Coastline: 2,092 km

Capital: Muscat

Regions: 11
Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah, Janub ash Sharqiyah, Masqat (Nutmeg), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah, Shamal ash Sharqiyah, Zufar

Electric current: 240 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 968 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Population

Population: approx. 3.2 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 2.1% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 10

Life expectancy: 73 (male), 77 (female)

Official language: Arabic, English

Religions:

• 86% Muslim
• 6% Christians
• 5% Hindu
• 3% other

Climate

The summer months of June and July are particularly hot. There are sometimes temperatures of over 40 ° C, with constant high humidity.

Spring and autumn do not bring much cooling either, so that the climate as a whole is difficult to bear for Europeans.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Rial Omani (OMR)

Classification: 1 rial = 1000 Baisa

ATMs: Available in the major cities.

International credit cards: These are accepted in larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign and national currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts.

The import of Israeli currency is not allowed.

Customs regulations

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

The import of alcoholic beverages (max. 1 liter) is only allowed for non-Muslims.

Pornographic material, pork products, weapons and ammunition of all kinds are not permitted.

Note:
Almost all western magazines count as pornographic material. You should therefore avoid taking newspapers and magazines with you completely.

Travel advice

During the fasting month of Ramadan, restrictions in the daily routine must be expected, e.g. reduced working hours for authorities and restaurants that are closed during the day.

Behavioral advice

Due to the tense situation in the Middle East, you should be very cautious in public. You should refrain from any political or religious activity.

Economy

Oman’s economy in recent years has relied mainly on the extraction and export of natural gas and oil.

In order to be more independent, attempts have been made for a few years to expand further branches of the economy. These include above all agriculture and tourism.

Industries: natural gas and oil production, copper mining, agriculture, tourism

Natural resources: asbestos, natural gas, petroleum, copper

Land use:

• Usable land: 0%
• Grain cultivation: 0%
• Pasture area: 5%
• Forests: 0%
• other: 95%