Since
1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said
rules Oman. 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.
6
regions (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah) and 2
governorates* (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah) Ad
Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az
Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*, Zufar*; note - the US
Embassy in Oman reports that Masqat is a governorate,
but this has not been confirmed by the US Board of
Geographic Names (BGN)
Independence:
1650
(expulsion of the Portuguese)
Constitution:
none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a
royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among
other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides
for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding
interests in companies doing business with the
government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and
guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
Legal system:
based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate
appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
in
Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to
approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to
vote in elections for the Majlis ash-Shura
Executive branch:
chief of state:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since
23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
head of government:
Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said (since
23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of
state and head of government
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections:
none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch:
bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or
Majlis al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the
monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber
or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by limited
suffrage, however, the monarch makes final selections
and can negate election results; body has some limited
power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only
advisory powers)
elections:
last held NA September 2000 (next to be held NA
September 2003)
election results:
NA; note - two women were elected for the first time to
Majlis al-Shura, about 100,000 people voted
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
note:
the nascent civil court system, administered by region,
has non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic
judges
Flag description:
three 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 at the top of the vertical band
Oman's economic performance improved significantly in
2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. The
government is moving ahead with privatization of its
utilities, the development of a body of commercial law
to facilitate foreign investment, and increased
budgetary outlays. Oman continues to liberalize its
markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTrO)
in November 2000.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $19.6 billion (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture:
3%
industry:
40%
services:
57% (1999 est.)
Labor force:
850,000 (1997 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%
Currency:
Omani rial (OMR)
Currency code:
OMR
Exchange rates:
Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (fixed rate since
1986)
