عمان

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[[Image:{{{بېرغ}}}\|125px\|د {{{عام نوم}}} بېرغ]]	[[Image:{{{نښان}}}\|110px\|د {{{عام نوم}}} نښان]]
[[د {{{عام نوم}}} بېرغ\|بېرغ]]	[[د {{{عام نوم}}} نښان\|نښان]]

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ملي ترانه: {{{ملي سرود}}}

[[Image:{{{نخشه}}}|250px|د {{{عام نوم}}} موقيعت]]

پلازمېنه {{{پلازمېنه}}}
23°61′ N 58°54′ E

[[د {{{عام نوم}}} لوی ښار|لوی ښار ]] {{{لوی ښار}}}

(رسمي ژبه/ ژبې) {{{رسمي ژبه}}}

حکومت

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مساحت
• ټولټال

• اوبه (%) [[{{{د مساحت ارتوالی}}} m²|{{{مساحت}}} km²]] {{{مساحتي وېش}}}
119,498 mi²
{{{د اوبو سلنه}}}

د وګړو شمېر
• [[As of {{{د وګړو د شمېر د اټکل کال}}}|{{{د وګړو د شمېر د اټکل کال}}}]] est.
• [[As of {{{د وګړو د سرشمېرنې کال}}}|{{{د وګړو د سرشمېرنې کال}}}]] census
• ګڼه ګونه {{{د وګړو اټکل}}} (140th)
{{{د وګړو سرشمېرنه}}}
{{{د وګړو ګڼه ګونه}}}/km² (211th)
{{{د وګړو ګڼه ګونهmi²}}}/mi²

GDP (PPP)
• ټولټال
• Per capita 2005 estimate
$40.923 Billion (85th)
$16,862 (41st)

HDI (2003) 0.781 (71st) – medium

پېسه {{{پېسه}}} ({{{د پېسو نښه}}})

د ساعت توپير
• Summer (DST) {{{وخت}}} (UTC+4)
(UTC+4)

د انټرنېت م.م(TLD) .om

هېوادنی کوډ {{{هېوادنی کوډ}}}

ټيليفوني پېل ګڼ +{{{پېل ګڼ}}}

¹Population estimate includes 577,293 non-nationals

The Sultanate of Oman (Standard Arabic:سلطنة عُمان Saltanat ˤUmān) is a country in the southwestern part of Asia, on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the متحده عرب امارات in the northwest, سعودي عربستان in the west, and يمن in the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea in the south and east, and the Gulf of Oman in the northeast. The country also has an exclave in the United Arab Emirates.

[سمادول] History

Main article: History of Oman

The Sultanate of Oman was once known by its Sumerian name Magan. Oman constituted one of the Satrapies of the Persian Empire. It was incorporated into that empire around 563 BC. This earlier empire was succeeded by the Sassanian Empire in the 3rd century AD.

By the beginning of the first century of the Common Era, Arab tribes began to settle in Oman. In 632, the Sassanids lost power and Arab dominance in Oman was established.

In 751, Ibādī Muslims established an imāmate in Oman. Imāms exercised spiritual leadership over the country. The Ibādiyya are a branch of the Kharijites, the earliest Muslim sect which rejected both potential successors to Muħammad's leadership. This imāmate survived until the mid-20th Century.

Oman has been a centre for traders for centuries. In 1508, the main port, Muscat, was captured by the Portuguese, who held it until it was taken by the Ottomans in 1659. The Ottomans were driven out in 1741, when the present line of sultans was formed by Aħmad ibn Saˤīd. However, Oman was occupied by Persia between 1743 and 1746.

In the early 19th century, Oman grew to a major power, having possessions in Baluchistan and Zanzibar, but these were gradually all lost. The final one, Gwadar, was sold to Pakistan in 1958. In 1891, Oman became a British protectorate, which lasted until 1971.

The year prior, Sultān Saˤīd ibn Taymūr was ousted by his son, Sultān Qabūs ibn Saˤīd as-Saˤīd (r. 1970-). Sultān Qabūs has since greatly improved the economic situation of the country, remaining in peace with all other countries in the Middle East. In 1996, the sultan issued a decree promulgating a new basic law that clarifies the royal succession, provides for a bicameral advisory council with some limited legislative powers and a prime minister and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens.

Military bases in Oman were used (2001) by US forces involved in ground raids against Taliban forces in Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden. In 2003, the lower house of the advisory council was freely elected for the first time.

[سمادول] Politics

Template:Morepolitics Chief of state and government is the hereditary sultān, Qabūs ibn Saˤīd as-Saˤīd, who appoints a cabinet to assist him. In the early 1990s, the sultān instituted an elected advisory council, the Majlis ash-Shura, though few Omanis were eligible to vote.

Universal suffrage for those over 21 was instituted on 4 October 2003. Over 190,000 people (74% of those registered) voted to elect the 83 seats. Two women were elected to seats.

The sultān functions essentially as an absolute ruler.

[سمادول] Government

While His Majesty Sultan Qaboos functions as absolute ruler, Oman's government is organized into several categories of institutions.

Oman's governmental functions are chiefly implemented by ministries. There are ministries of:

[سمادول] National Economy

[سمادول] Oil and Gas

[سمادول] Commerce and Industry

[سمادول] Education

[سمادول] Information

[سمادول] Social Development

[سمادول] Heritage and Culture

[سمادول] Tourism

[سمادول] Civil Services

[سمادول] Regional Municipalities, Environment, and Water Resources

[سمادول] Agriculture and Fisheries

[سمادول] Manpower

[سمادول] Religious Affairs

Oman is a muslim country (75% ibadis Muslim)other is sunna and shia

[سمادول] Housing, Electricity, and Water

[سمادول] Communications (previously Posts, Telegraphs, and Telephones)

Representing His Majesty Sultan Qaboos directly is the Diwan of the Royal Court and Palace Affairs. In practice, the Diwan operates outside the mandate of other parts of the Omani government with superceding authority.

Ministries are headed by a Minister, a position carrying the title His Excellency. Ministries can have several under secretaries, also carrying title Your Excellency. Similarly, the Diwan has a minister and under secretaries. Ministers and under secretaries are appointed by His Majesty Sultan Qaboos; they are not elected. No qualifications of education or experience are required to hold office.

Bureaucracy and corruption are growing problem in the Omani government, in part because of a lack of fixed terms or qualifications for senior posts, and partly because all government funding is controlled by the Ministry of Finance, creating a severe operational bottleneck. This is a particularly daunting problem because more than 50% of the Omani economy is channeled through government institutions and contracts.

Unlike in Oman's neighboring United Arab Emirates which has a hard and fast policy of prompt payment and adhering to contractual obligations with private sector contracts, no protections or guarantees exist to hold government institutions liable for fair conduct. Consequently, horror stories abound of work contracts violated or ignored by government institutions, and several international business bureaus advise against doing business with the Omani government due to these problems.

[سمادول] Subdivisions

Main article: Subdivisions of Oman

Oman is divided into three governorates (muhafazah) and five regions (mintaqat). These regions are subdivided into provinces (wilayat).

Ad Dakhiliyah
Al Batinah
Al Wusta
Ash Sharqiyah
Az Zahirah or Ad Dhahirah

Governorates

Masqat or Muscat
Musandam
Dhofar

[سمادول] Geography

Wadi Shab

Main article: Geography of Oman

A vast desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along the north (Jebel Akhdar) and southeast coast, where the country's main cities are also located: capital city Muscat, Matrah and Sur in the north, and Salalah in the south. Oman's climate is hot and dry in the interior and humid along the coast. During past millennia Oman was covered by ocean. Fossilized shells exist in great numbers in areas of the desert up to 50 miles from the modern coastline.

Oman is considered to be one of the fifteen states that make up the so-called "Cradle of Humanity". Not all of Oman's borders with the United Arab Emirates are well-defined.

[سمادول] Exclaves and enclaves

The peninsula of Musandam (Musandem), which has a strategic location on the Strait of Hormuz, is separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates and is thus an exclave.

Oman has one other exclave, this time inside UAE territory, known as Wadi-e-Madhah. It is located halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the rest of Oman [1]. The exclave is on the Dubai-Hatta road in the Emirate of Sharjah. Belonging to Musandam governorate, it covers approximately 75 square kilometres (29 sq mi). The boundary was settled in 1969. The north-east corner of Madha is closest to the Khorfakkan-Fujairah road, barely 10 metres (30 ft) away. Within the exclave is an UAE enclave called Nahwa, belonging to the Emirate of Sharjah. It is about 8 kilometres (5 mi) on a dirt track west of the town of New Madha. It consists of about 40 houses with its own clinic and telephone exchange [2].

[سمادول] Economy

Main article: Economy of Oman

The economy of Oman is dominated by its dependence on crude oil. A joint venture called IPC drilled a number of dry holes from 1956 onwards though the logistics of doing this were extremely difficult due to lack of any transportation infrastructure.

A lack of success, combined with worsening logistical problems and a glut of oil on the world market, led most of the partners to withdraw from the venture in 1960. Only Royal Dutch/Shell and Partex opted to remain in Oman to continue the search for oil. They struck oil at Fahud in 1962 at a site just some few hundreds of metres from the last dry hole.

In June 1967, the Compagnie Française des Pétroles rejoined the partnership by taking over 10% of Partex's equity share, resulting in the following shareholding: Shell 85%, Compagnie Française des Pétroles 10% and Partex 5%. The company changed its name to Petroleum Development (Oman). Shortly followed by the first export of Omani oil on 27 July 1967.

On 1 January 1974 the Government of Oman acquired a 25% shareholding in the Petroleum Development (Oman); half a year later they increased it to 60%, backdated to the beginning of the year. As a result foreign shareholding in PD(O) was now made up of Royal Dutch/Shell (34%), Compagnie Française des Pétroles (now Total) (4%) and Partex (2%).

In a Royal Decree of 15 May 1980, the company was registered as a limited liability company (LLC) under the name Petroleum Development Oman.

Today Oman produces around 700,000 barrels (110,000 m³) of oil per day and there have been significant discoveries of natural gas and development of a liquefied natural gas terminal. Oil represents about 90% of Oman's exports.

The income generated was quickly deployed into building infrastructures of roads, schools, hospitals, water and electricity generating plants. All of this activity has made Oman a major success story for economic growth despite being the only oil-producing nation in the middle east that is not a member of OPEC.

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 liberalise its markets and joined the World Trade Organization in November 2000. GDP growth improved in 2001 despite the global economic slowdown.

On 20 July 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved a US-Oman Free Trade Agreement by a vote of 221-205. [3] The Congressional debate around the pact was affected by partisan, midterm election politics that repeated several free-trade versus protectionist arguments regarding labor rights and national security. Regarding labor rights, the Government of Oman made numerous commitments to revise its labor laws to satisfy Congressional concerns. With respect to the assertions that the Agreement threatend the ability of the United States Government to protect its essential national security, the Congressional Research Service prepared several papers explaining that such was not the case. A recent State Department report criticized Oman for not taking enough action to reduce human trafficking but also acknowledged that the country "is making significant efforts to do so." The treaty will immediately end all duties on trade in industrial and consumer goods and give American farmers duty-free access to Oman's market for 87% of their products. [4]

US President George W. Bush is expected to sign it, and implementation may come shortly. Proponents of the deal claim that the pact will help liberalise the Omani market and open it to U.S. goods.[5]

[سمادول] Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Oman

Oman is the world's easternmost Arabian country. The majority of Omanis are Arabs, although there are sizable Baloch and Swahili minorities. As in most other Arab countries, a large number of foreign laborers live here, mostly from India and Pakistan. The official language is Arabic, but the minorities speak their own languages. A non-Arabic Semitic language Bathari is spoken in Dhofar.

Islam is the predominant religion, mostly Ibādiyya, with a Sunni population in Dhofar. Exact numbers are not certain.

[سمادول] Culture

Even though Oman is a modern country, western influences are quite restricted. The Ibādī form of Islam is fairly liberal in comparison with Sunni Islam and Shi'a Islam. In common with most Middle Eastern countries, alcohol is only available in some hotels and few restaurants.

Although Arabic is Oman's official language, there are native speakers of different dialects, as well as Baloochi, or offshoots of Southern Arabian, a Semitic language only distantly related to Arabic. However, the dominant indigenous language is a dialect of Arabic. However, the country has adopted a second language which is widely spoken, English, and is on almost all signs and writings that you see.

Oman is famous for its khanjar knives.

Islam in Oman
Music of Oman

[سمادول] Human trafficking and Oman

The Bush administration State Department's 2006 Trafficking in Human Persons report downgraded Oman to a “Tier 2 Watch List” country. [6] Among the ways that the report found that human trafficking is a problem in Oman:

• “Oman is a destination country for men and women primarily from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India who migrate willingly, but may subsequently become victims of trafficking when subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic workers and laborers.”(p. 196)

• “There have been reports from foreign entities that expatriate children engaged in camel racing may transit or reside in Omani territory.” (p. 197)

• “The Government of Oman does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking…Over the last year, Oman did not prosecute any trafficking cases and it failed to conduct anti-trafficking public awareness campaigns. The government lacks an adequate screening procedure to differentiate trafficking victims from the large number of foreigners it deports annually…”“…the Omani government did not report any prosecutions in the last 12 months and has taken no active measures to investigate trafficking in persons….”(p. 197)

• “During the reporting period, the Omani government did not improve its minimal efforts to provide protection to expatriate workers who may fall victim to involuntary servitude. Foreigners illegally in Oman are housed in detention facilities and immigration officials have no screening procedure to distinguish illegal migrants from trafficking victims… Although the government pays for illegal migrants' repatriation, it has not established a system of protective services for victims of trafficking. Rather, it relies primarily on foreign embassies and charitable groups to tend to foreign nationals requiring assistance. The embassies of the Philippines and Sri Lanka, for instance, manage halfway houses for domestic workers. No formal referral mechanism exists to transfer potential trafficking victims to such organizations.” (p. 197)

[سمادول] See also

Human rights in Oman
Communications in Oman
Foreign relations of Oman
List of cities in Oman
Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces
Transportation in Oman
Education in Oman
Sports in Oman
The National Organisation for Scouts and Guides

[سمادول] External links

Template:Sisterlinks

Government

General information

al-Bab - Oman
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Oman - Country Page
BBC News Country Profile - Oman
CIA World Factbook - Oman
Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding Oman
Lonely Planet - Oman
Nizwa.NET
Open Directory Project - Oman directory category
US State Department - Oman includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
Yahoo! - Oman directory category

Other

Template:Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Template:Arab League Template:Southwest Asia Template:Middle East

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