Some history and info about Oman

Oman – A Brief History

Firstly some interesting, some bizarre and some possibly little-known facts about Oman:
1. The capital city of Oman is Muscat. The population of Oman is about 2,402,000.
2. Muscat is one of the hottest capital cities in the world.
3. Oman is one of only two Sultanates in the world – do you know the other one?
4. Nearly 50% of Omanis are under the age of 15.
5. Oman has its own Grand Canyon in Jebel Akhdar (Green Mountain), with vertical drops of 1000 metres.
6. McDonalds made its first home delivery in Oman!!

Now a basic timeline in history:
• Evidence of coastal and inland settlements is found dating back to c.5000-3000 BC.
• An area roughly corresponding with UAE and northern Oman, known as Magan, supplied the city states of southern Mesopotamia with a range of raw materials including copper c.3000 BC.
• C.2000 BC – 1st Millennium BC – Arab tribes arrive in Oman from the southwest and Central Arabia to find coastal communities and inland wadis (valleys) inhabited by people originating from Persia.
• 630 AD – Islam is brought to Oman.
• 751 AD – Oman elects its first Imam (leader/ruler).
• 8th and 9th centuries – Arab seafaring and trading is at its height with voyages as far as China.
• 1507 – The capital city of Oman, Muscat, is captured by the Portuguese.
• 1650 – The Portuguese are expelled. Many of the forts you can visit today were built by the Portuguese.
• 1646 – A commercial treaty was signed by the Imam of Oman and the British East India Company.
• 1742 – Persians establish control of Muscat...
• 1747 - ...but not for long. Persians are driven from Oman.
• 1967 – Oman begins to produce oil in commercial quantities.
• 1970 – Ascension of the current ruler of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said (aged 30).
• 1973 – Oman’s first airport opens – Seeb International Airport.
• 1986 – The first university of Oman opens – Sultan Qaboos University. Women are allowed and encouraged to attend.
• 1991 – Majlis Ash-Shura, a consultative council of 59 members is inaugurated.
• 1995 – Sultan Qaboos’s silver jubilee.

Sultan Qaboos

The Al bu Said Dynasty began in 1747 and is ongoing. Said bin Sultan succeeded his father in 1804 and reigned until 1856. He was passionate about Africa and sought alliances with local queens in Madagascar and Mozambique and controlled main Arab settlements on the East coast of Africa, making Zanzibar the second capital of Oman and transferring Omani state archives there.

He had 36 children and on his death in 1856, two of his sons both claimed the leadership. Though the Sultanate had always been regarded as an independent state, the matter was referred to Lord Canning, the Viceroy and Governor-General of India, who decided that Majid should rule Zanzibar and must pay 40,000 crowns per year to Thuwaini in Muscat, to adjust the inequality in inheritance, as Zanzibar was the richest part.

From this time until 1964, they remained separate but governed by members of the same family. In 1964 Zanzibar was incorporated into Tanzania.

The basic law of state issued in 1996 specifies that the Sultan of Oman “shall be a male descendent of Sayyid Turki bin Said bin Sultan”, who is also “a legitimate son of Omani Muslim parents”. Turki was another son of Said bin Sultan and the Governor of Sohar, who won the day in a battle in Wadi Dhank in 1870 and was recognised by the British.

Sultan Qaboos is the 12th member of the Al bu Said Dynasty and he proclaimed his faith in the future by announcing that his country would be known as “The Sultanate of Oman” instead of “Muscat and Oman”.

When he came to power in 1970, there were only 3 schools in the entire country, no newspapers, radio or tv, no civil service and only one hospital with 23 beds. The average life expectancy was 47; Muscat still closed its city gates at night and apart from the road to the little airport at Baital Falaj, there were only 2 graded roads in the whole country.

In 1971, successful applications were lodged with the Arab League and the UN.

One of Sultan Qaboos’s first acts was to encourage education. Sultan Qaboos University opened in 1986 – for male and female students. The Medical School degrees are recognised in Britain, USA and Western Countries generally and Omani hospitals are recognised by the Royal Colleges in Britain and similar bodies elsewhere.

Nowadays, free state education is provided to secondary level in nearly 1000 schools. The birth rate in Oman is the highest in the world with the average number of children in an Omani family numbering 7.4. This explains why state education is not free after secondary level.

The general health of the Omani people has changed dramatically with life expectancy increasing from 47 to over 70. The complaints common to the Third World no longer concern Omani people, but diseases such as heart disease and cancer, of the First World. There are now over 50 hospitals and around 120 clinics country-wide.
Music has also been encouraged as it was virtually unheard of on 1970. They now have military bands and a Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra.

The Sultan’s Armed Forces now consist of an Army of infantry brigades, each with four battalions, together with armoured artillery, parachute, reconnaissance and training troops, a special commando unit and tribal militia, in addition to the Royal Guard.

The Sultan himself trained at Sandhurst in England, which gave him a good knowledge and deep interest in military matters.

The Royal Navy of Oman has 8 fast patrol boats, patrolling 1000 miles of Oman’s coastline. They also have 4 province class fast attack craft.
The Royal Air Force are equipped with Hawk, F3, Jaguar and Hunter aircraft and are educated and trained (unlike other Armed Forces) to handle the most sophisticated weapons.

By 1990s, Oman had diplomatic relations with 135 countries.

In 1981 a state consultative council was formed consisting of 55 members including government officials. This was replaced in 1991 by the Majlis Ash’Shura consisting of 59 members selected from citizens nominated by the people of each wilaya (governate). There are no official members and they are involved in considering and questioning the process of government.

In 1994, Omani women were among the first in the Arabian Gulf to be enfranchised. Oman was also the first Arab country to appoint women police officers. Women not only hold high rank in the Police Force but also the Armed Forces and in government. They are also represented in the Majlis Ash’Shura.

Hope this was interesting reading? I'll write some more about the places we've visited etc soon. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to know about and I'll do my best to oblige!!

Laura xxx