Oman Passport

【 Country Name 】 The Sultanate of Oman

【 Area 】 309500 square kilometers

[Population] 5.16 million (January 2024), of which 57% are from Oman.

Islam is the state religion. 85.9% of the population are Muslims, mostly belonging to the Ibadan sect.

The official language is Arabic, and English is commonly used.

【 Capital 】 Muscat, with an area of approximately 3900 square kilometers and a population of 1.4 million.

Head of State: Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said ascended to the throne on January 11, 2020.

National Day: November 18th

【 Geography 】 Located in the southeastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and is adjacent to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The coastline is 3165 kilometers long. Except for the mountains in the northeast, they all have a tropical desert climate. The year is divided into two seasons, with May to October being the hot season and temperatures reaching over 40 ℃; From November to April of the following year is the cool season, with an average temperature of about 24 ℃.

Oman is one of the oldest countries in the Arabian Peninsula. By 2000 BC, extensive maritime and land trade activities had been carried out, and it had become the shipbuilding center of the Arabian Peninsula. In the 7th century AD, it became part of the Arab Empire and gained independence at the end of the 11th century. In 1429, the Ibadan sect established its rule in Oman. In 1507, Oman was invaded and colonized by Portugal for a long time. In 1649, the local people of Oman overthrew Portuguese rule and established the Ariba dynasty. In 1742, Oman was invaded by the Persian Afshar dynasty. In the mid-18th century, the local people of Oman drove away the Persians and established the Sayyid dynasty, naming it the "Sultanate of Muscat". It became one of the stronger countries along the Indian Ocean coast at that time and its influence expanded to the coastal areas of East Africa. In 1856, after the death of Sultan Said bin Sultan, his two sons were respectively in charge of Oman and East Africa. In 1861, the two regions officially split. In 1871, Britain invaded Oman and forced it to accept unequal treaties. In 1913, the mountainous tribes of Oman launched an anti British uprising and established the "Islamic Sultanate of Oman". In 1920, British colonizers signed the Treaty of Sib with the "Islamic State", recognizing its independence, and Oman was divided into two parts: the "Sultanate of Muscat" and the "Islamic State of Oman". In December 1955, British colonizers and the "Sultanate" army they supported captured the capital of the "Imam", Nizwa. The local resistance forces withdrew into the mountains and launched another anti British uprising in July 1957, but it was ultimately suppressed on a large scale by the British army and failed. In 1967, Sultan Said bin Temur of the "Sultanate of Muscat" unified the entire territory of Oman with the support of Britain and changed the name to "Sultanate of Muscat and Oman". On July 23, 1970, the Sultan of Timur was forced to abdicate and his only son Qaboos ascended to the throne, changing the country's name to "Sultanate of Oman" and using it to this day. In 1973, British troops withdrew from Oman.

Oman is a hereditary monarchy that prohibits all political party activities. Sudan enjoys absolute authority, promulgating laws, appointing cabinets, leading the military, and approving and concluding international treaties. On January 11, 2020, Sultan Qaboos passed away, and his cousin, Minister of Culture and Heritage Haytham, succeeded him as Sultan according to Qaboos' will.

The Oman Council, also known as the Parliament, is composed of the National Council (equivalent to the Upper House of Parliament) and the Consultative Council (equivalent to the Lower House of Parliament). Members of the National Council and the Consultative Council are not allowed to concurrently serve each other. Among them, the National Committee was established in December 1997, mainly responsible for reviewing national legal, social, economic and other issues. It has a total of 75 members, mostly former political and military officials and well-known figures from all walks of life, all appointed by Sudan for a term of 4 years and can be re elected. The current chairman, Abdul Malik Bin Abdullah Al Khalili, took office in August 2020.

The Consultative Conference was established in November 1991, and its predecessor was the National Advisory Committee established in 1981. Before 2003, members of the Consultative Conference could only be elected by a certain range of Omani citizens. Since 2003, the Consultative Conference has implemented universal suffrage, and all Omani citizens over the age of 21 can participate in elections and vote. In 2007, Sultan Qaboos issued a decree further lifting the restrictions on the qualifications of candidates for the Consultative Conference. In October 2011, Sultan Qaboos promulgated the revised National Basic Law, granting the Consultative Conference greater powers, including the power to modify and make suggestions on laws, budgets, treaties, audit reports, etc., as well as the power to supervise and question government departments. The appointment of the chairman of the Consultative Conference by Sudan has been changed to direct election of the members of the Consultative Conference. At the end of October 2023, the Consultative Conference will hold a general election (10th session), electing a total of 90 members for a term of 4 years, who can be re elected. Chairman Khalid Bin Hilal Al Ma'awali was elected in October 2011 and has been re elected ever since.

In November 1996, Sultan Qaboos issued a decree promulgating the Basic Law of the State (equivalent to a constitution), which stipulated issues such as the national system and political form, guiding principles of national policies, citizens' rights and obligations, the powers of the head of state, the responsibilities of the cabinet and its members, the operation of the Omani Council and the judicial system. In October 2011, Sultan Qaboos issued a decree to revise the Basic Law of the State, which mainly made further provisions on the succession of the Sultanate and the powers of the Consultative Conference. In January 2021, Sultan Haytham issued a decree to revise the Basic Law of the State and establish a system of crown prince succession by the eldest son.

The Cabinet is the highest administrative body authorized by Sudan, and its members are appointed by Sudan. In June 2022, the Omani Cabinet completed its second reshuffle after the accession of the new Sultan, with a total of 23 members, including 3 female members. The main members include: Fahd Bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs; Shihab Bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs; Theyazan Bin Haitham Bin Tarik Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth; Hamoud Bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior; and Bader bin Hamad bin Hamad, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Badr Bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Minister of Energy and Mines Salem bin Nasser Al Ofi Bin Nasser Al Aufi and others.

[Administrative divisions] Divided into 11 provinces according to administrative regions (Muscat Province, Zofar Province, Musandam Province, Blemi Province, Central North Province, Central South Province, Dashilai Province, Inland Province, Southeast Province, Northeast Province, Central Province). There are a total of 61 states in the province.

The government has established the Ministry of Justice, Religious Foundation, and Islamic Affairs to oversee judicial and religious affairs. There are 47 courts nationwide, with appellate courts in the capital and some states.

Important figure: Sultan Hussein bin Tariq Al Said. Born in Oman in October 1955, cousin of former Sultan Qaboos. From 1986 to 1994, he served as the Deputy Minister of Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1994 to 2002, he was appointed as the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2002 to January 2020, he was appointed as the Minister of Culture and Heritage. He succeeded Sudan on January 11, 2020.

Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said: Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs. Born in 1940, the distant cousin of Sultan Haytham. Graduated from Cairo University in Egypt with a major in economics in 1965, and later went to France to study political science. After Sultan Qaboos came to power in 1970, he served as the first Foreign Minister and later as Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Information. In May 1979, he was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for legal affairs. Appointed as Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs from January 1994. Visited China in September 2005.

Shahab bin Tariq Al Said: Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs. Born in 1956, the younger brother of Sultan Haytham. From 1990 to 2004, he served as the Commander of the Royal Oman Navy. From 2004 to March 2020, he was appointed as the Sultan's Advisor and Chairman of the Research Council. In March 2020, he was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs.

The oil and gas industry is Oman's pillar industry, with oil and gas revenue accounting for 68% of the country's fiscal revenue and 41% of its gross domestic product. The industry is mainly focused on oil extraction, and in recent years, attention has been paid to the natural gas industry. Implement a free and open economic policy, vigorously develop the national economy using oil revenue, strive to attract foreign investment, introduce technology, and encourage private investment. In order to gradually change the dependence of the national economy on oil, achieve diversified sources of fiscal revenue and sustainable economic development, the Omani government vigorously promotes industrial diversification, Omani employment, and economic privatization, increases investment in infrastructure construction, and expands the participation of private capital. Agriculture is underdeveloped, and food mainly relies on imports. The fishery resources are abundant and are a traditional industry in Oman. In addition to meeting domestic demand, they can also be exported and are one of the main sources of Oman's non oil product export revenue.

The main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: 99.3 billion US dollars.

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: 19000 US dollars.

Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate: 1.3%.

Total import and export volume: 97.8 billion US dollars.

Import value: 59 billion US dollars.

Export value: 38.8 billion US dollars.

Foreign exchange reserves: 17.5 billion US dollars.

Note: The data is sourced from the Oman National Data and Information Center.

Oil extraction began in the 1960s. As of the end of 2022, Oman has discovered approximately 650 million tons (4.8 billion barrels) of oil reserves, with a production of approximately 51 million tons (388 million barrels) for the year and an average daily output of approximately 1.06 million barrels. The proven natural gas reserves are about 0.7 trillion cubic meters, with an annual output of 32.3 billion cubic meters. In addition to oil and natural gas, mineral resources discovered in Oman include copper, gold, silver, chromium, iron, manganese, magnesium, coal, limestone, marble, gypsum, phosphate, quartz, kaolin, etc. The specific situation is: copper reserves are about 15 million tons, chromium reserves are about 2.5 million tons, iron reserves are about 120 million tons, manganese reserves are about 1.5 million tons, coal reserves are about 122 million tons, limestone reserves are about 300 million tons, marble reserves are about 150 million tons, gypsum reserves are about 1.2 billion tons, etc.

The oil and gas industry is the main industry, while other industries started relatively late. The industrial projects mainly include petrochemicals, ironmaking, fertilizers, plastics, cast pipes, etc. Except for a few larger enterprises such as refineries, cement plants, flour mills, etc. that are invested and operated by the government, the rest are private small and medium-sized enterprises mainly engaged in the production of non-metallic minerals, wood processing, food, textiles, etc.

Agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries play a crucial role in the non oil industries of the national economy, meeting 47.6% of the country's food and 69% of animal feed demand. However, overall agriculture is underdeveloped, with approximately 100000 hectares of arable land available nationwide and 73000 hectares already cultivated, mainly for growing fruits and vegetables such as dates, lemons, and bananas. The main grain crops are wheat, barley, and sorghum, which cannot be self-sufficient. Fishery resources are abundant and are a traditional industry. In addition to meeting domestic needs, it can also be exported and is one of the main sources of non petroleum product export revenue.

Transportation mainly relies on highways.

Highways: The total length of asphalt roads is 35522 kilometers, and the total length of dirt roads is 1222 kilometers.

Water transportation: The main ports include Muscat Cabos Sudan Port, Suhar Port, Sarala Port, Dukum Port, Hasab Port, etc. Among them, Muscat Cabos Port Sudan has been transformed into a tourist port; Suhar Port and Sarala Port are mainly engaged in container and other freight businesses; Dukum Port and Hasab Port are still under construction. In addition, the Oman National Ferry Company operates multiple passenger routes between Musandam Province (an enclave of Oman), Masira Island (the largest island of Oman), and the mainland of Oman.

Air Transport: Oman Airlines, established in May 1981, is a public-private partnership primarily responsible for domestic passenger and freight transportation. In recent years, Oman Airlines has continuously expanded its international business and has successively opened routes from Muscat to London, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and other places. The main civil airports include Muscat International Airport, Salalah International Airport, and Suhar Airport.

Oil pipeline: An oil pipeline with a total length of 279 kilometers and an unpressurized flow rate of 725000 barrels per day is laid from mainland oil fields to Fahr Port.

Foreign trade mainly exports oil and natural gas, accounting for about 68% of the country's total fiscal revenue. Non oil exports include copper, chemical products, fish, dates, fruits, vegetables, etc. Mainly exported to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, and China. Imported machinery, transportation vehicles, food, and industrial products mainly come from the United Arab Emirates (transit), China, India, the United States, etc. The total foreign trade volume of Oman in 2023 is 97.8 billion US dollars, including exports of 59 billion US dollars and imports of 38.8 billion US dollars.

Foreign capital mainly invests in oil extraction and the financial industry. The UK and Gulf countries are the main investment countries.

The state implements free medical care for the people. The average life expectancy of residents is 76.6 years. Oman has over 70 hospitals and 203 health clinics; There are 423000 fixed and 6.8663 million mobile phones in China, respectively. 269500 Internet users. The national private housing ownership rate has reached a relatively high level in the world.

Implement compulsory military service system in the military. Sultan Haisam serves as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Oman is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council and coordinates with other member countries in military defense. The total number of troops is 43500. Among them, there are 25000 soldiers in the army, 4200 in the navy, 4100 in the air force, 5500 in the Sudanese guard, 1000 in the Sudanese special forces, and 4400 in tribal and militia armed groups.

Implement a free education system. We have launched literacy and adult education nationwide, with 1642 schools of various types, 690000 students, and 14 literacy centers. Sultan Qaboos University was established and opened in September 1986. It is the highest institution of learning in Oman with approximately 15000 students.

There are more than 30 types of newspapers and magazines in China, mainly including: Oman Daily, with a daily circulation of about 40000 copies; The Observer, with a daily circulation of approximately 22000 copies; Motherland Daily, semi official background, Arabic language daily newspaper; Oman Forum, a private, English language daily newspaper.

Oman News Agency: An official news organization established in May 1986, with its headquarters located in Muscat.

Oman Sultanate Radio: Established in 1970 in Muscat. Sarala Radio was built in 1974 and later merged into the Oman Sultanate Radio. The artificial satellite ground receiving station was built in 1979. FM radio began in 1982, broadcasting 12 hours a day. Since 1998, the Arabic language integrated channel has been broadcasting continuously 24 hours a day to all regions of Oman.

Oman Television: Oman's state-owned and largest television station, established in 1974, with a total of 4 channels.

We adhere to a foreign policy of non alignment, neighborly friendship, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Committed to maintaining security and stability in the Gulf region, actively participating in regional affairs, and advocating for resolving differences between countries through dialogue and peaceful means. Close relations with the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Germany, while engaging in diversified diplomacy.