Test Your Knowledge of Oman

Oman is a country in Western Asia situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, while sharing maritime borders with Iran and Pakistan. Oman has a population of 5,492,196 and is ranked the 120th most populous country in the world. Oman is an absolute monarchy led by a Sultan, with power passed down through the male line. The country has a rich history, with the Omani Sultanate vying with the Portuguese and British empires for influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Oman is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Its economy involves tourism and trading fish, dates and other agricultural produce, and it has oil reserves ranked 22nd globally. As of 2022, Oman ranks as the 64th most peaceful country in the world according to the Global Peace Index.The period from 1624 to 1744 saw the reunification of Oman under the Yaruba Imams, beginning with the election of Nasir bin Murshid as the first Yaarubah Imam. Under his leadership and that of his successor, the Omanis were able to expel the Portuguese from their coastal domains in Oman and establish a maritime empire that pursued and expelled the Portuguese from all their possessions in East Africa. The rivalry within the house of Yaruba over power weakened the dynasty, and Imam Saif bin Sultan II eventually asked for help against his rivals from Nader Shah of Persia. A Persian force arrived in March 1737 to aid Saif, but eventually rebelled against the Yaruba in 1743. After the Persians tried to take possession of the coast of Oman until 1747, Ahmed bin Sa'id Albusaidi became the elected Imam of Oman in 1749, and the Omanis continued with the elective system but gave preference to a member of the ruling family. The British empire began to establish a series of treaties with the sultans with the objective of advancing British political and economic interests in Muscat, while granting the sultans military protection. In 1913, Imam Salim Alkharusi instigated an anti-Muscat rebellion that lasted until 1920 when the Sultanate established peace with the Imamate by signing the Treaty of Seeb. The rule of sultan Said bin Taimur, backed by the British government, was characterized as being feudal, reactionary, and isolationist. In the Dhofar Rebellion, which began in 1965, pro-Soviet forces were pitted against government troops. As the rebellion threatened the Sultan's control of Dhofar, Sultan Said bin Taimur was deposed in a bloodless coup (1970) by his son Qaboos bin Said, who opened up the country, embarked on economic reforms, and followed a policy of modernization marked by increased spending on health, education, and welfare.In 1981, Oman became a part of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and political reforms were eventually introduced. In 1997, a royal decree was issued granting women the right to vote and stand for election to the Consultative Assembly of Oman. In 2002, voting rights were extended to all citizens over the age of 21. However, the Sultan continued to rule by decree, and there were limitations on civil liberties and personal freedoms. Oman is an absolute monarchy, and the Sultan has ultimate power, issuing laws by decree. Sharia law is one of the sources of legislation, and the judiciary branch is subordinate to the Sultan. Oman has a bicameral legislature, but political parties are banned. Oman has a moderate foreign policy and has maintained friendly ties with Iran. Oman has a high military expenditure, and its military forces have been slow to modernize. The Royal Army of Oman had 25,000 active personnel in 2006, and the Royal Air Force of Oman has approximately 4,100 men. The Royal Navy of Oman had 4,200 men in 2000.Oman is a country in the Middle East that has a long history of association with the British military and defence industry. The country has a high military expenditure, spending 8.5% of its gross domestic product on it in 2010. However, human rights in Oman are a concern with reports of torture and other inhumane forms of punishment perpetrated by Omani security forces on protesters and detainees. The government controls the media and prohibits criticism of the Sultan and government in any form or medium. Oman's economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, accounting for 82.2% of total product exports in 2018, but the government is placing a greater emphasis on diversifying its economy, particularly through tourism. However, the reliance on the government-owned firm, Omran, as a key actor to develop the tourism sector potentially creates a market barrier-to-entry of private-sector actors and a crowding out effect.