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NAVIGATION
Sultanate of Oman
Saltanat Uman
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman local long form: Saltanat Uman former: Muscat and Oman local short form: Uman |
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Government type:
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monarchy |
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Capital:
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Muscat |
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Administrative divisions:
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6 regions (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah) and 2 governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*; note - the US Embassy in Oman reports that Masqat is a governorate, but this has not been confirmed by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) |
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Independence:
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1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese) |
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National holiday:
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Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) |
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Constitution:
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none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis ash-Shura |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by limited suffrage for three-year term, however, the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)
elections: last held NA September 2000 (next to be held NA September 2003) election results: NA; note - two women were elected for the first time to the Majlis al-Shura, about 100,000 people voted |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges |
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Political parties and leaders:
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none |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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none |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Ali AL KHUSAIBY
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988 FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat mailing address: international: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat telephone: [968] 698989, extension 203 FAX: [968] 699771 |
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Flag description:
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three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal 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 near the top of the vertical band |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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Oman's economic performance improved significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. 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 (WTrO) in November 2000. GDP growth improved in 2001 despite the global slowdown. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $21.5 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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7.4% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $8,200 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 3%
industry: 40% services: 57% (1999 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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1% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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920,000 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% |
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Budget:
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revenues: $9.2 billion
expenditures: $6.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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4% (2000 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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8.1 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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7.533 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish |
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Exports:
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$10.9 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan 21%, Thailand 18%, China 16%, South Korea 12%, UAE 12%, US 3% (2001) |
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Imports:
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$5.4 billion f.o.b. (2001 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants |
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Imports - partners:
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UAE 23% (largely reexports), Japan 16%, UK 13%, Italy 7%, Germany 5%, US 5% (2001) |
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Debt - external:
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$5.3 billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$76.4 million (1995) (1995) |
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Currency:
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Omani rial (OMR) |
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Currency code:
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OMR |
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Exchange rates:
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Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (fixed rate since 1986) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |