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Located on the Indian Ocean coast, Oman is the oldest state in Arabia tracing its history back thousands of years. Home of Sindbad the Sailor and the biblical Frankincense trade, the Sultanate was one of the earliest nations to establish relations with the west and today, after nearly two centuries of friendship, westerners enjoy a warm welcome.
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National Day: 		309,500 sq. kms
2.325,000
Muscat
Arabic, English
Islam
GMT +4 hrs
220-240v, 50hz
Omani Rial, (1 OR = $2.58 US)
Dry - tropical
10cm (annual avg. Muscat)
Autumn/Spring avg. temp 25C
Jebel Shams, 2980m
November 18
Sultan Qaboos bin Said
In biblical times, Oman was the hub of the lucrative frankincense trade, worth its weight in gold to the Emperors of Rome. Some believe that it was from here that the wise men set out to worship the newborn Christ.

The voyages of Sindbad personify centuries of seafaring tradition. Omani sailors and merchants plied markets from the coast of Africa to southeast Asia. Today Omani art and architecture reflects this diverse influence. With the 19th century arrival of European steam powered ships, Oman’s trading network declined and during the 1950’s the present Sultan’s father held the country in isolation.

The old Sultan’s British educated son, Qaboos bin Said, took power in 1970 and set about building a modern nation, without sacrificing his country’s unique heritage.

Select from the links below to discover more about the Sultanate.

| History | Culture | Climate | Geography | Money & Visas |