Oman Overview

The legendary home of Sinbad the Sailor, Oman retains its ancient atmosphere, coupled with luxurious hotels, striking beaches and fascinating markets. Be sure to wander the winding corridors of Mutrah Souk - the oldest market in Muscat, and marvel at the surprising tropical greenery of Salalah. Go dolphin-watching or sip Arabian coffee in an exotic majlis. Oman may be the friendliest country in the Middle East, with dramatic landscapes dotted with oases, forts and palaces that inspire exploration.

Oman is the charming, sleepy neighbour to Dubai’s life in the fast lane. It is the place to come experience the real Arabia... Sinbad’s Arabia. Occupying the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman has over 2100km of coastline stretching along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. A small enclave called Ru'us Al-Jibal (“Mountaintops”) occupies the northern tip of the Musandam Peninsula at the Strait of Hormuz. This territory gives Oman its only frontage on the Persian Gulf and is separated from the main body of Oman by the United Arab Emirates. Masirah Island and Al-Hallaniyah Island are also part of Oman’s territories.

Local Omanis constitute around 60% of the country’s 3 million residents. The remaining 40% are working expats of various nationalities. Outside the cities, tribal dress is colourful and faces are warm and welcoming.

Oman’s capital of Muscat is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. More like a town than a city, Muscat hosts some modern buildings and splendid hotels, but the real appeal is its ancient and exotic atmosphere. The seafront is spectacular with its red sand, picturesque buildings and the ancient alleys of Mutrah Souk. White and beige villas, palaces and forts are tucked among rugged hills which meet the sea. Bushels of brilliant bougainvilleas burst over walls and street corners. The air is quiet and fresh, the roads are smooth with little traffic.

Salalah sits far south of Muscat along the coast of the Arabian Sea. Known for its rich culture and wonders of nature, Salalah today is also contributing towards the economic boom of Oman. It has a modern port, schools, universities, hospitals and a wide range of accommodation. The most surprising thing about Salalah is its greenery. Salalah is blessed with an unusual amount of rain for the Middle East, resulting in mist-covered valleys lush with banana trees, date palms and fertile farmland. There is plenty to do and see in and around Salalah such as visiting the Lost City – the Atlantis of Arabia, following the Frankincense Trail - a protected UNESCO World Heritage site, and exploring isolated beaches.

Oman is governed by a monarchy, ruled by the Sultan with the aid of a Council of Ministers. Sultan Qabus bin Sa’id has ruled Oman since 1970 and maintains friendly relations with the United Kingdom and the United States.

The best time to visit Oman is from September through April when temperatures average around 23°C in the day and 17°C in the evening. The months between May and August are particularly hot rising to 43°C with high humidity. Rainfall varies according to the region. Muscat tends to be dry, while Salalah receives monsoon rains from May to September.

Bring lightweight clothing in conservative styles. A warm wrap, sweater or jacket is useful during the cool winter evenings. Light rainwear is advisable if visiting Salalah during rainy season.

Inhabited by Bedouin tribes as early as third millennium BC, Oman was acutely under-developed until the discovery of oil and natural gas in the early 1970s.

Archaeological excavations have recently shown that much of Oman’s civilization predates the Arab period. The region embraced Islam during the lifetime of Mohammed in the seventh century AD.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the sultans of Muscat were powerful figures in Arabia and East Africa, who often came into conflict with the colonial powers in the region, particularly the Portuguese, who first settled here in the 16th century. Close ties have been maintained with Britain since 1798, when a treaty of friendship was concluded.

British influence remains strong but the number of British advisers occupying key positions in the Omani government, headed by the hereditary ruler Sultan Qaboos, has steadily declined and is now limited to a handful of advisors.

During the early years of the Sultan’s reign, which began in 1970, his top priority was to deal with an insurgency in the western part of his kingdom, conducted by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO) with the backing of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen.

The defeat of the insurgents served to increase both domestic and foreign pressure on Sultan Qaboos to introduce democratic reforms. A series of incremental measures have been introduced to modernise and liberalize this previously autocratic regime. Two consultative assemblies, the Majlis as-Shura and the Majlis al-Dawlah, were originally groomed to assume the functions of a bicameral parliament at the turn of the millennium. This has not happened, nor is it likely to do so in the foreseeable future.

The two Majlis have some influence over domestic affairs, but no say in foreign and defence matters. Recently the franchise that elects them has been steadily expanding to include men and women over the age of 21. The most recent poll for the Majlis as-Shura in November 2003 registered little change in its make-up: no formal political parties are allowed but supporters of the Sultan are in the majority.

Relations with Oman’s immediate neighbours have been cordial, especially with Yemen, since the end of the PFLO insurgency and the unification of Yemen itself. In recent years, Omani concerns have been focused further a field. In 1981, Oman was a founding member of the Gulf Co-operation Council and has played a leading role in promoting its increasing involvement in regional security issues. The country holds strategic military importance to the West and has maintained friendly relations during the last two decades.

In 1994, Oman was the first Gulf state to establish official relations with Israel. Since 1998, it has also developed good relations with Iran, now extending as far as mutual security co-operation in the Gulf.

Oman has major oil trades with Japan, Korea (Rep), Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.