Joanna James
Oman enjoys a rich history; the nation holds a colourful past with links extending across Asian and African trading routes. And while Oman cannot boast of vast oil reserves, similar to other eastern Arab nations, the country is one of the world's wealthiest, read on for more fascinating facts.
The capital of the Sultanate of Oman is Muscat, the population is over 735,000; other top cities are lined up as follows with the population calculations (at the time of writing this article). Top cities; Seeb – 238,000, Salalah 163,000, Bawshar 159,000, Sohar 108,000 and Suwayq 107,000; Sohar is the nation's historical maritime capital, home to the Al Wadi Hotel, the place is one of the most interesting to explore, for a taste of ancient customs and traditional Omani lifestyles. A city rich in heritage and culture, choosing a stay at one of the hotels in Sohar Oman gives you a chance to explore the iconic Batinah Coast.
Oman as a monarchy is under the rule of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. The nation's legislature is made up of two houses; the Upper House Majlis ad-Dawlah which is made up of 71 members stemming from recognised Omani households and the Majlish ash-Shoura or Lower House, which consists of 84 members elected by the people of Oman; however, the Sultan holds the power to refute these elections.
Of the 3.2 million residents of Oman (statistics at the time of writing the article), 2.1 million are Omanis. The balance is made up of expats from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, Egypt, Morocco, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. A percentage of Omani's consist of ethnic minorities made up of Jibbalis, Zanzibaris, and Alajamis.
The official language of Oman is standard Arabic; there are some Omanis who also speak a different version of Arabic as well as certain Semitic languages. Other minority languages include those with links to Hebrew and Arabic such as Harsusi, Mehri, Bathari, and Hobyot. The Iranian part of the population uses a language known as Kumzari which is an Indo-European dialect and the only type of Iranian that's used around Arabia. With ties dating back to Zanzibar and Britain, English and Swahili too are spoken across Oman.
Ibadi Islam is the official religion of Oman; it is a form of both Shia and Sunni religious beliefs which formed 60 years from the death of the Prophet Mohammed. The non-Muslims consist of about 25% of the nation's population, with other religions consisting of Buddhist, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Christians. As you can see the country's diversity makes it a melting pot of adventures and fascinating encounters; savour the varied influences, cultures, and traditions, brought on by the nation's position as a trading hub on the Indian Ocean Trade route has instilled.
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