Currency: Omani rial
Capital and largest city: Muscat; 23°36′N 58°33′E / 23.600°N 58.550°E
Fun Facts about Oman: via the factfile.org
The sultan of Oman–Sultan Qaboos Bin Said–is the longest-serving ruler in the Middle East. Born on November 18, 1940, he is the person behind the modernization of Oman. He took control of the Sultanate of Oman in 1970 on July 23rd. And he is yet to name his successor.
Trade of fish, dates and some agricultural products along with tourism form a significant portion of the economy of Oman. Whereas its neighbors (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen) are solely oil-dependent economies.
About 75% of the people living in Oman are Muslims.
Oman’s first university, Sultan Qaboos University, opened in 1986.
Birds from three continents–Asia, Europe and Africa–can be seen in Oman. Oman has been called ‘the best-kept secret in the world of birdwatching.’
In Oman, almost all signs and writings appear in both Arabic and English.
Oil and gas are the major export items of Oman, while copper is also exported in limited quantities.
Interestingly, Oman is literally a terrorism free country. Another country where terrorism is nonexistent is Qatar – as reported by the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report.
Believe it or not, Oman is a country where crime is also almost nonexistent.
Oman produces a whopping 900,000 barrels of oil per day.
Mountain Dew is the top-selling beverage in Oman.
And you would be amazed to know that Coca-Cola products are not found in abundance in the country. This fact again signifies the love of Omani people for Mountain Dew.
Want to save some on taxes? You may want to work in Oman. Because Oman does not levy income tax. However, a small amount from workers’ earnings are paid towards social security.
If you want to buy alcohol in Oman, you have to have a license to buy such beverages. Moreover, Omanis are allowed to spend no more than 10% of their monthly income on alcohol.
Up until 1970, there were no hotels in the country. But today there are hundreds of hotels. Tourism is a major industry in Oman.
Before Islam reached Oman, Omanis practiced Ibadhism. The people belonging to this sect practiced austerity and tolerance.
It is a tradition in Oman to greet a visitor with a bowl of dates, qahwa (coffee with cardamom) and fruit.
Women wear hijab and abaya. Most women do not cover their heads in offices. They also wear brightly colored dresses during festivals such as Eid.
Omani men wear–Dishdasha–an ankle length robe.
Locals smoke traditional shisha. These are also known as hookah pipes or hubbly bubbly. However, their proper name is nargile.
The Omani week ends on Friday. Omanis enjoy Thursdays and Fridays to their core. In the coming years, they are planning to shift their weekends to Friday and Saturday.
Women-only souq is an open-air marketplace or commercial quarter in Western Asian and North African cities. (The equivalent Persian term is “bazaar” – Wikipedia.org) It takes place every Wednesday in the city of Ibra. Only women are allowed to participate in this open-air marketplace. Women sell and buy a variety of things, including jewelry and spices.
Ornamented, decorated and embroidered doors are common in Oman, providing a popular attraction for visitors.
Except in Muscat, women in Oman are not easily seen on the streets. Omani women are generally required to stay at home and look after the household – except for one day.
It is customary in Oman for women to meet other women at the occasion of a birth in the family. While at the time of death, it is the men who attend the actual burial of a body.
Pork is not consumed in Oman, as it is prohibited in Islam.
The main meal of the day is consumed in early to mid afternoon. It usually consists of a large serving of rice and a sauce made from tomato and fish or meat.
Men wear turbans and caps that are generally embroidered.
More than 100 tombs all shaped like beehives stand contumaciously on the hilltops of Northern Oman. These tombs are estimated to date from 3000 to 2000 B.C.E.
In 1988, these tombs were declared a World Heritage Site. Together, these tombs form one of the largest prehistoric necropoleis (a tract of land used for burials) in the world.
Migrating turtles. Thousands of turtles migrate to the Omani coastline each year. If you are interested in watching the turtles hatch, you may want to visit Ras Al Jinz, which is one of the prime locations for turtle watching. There, you have a chance to see different species of turtles, including the Green Turtle, the Loggerhead Turtle and the Leatherback Turtle.
Menu: Omani oven roasted chicken, omani rice, dried fruits and nuts, flat bread and mugasgas served with qahwa (coffee spiced with cardamom) for dessert.
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| the chicken, all wrapped up and ready to go into the oven |
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| the mugasgas- basically a doughnut |
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| cut into triangles and deep fried |
