Introduction
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.
Location
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE
Geographic coordinates
21 00 N, 57 00 E
Area
total: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
Land boundaries
total: 1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288 km
Climate
dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south
Terrain
central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m
Natural resources
petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas
Irrigated land
620 sq km (1998 est.)
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil
Population
2,903,165
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)