58 Facts About Oman

Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is an Arab country in Western Asia on the Arabian Peninsula's southeastern coast.

Oman has a total land area of 309,500 square kilometres.

Muscat is Oman's capital and largest city.

Oman's official language is Arabic.

Its official currency is the Rial (OMR).

Oman's land neighbours include the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Oman was named the world's most improved country over the previous 40 years in 2010.

The Sultan of Oman is the military chief of staff, the chairman of the Central Bank, the Minister of Defence, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

All legislation in Oman is based on Sharia law, and the Sultan's authority is absolute.

At the time of his death, Sultan Qaboos Bin Said of Oman was the Middle East's longest-serving ruler. He was the driving force behind Oman's modernization, having been born on November 18, 1940. On July 23, 1970, he took control of the Sultanate of Oman. He passed away on January 10, 2020. The current Sultan of Oman is Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Qaboos Bin Said's cousin.

The trade of fish, dates, and some agricultural products, as well as tourism, contribute significantly to Oman's economy.

Oman is also one of the world's oldest human-inhabited areas. Humans have been present in the country for at least 106,000 years, according to estimates.

Oman is the Arab world's oldest independent state.

Muslims constitute approximately 75% of the population of Oman.

Sultan Qaboos University, Oman's first university, opened in 1986.

According to the 2014 census, Oman's expatriate population accounts for 43.7% of the total population.

Oman has a literacy rate of 91.1%.

In Oman, a city called 'Bahla' is known as a pottery centre.

Oman is home to birds from three continents: Asia, Europe, and Africa. Oman has been dubbed "the best-kept bird-watching secret in the world."

The Muscat Clock Tower is Oman's oldest monument.

Oman is an absolute monarchy under the 1996 Constitution's "Basic Law of the State" (Sultanate).

Oman's national symbol is a pair of crossed Khanjars. This symbol appears on the national flag as well as other government logos. It represents manhood and bravery.

Oman also belongs to the United Nations and the Arab League.

Almost all signs and writings in Oman are in both Arabic and English.

Oman's main exports are oil and gas, with copper being exported in small quantities.

Oman is a country free of terrorism. Oman is also a country where crime is almost non-existent.

Oman generates 900,000 barrels of oil per day.

Omanis are regarded as the world's greatest shipbuilders.

Apart from the Omani people, the country's other residents are from India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Mountain Dew is the most popular beverage in Oman.

Coca-Cola products are not widely available in the country.

Oman is a tax-free country.

Omanis are also among the best Arabian horse breeders. Their horses fetch high prices all over the world.

In order to purchase alcohol in Oman, one must first obtain a licence.

Omanis are only allowed to spend 10% of their monthly income on alcohol.

There were no hotels in the country until 1970. However, there are now hundreds of hotels. Tourism is a significant industry in Oman.

There were no hotels in the country until 1970. However, there are now hundreds of hotels. Tourism is a significant industry in Oman.

Omanis practised Ibadhism before Islam arrived. This sect's adherents practised austerity and tolerance.

It is customary in Oman to greet visitors with a bowl of dates, qahwa (cardamom-flavored coffee), and fruit.

Muscat, Oman's capital, was occupied by the Portuguese for 140 years (1508-1648). Following the Portuguese, the Ottomans seized control of Oman, only to be driven out by the current line of sultans. However, it was briefly occupied by Persia again, but it (Oman) eventually succeeded in freeing itself. The country was also known as Muscat and Oman at the time.

In several Omani hotels, date palms are served with coffee.

Ramadan (the month of fasting) and other Islamic festivals are very important in Omani culture.

Hijab and abaya are worn by women. In most offices, women do not cover their heads. During festivals such as Eid, they also wear brightly coloured dresses.

Omani men dress in Dishdasha, an ankle-length robe.

Traditional shisha is smoked by the locals. Hookah pipes or hubbly bubbly are other names for these. Their proper name, however, is nargile.

In Western Asian and North African cities, a women-only souq is an open-air marketplace or commercial quarter. (The Persian equivalent is "bazaar" - Wikipedia.org) Every Wednesday, it takes place in the city of Ibra. Only women are permitted to shop in this open-air market. Women buy and sell a wide range of items, including jewellery and spices.

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Oman's largest mosque, was built with 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone. The mosque's construction took six years and four months to complete. It is found in Muscat.

Doors that have been ornamented, decorated, and embroidered are common in Oman, and they are a popular tourist attraction.

The best time to visit this Arab country is during the winter.

Except in Muscat, women are rarely seen on the streets of Oman. Except for one day, Omani women are expected to stay at home and care for the household.

Women in Oman wear facemasks or burqas depending on the weather and tribe. However, you are unlikely to find a woman without a veil.

It is customary in Oman for women to meet other women when a family member gives birth. When a person dies, it is the men who attend the actual burial of the body.

Pork is not consumed in Oman because it is forbidden in Islam.

Men typically wear embroidered turbans and caps.

Oman also has one of the world's oldest marketplaces, The Mutrah Souq. This market is filled with brightly coloured shops selling bukhoor, frankincense (an aromatic resin used in incense and perfumes), silver khanjars, jewellery, and a variety of other exotic items.

On the hilltops of Northern Oman, more than 100 tombs shaped like beehives stand ominously. These tombs are thought to have been built between 3000 and 2000 B.C.E.

The majority of Oman's monuments are made of regular cut stones.

Oman produces and trades a component of the world's most valuable perfume, Amouage. It is known as Frankincense, and it can be purchased in its purest form for OMR 50 per bag.