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Oman

Introduction to Oman

In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

Government

Capital:

Muscat 

Independence:

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) 

National holiday:

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) 

Economy

Economy overview:

Oman is a small, well-off middle Eastern economy with large oil and gas resources, a substantial trade surplus, and low inflation. The government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2000. In order to reduce unemployment and limit dependence on foreign countries, the government is encouraging the replacement of expatriate workers with local people, i.e., the process of Omanization. Training in information technology, business management, and English support this objective. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources. 

GDP:

purchasing power parity - $36.7 billion (2004 est.) 

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 42.1%
services: 54.8% (2004 est.)

Agriculture products:

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish 

Industries:

crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper 

Transportation

Highways:

total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)

Pipelines:

gas 3,599 km; oil 3,187 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Matrah, Mina' al Fahl, Mina' Raysut

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 15,430 GRT/6,360 DWT
by type: passenger 2
registered in other countries: 1 (2003 est.)

Airports:

135 (2003 est.)