Names:
conventional long form:
Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form:
Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form:
Uman
Digraph:
MU
Type:
absolute monarchy 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
Political parties and leaders:
none
Other political or pressure groups:
outlawed Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO), based in Yemen
Suffrage:
none
Elections:
elections scheduled for October 1992
Executive branch:
sultan, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
unicameral 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)
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 in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Awadh bin Badr AL-SHANFARI
chancery:
2342 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
(202) 387-1980 through 1982
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Ambassador David DUNFORD
*Oman, Government
embassy:
address NA, Muscat
mailing address:
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 85% 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. Agriculture is carried on at a subsistence level and the
general population depends on imported food.
National product:
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $10.2 billion (1991)
National product real growth rate:
7.4% (1991)
National product per capita:
$6,670 (1991)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.6% (1991)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
revenues $4.1 billion; expenditures $4.8 billion, including capital
expenditures of $1 billion (1991)
Exports:
$4.9 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
commodities:
petroleum 87%, reexports, fish, processed copper, textiles
partners:
UAE 30%, Japan 27%, South Korea 10%, Singapore 5%
Imports:
$3.0 billion (f.o.b, 1991)
commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock,
lubricants
partners:
Japan 20%, UAE 19%, UK 19%, US 7%
External debt:
$3.1 billion (December 1989 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate 10% (1989), including petroleum sector
Electricity:
1,142,400 kW capacity; 5,100 million kWh produced, 3,200 kWh per capita
(1992)
Industries:
crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction,
cement, copper
Agriculture:
accounts for 6% of GDP and 40% 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:
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, Mina' al Fahl
Merchant marine:
1 passenger ship (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 4,442 GRT/1,320 DWT
Airports:
total:
138
usable:
130
with permanent-surface runways:
6
with runways over 3,659 m:
1
with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
9
with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
74
Telecommunications:
modern system consisting 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 age 15-49 370,548; fit for military service 210,544; reach military
age (14) annually 20,810 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
exchange rate conversion - $1.6 billion, 16% of GDP (1993 est.)
*Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the (Palau), Header