Capital: Muscat
Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqah, singular -
mintaqat) and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad
Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat,
Musandam*, Zufar*
Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
National holiday: National Day, 18 November (1940)
Constitution: none
Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: none
Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister
QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970) is a hereditary monarch;
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the sultan
Legislative branch: unicameral
Consultative Council (Majlis ash Shura): a 60-member body with
advisory powers only
Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent
civil court system, administered by region