:Oman Government
Long-form name:
Sultanate of Oman
Type:
absolute monarchy; independent, with residual UK influence
Capital:
Muscat
Administrative divisions:
there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 3 governorates (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat);
Musqat, Musandam, Zufar
Independence:
1650, expulsion of the Portuguese
Constitution:
none
Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday:
National Day, 18 November
Executive branch:
sultan, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
National Assembly
Judicial branch:
none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil court system
Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Sa`id Al Sa`id (since 23 July 1970)
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
elections scheduled for October 1992
Other political or pressure groups:
outlawed Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen
Member of:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representation:
Ambassador Awadh bin Badr AL-SHANFARI; Chancery at 2342 Massachusetts Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 387-1980 through 1982
US:
Ambassador Richard W. BOEHM; Embassy at address NA, Muscat (mailing address
is P. O. Box 50202 Madinat Qaboos, Muscat); telephone [968] 698-989; FAX
[968] 604-316
Flag:
three horizontal bands of white (top, double width), red, and green (double
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 at the top of the vertical band
:Oman Economy
Overview:
Economic performance is closely tied to the fortunes of the oil industry.
Petroleum accounts for more than 90% of export earnings, about 80% of
government revenues, and roughly 40% of GDP. Oman has proved oil reserves of
4 billion barrels, equivalent to about 20 years' supply at the current rate
of extraction. Although agriculture employs a majority of the population,
urban centers depend on imported food.
GDP:
exchange rate conversion - $10.6 billion, per capita $6,925 (1990); real
growth rate 0.5% (1989)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.3% (1989)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $4.9 billion; expenditures $4.9 billion, including capital
expenditures of $825 million (1990)
Exports:
$5.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990)
commodities:
petroleum, reexports, fish, processed copper, fruits and vegetables
partners:
Japan 35%, South Korea 21%, Singapore 7%, US 6%
Imports:
$2.5 billion (f.o.b, 1990)
commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock,
lubricants
partners:
UK 20%, UAE 20%, Japan 17%, US 7%
External debt:
$3.1 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production:
growth rate 10% (1989), including petroleum sector
Electricity:
1,120,000 kW capacity; 5,000 million kWh produced, 3,800 kWh per capita
(1991)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction,
cement, copper
Agriculture:
accounts for 6% of GDP and 60% of the labor force (including fishing); less
than 2% of land cultivated; largely subsistence farming (dates, limes,
bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle); not self-sufficient in food;
annual fish catch averages 100,000 metric tons
Economic aid:
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $137 million; Western (non-US)
countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $148 million; OPEC
bilateral aid (1979-89), $797 million
Currency:
Omani rial (plural - rials); 1 Omani rial (RO) = 1,000 baiza
Exchange rates:
Omani rials (RO) per US$1 - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986)
Fiscal year:
calendar year
:Oman Communications
Highways:
26,000 km total; 6,000 km paved, 20,000 km motorable track
Pipelines:
crude oil 1,300 km; natural gas 1,030 km
Ports:
Mina' Qabus, Mina' Raysut
Merchant marine:
1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320 DWT
Civil air:
19 major transport aircraft
Airports:
134 total, 127 usable; 6 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over
3,659 m; 8 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 73 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications:
fair system of open-wire, microwave, and radio communications stations;
limited coaxial cable 50,000 telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 7
TV; satellite earth stations - 2 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT, and 8
domestic
:Oman Defense Forces
Branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Royal Oman Police
Manpower availability:
males 15-49, 359,394; 204,006 fit for military service
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.73 billion, 16% of GDP (1992 budget)
:Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the Geography
Total area:
458 km2
Land area:
458 km2
Comparative area:
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:
none
Coastline:
1,519 km
Maritime claims:
Contiguous zone:
12 nm
Continental shelf:
200 m (depth)
Exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
Territorial sea:
3 nm
Disputes:
none
Climate:
wet season May to November; hot and humid
Terrain:
about 200 islands varying geologically from the high, mountainous main
island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier
reefs
Natural resources:
forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products; deep-seabed minerals
Land use:
arable land NA%; permanent crops NA%; meadows and pastures NA%; forest and
woodland NA%; other NA%
Environment:
subject to typhoons from June to December; archipelago of six island groups
totaling over 200 islands in the Caroline chain
Note:
important location 850 km southeast of the Philippines; includes World War
II battleground of Peleliu and world-famous rock islands