| Official
Name : |
SALTANAY 'UMAN (Sultanate of Oman) |
| Total
Area: |
309,500 square kilometres. |
| Population: |
3 million -includes 557,000 non nationals (estimate 2011). |
| Languages: |
Arabic (official), Baluchi, Farsi, Swahili, Indian languages. |
| Religions: |
Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 15%, Hindu 5%. |
| Capital: |
Muscat, population 634,000 (2009)
|
| Currency: |
Omani rial, divided into 1000 baiza. |
| Independant: |
1650, at the expulsion of the Portuguese |
| Geography: |
The Hajar Mountains separate the thin fertile coastal strip in north from the arid desert plateau that dominates 75% of the country. North of the Dhofar Uplands in the south west, the desert interior meets the sandy wastes of the Saudi Arabian Rub' al Khali. Most of the population lives along the northern coastal strip. Arable land is less than 1%. |
| Flag: |
3 horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility. |
