Oman Travel Podcast with Salim Al Balushi

Location

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE

Terrain

Central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Climate

Dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Elevation

Highest point

Jabal Shams 3,004 m

Lowest point

Arabian Sea 0 m

Mean elevation

310 m

Area

Total

309,500 sq km

Land

309,500 sq km

Water

0 sq km

Size comparison

Twice the size of Georgia

Coastline

2,092 km

Land borders

Total

1,561 km

Border countries

Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km

Natural resources

Petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Land use

Agricultural land

4.8% (2023 est.)

Arable land

0.3% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

0.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

4.4% (2023 est.)

Forest

0% (2023 est.)

Other

95.2% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

Summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

Note

Consists of Oman proper and two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; the former is a peninsula that occupies a strategic location adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz

Population

Total

3,969,824 (2025 est.)

Male

2,130,080

Female

1,839,744

Nationality

Noun

Omani(s)

Adjective

Omani

Ethnic groups

Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

Languages

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects

Major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

Religions

Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)

Median age

Total

27.5 years (2025 est.)

Male

28.1 years

Female

26.3 years

Life expectancy

Total population

77.4 years (2024 est.)

Male

75.5 years

Female

79.4 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

88.4% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

The vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely populated

Largest cities

1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)

Background

The inhabitants of the area of present-day Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and avoid external entanglements.

In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response, QABOOS implemented economic and political reforms such as granting Oman’s legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits and issued a royal directive mandating a national public- and private-sector job creation plan. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in 2012. QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.

Government

Absolute monarchy

Capital

Muscat

Time zone

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Local name

Saltanat Uman

Independence

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National day

National Day, 18 November

Overview

High-income, oil-based economy; large welfare system; growing government debt; citizenship-based labor force growth policy; US free trade agreement; diversifying portfolio; high female labor force participation

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$36,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$37,700 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$39,800 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.5% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.7% (2021 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

3.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3.3% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

0.384 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.384 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.384 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.384 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.384 (2020 est.)

Main industries

Crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber

Agriculture

Vegetables, dates, milk, tomatoes, sorghum, chillies/peppers, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, cantaloupes/melons, cabbages (2023)

Airports

37 (2025)

Ports

Total ports

7 (2024)

Large

0

Medium

1

Small

4

Very small

2

Ports with oil terminals

6

Key ports

Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar

Internet domain

.om

Internet users

Percent of population 95% (2024 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

6.35 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

121 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents in the water table and aquifers; desertification due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands

Fresh water

1.4 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)