Oman

Capital City - Muscat
Currency - Omani Rial
Population - 2,845,000 (2009 estimate)
National Language - Arabic
Religion - Almost all of the nation of Oman is considered to be Islamic.  Of that group, 75% are Ibadhi, a denomination that is neither Shia nor Sunni.  Sunni Muslims make up about 17% of the population while Imani Shia Muslims and Zikri form an additional 8%.  Though there are no formal records kept by the government of Oman, some sources indicate that perhaps as many as 5% of the people practice a religion other than Islam.  Those faiths may include Chrisitianity, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism and Buddhism.
Type of Government - Islamic Absolute Monarchy
Leaders - Qaboos bin Said al Said (Sultan); Fahd bin Mahmoud al Said (Deputy Prime Minister)
Country's Motto - While the country has no official motto, Sultan Qaboos bin Said has coined something simlar to a motto when he proclaimed "progress with respect for heritage."

Geographical Highlights - The Sultanate of Oman is a country in southwest Asia which occupies the southeastern corner of the Arabian peninsula.  It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, the Indian Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Oman to the north.  The country also includes Madha and Musandam, two enclaves on the Gulf of Oman and just south of the Strait of Hormuz.  A vast desert plain covers most of the country, with the exception of the Al Hajar mountains along the north and southeast coast.  It is in this mountainous region and fertile plain where most of the major cities of Oman reside.

History - Wattayah, located in modern day Muscat, is the oldest known human settlement dating around 5,000 years.  Oman was also referred to as Majan in Sumerian tablets.  From the 6th century B.C. until the time that Islam was introduced, in the 7th century A.D., Oman was ruled by three Persian dynasties: the Achaemenids, the Parthians and the Sassanids.  When these dynasties ended and Islam was introduced, the Omanis were among the first group of people to accept the new religion.  Thus, it has remained a Muslim nation ever since. 

In the early 16th century, the Portugese conquered Omani ports, but local Arabs successfully forced them out by 1650.  The Al Bu Said family began their rule of the nation in 1740 until present day.  British influence, which was felt since the late 18th century, caused the arrangement of national power to be dispursed to the imams in all areas of the country except for the coastal region.  The Sultan, who controlled the coastal region, finally overturned this arrangement and took complete control of Oman in 1959.

Landmarks -

•Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque - Famous mosque in Ruwi is able to house 20,000 people in prayer.  An amazing feature to look for is the hand-woven Iranian rug which took over four years to create.
•Mirani Fort - The red-stoned fort sits atop Muscat harbor, an old reminder of the country's turbulent history.  Built in the 1580's by the Portugese to defend the land against Turkish warship invasion, it is now home of the Omani army.
•Al Alam Palace - The palace of Sultan Qaboos bin Said is said to be one of opulence.  Of course, visitors are not allowed inside; but, the outside is a sight to be seen in itself.

Interesting Trivia -

•The Gravity Point, a thirty-minute drive from Salalah, is where your vehicle will roll uphill even if you switch off its engine. This phenomenon can be experienced over a stretch of 200 meters.
•With 2869 oil producing wells in Oman, the economy is driven by oil and about 40 per cent of the GDP is accounted for by oil. The major countries that buy crude from Oman are China, Thailand, Korea and Japan.
•Oman was once one of the richest countries in the world - its wealth came from the trade in incense.
•Tourists were only allowed into Oman at the beginning of the 1990s.
•Oman is traditionally known for breeding Arab horses.
•Omani men wear the long robes known as dishdashas and carry curved daggers known as khanja. Turbans are also part of the national dress.