Sultanate of Oman (country information)

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Sultanate of Oman

The Sultanate of Oman is a country in the southwestern part of Asia, on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west, and Yemen in the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea in the south and east, and the Gulf of Oman in the northeast.

History :
Oman constituted one of the Satrapies of the Persian Empire. It was incorporated by that empire around 563 BC. The region of Oman was long known by its Persian name Magan. Oman has been a centre for traders for centuries. In 1508, the main port, Muscat, was captured by the Portuguese, who held it until it was taken by the Ottomans

in 1659. These were driven out in 1741, when the present line of sultans was formed by Ahmed ibn Said.
In the early 19th century, Oman grew to a major power, having possessions in Baluchistan and Zanzibar, but these were gradually all lost. In 1891, Oman became a British protectorate, which lasted until 1971. The year prior, sultan Said ibn Taimur had been ousted by his son, sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, (ruled 1970 - ). Qaboos has since greatly improved the economic situation of the country, remaining in peace with all other countries in the Middle East.

Geography :
A vast desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along the north and southeast coast, where the countries main cities are also located: capital city Muscat, Matrah and Sur in the north, and Salalah in the south. Oman's climate in the interior is hot and dry, but humid along the coast.
The peninsula of Musandam which has a strategic location on the Strait of Hormuz, is separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates. Not all of Oman's borders with that country are well defined. Oman is considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called "Cradle of Humanity"