An unusual country ancient history- The Sultanate of Oman, the rest in which will become a real oriental fairy tale, is now gaining more and more popularity among tourists from all over the world. It perfectly combines high-level service, excellent conditions for a beach holiday and an interesting excursion program.

Story

The Sultanate of Oman, whose history spans more than one millennium, has been known as a place of human settlement since the Paleolithic. It was here that people traveled from Africa to Asia. In the 4th-3rd millennium BC, the territory of Oman was inhabited by people who were engaged in trade with Mesopotamia, Hindustan, Egypt and Ethiopia. In the 6th century BC. the territory was captured by the Persians and remained under their control for many centuries. In the 7th century AD this region became part of Islam being established here. Until the 16th century, this land was dominated by the Arabs. Later, the country was dominated by the Portuguese, who were periodically expelled by the Persians.

Only in 1650, Imam Sultan ibn Saif liberates the territory and creates an independent state. From that moment on, the country began to develop and expand. Until the middle of the 19th century, Oman was part of the powerful Omani Empire. At this time there is a division of the territory between the sons of the Sultan. The territory of modern Oman falls under the British protectorate.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a struggle began between individual tribes and the separatist movement in the interior of the country. In 1938, the new Sultan Said bin Taimur, who was able to subjugate the interior of the country, returned the state to a medieval level of development and administration. This inevitably led to unrest, and Sultan Qaboos bin Said came to power, not without the support of the British, in July 1970, who gradually established life in the country. It modernizes the economy and social structure of the state. In 1987, he opens the country for tourists, begins to build a new infrastructure.

Geography

Oman today occupies an area of ​​300 thousand km² in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. Length state borders is 3400 km. The country neighbors with Iran (through the Strait of Hormuz), with the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. A separate part of the state is the Musandam Peninsula, which is cut off from the main part by the Emirates, the island of Masirah and the Kuria-Muria archipelago.

The relief of the country is predominantly flat, in the north there are the Hajar mountains with the highest point - Mount Ash-Sham (3000 m). Oman is an arid country, there is not a single permanent river here, temporary water flows can appear as a result of rains.

Looking at a map of the country, one might wonder which of these cities is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman: Muscat, Salalah, Suwaik, Ibri, or Barka? The official capital is Muscat, the rest head their own administrative divisions and, in fact, are also capitals, but on a smaller scale. There are 11 provinces in total in the country. About 730 thousand people live in Muscat, the rest of the country's settlements number from 80 to 130 thousand people.

Climate

The Sultanate of Oman is located in the tropical desert climate zone. Here the temperature never drops below 20 degrees. But in general, the climate varies greatly across the country. The coastal zone in the summer day usually warms up to 40 degrees, at night the temperature drops by 10 degrees. But the northern and inland regions in spring and summer are influenced by winds from the desert and warm up to 50 degrees. The amplitude of temperature fluctuations here is much greater, sometimes it can reach 30 degrees. In winter, during the day, the average figures are 25 degrees, and at night they can drop to 10-15. In desert regions, during the day, the average temperature in winter can be 30-40 degrees, and at night even up to 2-5. The water temperature in the bay never drops below 24 degrees, so the swimming season lasts all year.

Language

Official language countries - Arabic, but in many provinces they speak dialects of it that are difficult to compare with the usual version. In addition, many nomadic tribes continue to use their languages, which are of mixed origin. But all tourist regions have a high level of ownership English language. The capital of the Sultanate of Oman almost entirely speaks the language of the UK, so communication in a hotel, restaurant or shop is not difficult.

culture

The Sultanate of Oman, whose thousand-year history is reflected in traditions and customs, is distinguished by a unique culture in which one can see Arab and Yemeni features, as well as echoes of the cultures of Britain and Portugal, a large layer of Muslim features. All the charm of local life can be seen by visiting the market. Here you can see national clothes, utensils, jewelry, see how the locals communicate with each other, try real national food. It's also easy to see the endless variety of oriental spices and buy great coffee to take home.

Oman as a Muslim country is quite strict in its requirements Everyday life, but the time of celebrations here is very interesting and beautiful. Ramadan is one of the main holidays, which is widely celebrated for several days. At this time, people put on their best clothes, sing, dance, prepare festive dishes.

In this country, you can still touch the original life of the East, untouched by civilization. Tour guides take tourists to authentic artisan workshops, where they make products from leather, fabric, and metal. These items will be great souvenirs for friends.

Attractions

Today, one of the most interesting and safe countries of the Arabian Peninsula is the Sultanate of Oman. The sights of this country keep its long history. The main places of the state include:

• the forts of Jalali and Mirani, which cannot be entered, but also appearance impresses them;
• the world's third largest mosque of Sultan Qaboos is stunning in scale and beauty;
• Al Mattrah market - a classic oriental bazaar;
• Sultan's palace in Indian style.

In addition, unique natural places are attractions: the Sabhan mountains, lagoons, the Wahida Sand desert, the mangroves in Dhofar, the lands where incense is grown. In this country, you can see many curiosities, but the very atmosphere of calmness, regularity, and traditions attracts.

Customs and norms

The Sultanate is a Muslim country and the consumption of alcohol is not welcome here. Therefore, strong drinks are sold only in special stores with special permits issued by the police. Tourists can drink alcohol in restaurants and bars at hotels.

The Sultanate of Oman, where photos of police and military are prohibited, does not allow foreigners to enter mosques. In general, tourists here are treated softer than local residents, but you still need to be polite and calm.

In Oman, it is not customary to take food with the left hand, it offends the hosts. Women are discouraged from wearing revealing and tight clothing in the city, and from driving and walking around the city alone.

Kitchen

To try the original Arabic cuisine, you should go to the Sultanate of Oman. Tours to this country are often built in such a way as to conduct a gastronomic tour of the best catering outlets. The national cuisine is simple, but refined and very interesting, thanks to the use of various spices.

The menu is based on dates, barley and wheat cakes, vegetable stews, boiled rice, lamb, beef and fish dishes. They are fried on coals, on a spit, they make dishes from chopped and stewed meat with vegetables. All dishes are served with a saloon vegetable sauce, many tomatoes and legumes, especially beans, are added. Of particular importance in the meal is given to bread - khuza, which each hostess and cook makes according to their own recipe. Bread can be eaten with gravy, with meat, special sandwiches with chicken or fish are made from it. Desserts are most often made from dates and dried fruits. In Oman, they make their own kind of halva - halua. The country consumes a lot of coffee, which is prepared very strong, without sugar, with spices.

The Sultanate of Oman is an excellent diving destination. Near its shores in absolutely transparent water you can see not only corals, turtles, numerous colorful fish, but also sharks, barracudas, moray eels, whales.

Unlike the capital of the UAE, Muscat is a small city dominated by low-rise buildings, it is rare to find buildings of 10 or more floors.

Oman is a country of beautiful roads. There is no railways, but about 35 thousand km of high-quality highways. There are practically no traffic jams here. In the capital, the length of which is about 30 km, you can get anywhere in 20-30 minutes.

Almost all fresh water in the country it is the result of desalination, so it is highly valued here. You need to know this when going to the Sultanate of Oman.

(Sultanate of Oman)

General information

Geographical position. Oman is a state on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Yemen to the southwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and the United Arab Emirates to the northwest. In the north it is washed by the Gulf of Oman, in the east and south by the Arabian Sea.

Square. The territory of Oman occupies 212,457 sq. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital is Muscat (622 thousand people). Administrative-territorial division of the country: 7 regions.

Political system

Oman- absolute monarchy. The head of state, head of government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces is Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Teimur (in power since July 23, 1970).

Relief. Low-lying plains predominate, in the east - mountains (altitude up to 1127 m), in the west - rocky deserts.

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country contain rich reserves of oil, less significant - copper, chromium, natural gas.

Climate. The country's climate is hot and dry, although humidity levels are quite high along the coast. The average annual temperature is about +28°C.

Inland waters. There are no permanent rivers.

Soils and vegetation. Semi-desert and desert vegetation. Animal world. The fauna is not rich: gazelle, fox, jackal, hyena, jerboa, many lizards and snakes.

Population and language

The population of Oman is about 2.363 million people, the average population density is about 11 people per 1 sq. km. km. ethnic groups: Arabs - 75%, Pakistanis - 21%, Indians. Language: Arabic (state).

Religion

Ibadhite Muslims - 75%, Sunnis.

Brief historical outline

In ancient times, the territory of Zufar (modern Oman) was famous for its incense sold to all countries. ancient world. AT early III in. The Kingdom of Oman was founded and lasted nearly seven centuries. In the X century. Oman was occupied by the Qarmatians and later by the Seljuks. The first Europeans in Oman were the Portuguese, who captured Muscat in 1507. Oman was also claimed by the Dutch, British and Iranians. In 1650, the Portuguese were expelled from Muscat, and in 1741, Imam Ahmed bin Said expelled the Iranians. In 1861 the ruler of Oman assumed the title of sultan.

Brief economic essay

Oman is an agricultural country with a developing oil and gas industry. In agriculture - the cultivation of melons and tropical crops, date palm. Nomadic cattle breeding. Fishing. Mining of copper, silver, gold. Oil refining, chemical, cement, food and flavor industries; mechanical engineering, metalworking. Manufacture of textiles, ready-made clothes. Handicrafts (cold weapons, leather, fabrics). Export: oil, non-ferrous metals, fish, flour, fruits, vegetables.

The monetary unit is the Omani rial.

A Brief Outline of Culture

Art and architecture. Almost the only attraction of the country is the Sultan's Palace in Muscat, built in the 70s of the XX century.

Oman is a state in Southwest Asia, in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. It is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The enclaves of Madha and the Musandam peninsula are separated from the mainland of Oman and border, respectively, the United Arab Emirates and Iran (along the Strait of Hormuz). The territory of Oman - 309500 sq. km.

In the north-east of the country, along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, the coastal plain of El-Batin stretches in a narrow strip, the most developed and densely populated part of the country. A vast expanse to the west of this plain is occupied by the mountains of El-Hajar-el-Gharbi. Some peaks reach 3000 m ( highest point- 3353 m). In the middle part of the country there is a low plateau, largely covered with sand. Its average height is 500 m. In the southern part of the country, Dhofar, mountains rise, the highest near the southern coast - up to 1678 m.

Capital of Oman- Muscat.

Climate and nature of Oman
The climate in Oman is tropical and hot. The average temperature in June in the country's capital, Muscat, is + 32°, in January the average temperature is not less than + 20°. The annual amount of precipitation in mountainous regions is no more than 500 mm, and in other regions - from 60 to 130 mm per year, and there it usually rains only a few days a year.

There are no permanent rivers in Oman. All rivers have only periodic flow, mainly in winter.

The vegetation is poor. In the mountains there are groves of tamarisk, fig, sycamore and oak, but their total area is small. There are savannahs in the foothills. There are palm groves on the north and south coasts.

In the middle part of Oman there is a desert, there are areas completely devoid of any vegetation.

The animal world is quite diverse. Lots of sand gazelles and rodents. Predators live - striped hyena, jackal, fox. Lots of birds. Reptiles are very numerous - agamas, foot-and-mouth disease, geckos, chameleons, as well as arachnids - phalanges, scorpions.

Oman's form of government- monarchy (sultanate).
The head of state is Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said. The country's highest advisory body is the Council of Oman, consisting of two chambers - the Majlis al-Shura (Council of Tribes, 83 deputies from the districts) and the Majlis al-Dawla (Council of State, 48 members are appointed by the Sultan).
Administrative division: 8 provinces, which are divided into 59 wilayas (districts).

Economy of Oman based on oil exports. In view of the decrease in oil reserves, the Omani authorities plan to diversify the economy - to develop gas production, the metallurgical industry and the tourism business.

A Brief History of Oman
The first settlements on the territory of Oman appeared in the 3rd millennium BC. In the 1st millennium BC. e. The Yamani tribe moved to Oman from Yemen and conquered the local tribes. In the 6th century A.D. e. Oman was plundered by the Sassanid troops, and also devastated by the raids of neighboring Bedouin tribes.

In the 7th century, Oman was included in the Arab Caliphate, which accelerated the development of feudal relations. The population was Islamized. In the middle of the 8th century, this region became independent, under the rule of local imams, but after a century and a half, Oman was again conquered by the caliphs from the Abbasid dynasty. Their dominion continued until the 11th century, when the dynasty of sheikhs of the Nabhan tribe came to power.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Oman was under the rule of the Portuguese, and only in 1650 they were expelled.

At the beginning of the 18th century, Oman was conquered by the Persians, but in 1741 the Persians were expelled by the ruler Ahmed Zafari, who created a large pirate state, which, in addition to Oman proper, covered the islands of the Persian Gulf, most of the coast of present-day Iran and the coast of East Africa from Somalia up to and including Mozambique, as well as many adjacent islands.

In 1832, the residence of the Sultan of Oman was transferred to the island of Zanzibar, and in 1856, after the death of the then Sultan, the state was divided between his two sons into two independent parts - African and Asian. In the second half of the 19th century, they accepted the protectorate of Britain (separately).

In 1938, the new Sultan Said bin Taimur came to power. In 1970, Said was overthrown by his son Qaboos in a bloodless coup. He quickly began modernizing the Omani economy and abolished social restrictions. In 1987, Oman was opened to tourism.

Currency- Omani rial (international designation - OMR), equal to 1000 beys. In circulation there are banknotes of 100 and 200 beis, 0.25, 0.5 1, 5, 10 and 50 rials, as well as coins of 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 beis.

Banks and currency exchange
Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8.00 to 12.00, on Thursday - from 8.00 to 11.00. Exchange offices are open on the same days from 8.00-9.00 to 13.00, and from 15.00 to 20.00 (some are open until 21.00 and later). Friday is a non-working day in all organizations.

Currency can be exchanged at banks (quite a long procedure) and specialized exchange offices. In some private stores, you can also pay directly with hard currency (US dollars and UAE dirhams are especially readily accepted), but the exchange rate is rounded in favor of the seller.

Credit cards of the leading payment systems are accepted everywhere, but preference, especially in the provinces, is given to cards of local banks (primarily "Bank of Muscat"). ATMs are located everywhere, but most of them serve only cards of local banks. Traveler's checks can be cashed at major bank offices and most hotels.

The shops
Open from Wednesday to Saturday from 8.00 to 12.00, on Thursday - from 8.00 to 11.00. Markets are open from 8.00 to 12.00, some continue to work in the evening, from 16.00-16.30 to 19.00-20.00. Friday is a non-working day.

Official language- Arabic. Local dialects are used in everyday communication Arabic, which are quite different both from literary Arabic and from each other.

Population
The population is 3.3 million.
About 80% of the population of Oman are Arabs. They are divided into two groups - the Arab-ariba ("pure-blooded Arabs"), which include the descendants of the tribes that came in ancient times from Yemen, and the musta-ariba ("mixed Arabs"). On the coast of Oman, the Arab population has largely mixed with African slaves and freedmen, as a result, a significant Negroid admixture is noticeable, there are many mulattoes. In the port cities of Oman, Indians, Balochs, and Persians also live. In the southern region of Oman - Dhofar, a significant part of the population calls themselves "Kara", they have pronounced Negroid features, and their dialect is closer to the languages ​​​​of Ethiopia than to Arabic.
Up to 700 thousand foreigners (mainly citizens of India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Philippines) who are not citizens of Oman live and work in the country.

Religion
Ibadhi Muslims - 75%, Sunnis. Due to the fact that a significant part of the population are foreigners, there are many followers of other religions in the country, while freedom of religion is guaranteed by law.

Time
1 hour ahead of Moscow.

Cuisine of Oman
The national cuisine of Oman depends entirely on the natural and climatic conditions of the region, and therefore is quite simple. Having lived in extremely poor conditions for many centuries, the Omanis have created a rather distinctive culinary tradition in which the limited range of products is compensated by an abundance of spices and a variety of cooking methods. However, recently, when the issue of food was resolved through imports, a variety of European and Asian food products organically fit into the local tradition.

The basis is meat, primarily lamb, although recently beef has been increasingly used. Traditionally popular are ram "shua" roasted whole on coals in a pit, minced meat "makadid", meat roasted on stones "al-mudbi", meat roasted on coals "lyakhm meshhui", meat roasted on a spit "mishkak" (or "mashakik" ), pieces of “buryani” bread mixed with meat or fish, lamb or goat meat with “uzi” rice, all kinds of fried and baked chicken, meat “lyakhm nashif” stewed with tomatoes, onions and spices, rice with meat “lyakham kabuli” and etc. Meat is usually served with vegetable sauce "saluna", pods of the same name shrub "okra" stewed with tomato, boiled lentils with tomato paste "dal", white peas "dengu", crushed barley with curry "jarish", stewed vegetables "fatta", fried onion and rice. And, of course, the famous Omani spices are used everywhere, ranging from the rather traditional saffron and cardamom to the exotic "zaatar" or "laymun gaff".

Everywhere (especially in the south) fish is used - whole charcoal grilled "samak meshui", fish with vegetable sauce "salyunat samak", dried shark meat "uaal" and soup from it - "shorbat uaal", dried fish "laham" and various seafood. The fish is usually served with a fijl vegetable salad, a kind of lemon juice and mausura onion sauce, and boiled rice. An increasing number of dishes from other countries, such as hummus, shish kebab, tikka, mutabbal or spaghetti, are gaining popularity in local restaurants.

Khubz bread occupies a special place on the Omani table. There are dozens of types of it here - traditional round bread "rkhal", thin large flat cakes "khubz tannur", huge festive cakes "kram", Arabic "khubz libnani" and unleavened Indian "khubz Hindi", pita bread "tannur" and "burata" - all they are used in the meal in large quantities. Original sandwiches with fish or chicken are made from bread, it is used as a spoon for gravy, and also as a basis for various sweets - soaked in honey or wrapped in sugared fruits. Also popular among the sweets are candied dates "tamar", halva "halua" (quite different from the usual halva), "habisa", soft gozinaki "swirl" and "swirl sabal", etc.

The traditional drink is coffee ("cahua"). Coffee is usually served in small cups very strongly brewed, without sugar, but with the addition of cardamom, ground date seeds or a drop of rose water. Tea ("shai") is no less popular than coffee, and here it is drunk with milk ("shai bil khalib"), with mint ("shai bi naa"), with rose water ("shai bi maal-ward") or with ginger ("shai bi zinjibil").

Alcohol practically not used. Although its sale is limited only by licenses (available in large hotels and expensive restaurants), the Omanis themselves drink very little alcohol.

Visa Information

Since May 7, 2018, the Russian Federation has been included in the list of countries whose citizens can obtain visas to enter the territory of Oman at border checkpoints, subject to the prior completion of the relevant application on the website of the Sultan's Police of Oman (www.evisa.rop.gov.om).

Russian citizens can be issued single-entry visas valid for 30 days or multiple-entry visas for 1 year with the possibility of an unlimited number of visits to the country, each of which should not exceed 30 days. The cost of visas is 20 OMR for a single entry visa and 50 OMR for a multiple entry visa. These visas cannot be used for work travel.

At the same time, to the citizens Russian Federation the requirement for the provision of guarantees by a local guarantor is not applied, and the condition that the applicant's passport had valid visas of the Schengen countries, the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Japan or Australia is cancelled.

For a very long time, Oman remained a closed state, and as a result, little studied. Its tourist attendance is incomparably low today. The Omanis are doing everything to preserve the nature of their country in all its pristine beauty. The eyes of a traveler who decides to leave the capital, bewitching pictures open up ... Deserts with dunes of red and white sand, oases immersed in the greenery of palm trees, majestic mountains with picturesque deep gorges.

Undersea world coastal waters is absolutely virgin and little studied for the same reason. Meanwhile, the largest representatives of the underwater fauna are the usual inhabitants of these waters: humpback whales, whale sharks, manta rays, dolphins, different kinds sharks A large population of humpback whales lives in this region all year round, so the probability of meeting and observing them is almost 100%. Many sunken objects have been found in the underwater depths of these places. But there is an opinion that large quantity has not yet been discovered and since the time of Vasco Da Gama they have been resting at the bottom of the sea.

Sultanate of Oman - the state is located next to the Arab Emirates, in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The country, according to those who have been there, is extremely picturesque. The history of Oman has more than 2 millennia. Oman by state form is a sultanate (absolute monarchy). This country appeared to the world under various names.

Already in 4-3 thousand BC. the coastal regions of modern Oman were settled, through which Mesopotamia and Hindustan traded with Egypt and Ethiopia. In the middle of the 6th c. BC. Oman was captured by the Persians and became a province of Cyrus the Great.

The very first mention of this country we meet among the Sumerians. They called it "Magan" and considered the land of copper craftsmen and great shipbuilders. Another name for this legendary land is “Mazun”, which means “the country of clouds and heavy rains”, which turned it into a flourishing fertile oasis, washed by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, immersed in the greenery of palm groves, surrounded by picturesque mountains and valleys similar to African savannahs.

The Sultanate of Oman received its modern name from nomadic tribes who had previously lived on the territory of an equally ancient neighbor, Yemen. According to legend, these tribes descended from one of the descendants of Abraham, whose name was "Oman".

To this day, the Omanis are proud that they converted to Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. It happened in 630 AD. Since then, the name of the Sultanate of Oman has repeatedly appeared at the crossroads of world history. He experienced the dawn and power of the first Arab-Muslim states - the "Caliphates" and internecine wars of medieval Muslim rulers. He saw the dominion of the Portuguese pirates in the Indian Ocean and the colonial campaigns of Great Britain.

Times of colonization

Until 1506, when the Portuguese began to master Indian Ocean, naval force Oman was unmatched in the region. But then, for more than a century, Oman was under the rule of the Portuguese, only in 1650, Imam Sultan bin Saif managed to drive them out of the country. This victory marked the beginning of a great settlement: by the end of the 18th century, the Omanites ruled a vast empire. At its height in the 19th century, during the reign of Sultan Said bin Sultan, Oman controlled Mombasa and Zanzibar and operated trading posts on the African coast.

Also under the control of Oman were some parts of the Hindustan peninsula. Oman lost its power as a result of disputes between the sons of Said. The British took advantage of the situation in time and put pressure on the Sultan to stop the trade in slaves and weapons. This led to economic destabilization, and because of the lack of money, the interior of the country became difficult to govern. When Sultan Faisal bin Turki died in 1913, individual tribal clans refused to recognize his son as imam, and this led to a confrontation between the coastal regions under the rule of the Sultan and interior areas which were under the control of the separatists.

Sultanate of Oman in the 20th century

In 1938, the new Sultan Said bin Taimur came to power and until 1959 he managed to subjugate the interior regions of Oman to his power. Said returned Oman to the Middle Ages, thus provoking a surge of popular indignation. In 1970, Said was overthrown by his son Qaboos in a bloodless coup. Although the British denied their involvement in this coup, the fact that British officers commanded the army of Oman does not speak in their favor.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said quickly began modernizing Oman's semi-feudal economy and abolished the social restrictions imposed by his father. Oman's rather modest oil revenues were used to build roads, hospitals and schools, of which there were very few. In 1987, he also opened the country to tourism, which over time has become one of the important sectors of the economy.

The inhabitants of the Sultanate of Oman carefully preserved the cultural and historical heritage of their country. It was passed down from generation to generation, finding its expression in the architectural monuments of those times, such as the ancient Omani fortresses and forts of Portuguese pirates, as well as in a special style that is felt in everything you touch, no matter what. You did not pay attention: whether it is a very special national architecture, soulful folk songs or handicrafts magnificent in their strict simplicity.

But the most important heritage that unites all the inhabitants of this legendary country is something more than folklore and ancient monuments. Perhaps it is the spirit of respect for one's traditions and customs, for the people living nearby, for the surrounding nature.

State in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula.
Territory - about 312 thousand square meters. km. The capital is Muscat.
Population - 2.3 million people. (1998); 90% are Arabs.
The official language is Arabic.
The state religion is Islam of the Ibadi persuasion.
From the middle of the VIII to the end of the XVIII century. (with short breaks) Oman was an independent imamate. In the XVIII century. the Sultanate of Muscat separated from him. At the beginning of the XIX century. Great Britain established control over both states through the conclusion of unequal treaties. In 1891 Muscat became a British protectorate. In 1951 Great Britain recognized the complete independence of Muscat and Oman. In 1955, with the help of the British, the troops of the Sultanate of Muscat annexed the Imamate of Oman. Since 1970, the country has become known as the Sultanate of Oman.

State structure

Oman is a unitary state. Administratively, the country is divided into 59 vilayats (provinces), united in 8 districts.
The role of the constitution is performed by the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman, approved by the decree of the Sultan of November 6, 1996; previously, the Quran was officially considered such. The form of government in Oman is an absolute monarchy. Political parties are prohibited.
The entire legislative and executive power belongs to the Sultan, who is the head of state, Prime Minister, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, holds the posts of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Finance. In addition, the Sultan is also the supreme judge and the highest spiritual person of the country - the head of the Ibadis (imam).
The Cabinet of Ministers headed by the Sultan includes a Special Representative of the Sultan, 3 Deputy Prime Ministers, a Cabinet Secretary and more than 20 ministers. Deputy Prime Ministers are usually the closest relatives of the Sultan; many ministers as well as provincial governors belong to the ruling family. Members of the Cabinet are collectively responsible to the Sultan for carrying out the general policy of the state and personally responsible for the performance of their duties.
In 1981, the Sultan decreed the establishment of a State Advisory Council of 55 members, whom he himself appointed. In 1991, this body was transformed into the Shura Council with 59 members, each appointed by the Sultan from among three candidates proposed by the most influential subjects of the provinces.
In 1996, the Council of Oman (Majlis Oman) was formed, consisting of State Council(Majlis ad-Dawla) and the Advisory Council (Majlis ash-Shura). Although this body has retained a legislative character, its creation is an important step towards parliamentarism. The State Council (41 members) is appointed by the Sultan. The Advisory Council (82 members) is elected by the top of the Omani society. 3% of the population received voting rights, not only men, but also women. The first elections in the history of Oman were held in October 1997. Voters nominated 4 or 2 candidates from each district (depending on the population), of which, respectively, two or one who received largest number votes, after approval by the Sultan became deputies.
The task of the State Council is to develop recommendations to the Sultan and the government in close cooperation with the Advisory Council. The competence of the latter includes the consideration of draft laws in the social and economic fields. Amendments, comments and proposals on draft laws under consideration are submitted by the Advisory Council to the State Council, which sends a generalized opinion to the Sultan and the government.

Legal system

The legal system of Oman is based on Islamic law. The Basic Law of Oman (Article 2) declares that Sharia is the main source of legislation. Oman is the only country where the Ibadi school of fiqh dominates. Sharia courts are entirely based on Ibadi prescriptions, despite the fact that there are communities of Sunnis and Shiites in the sultanate. Among the nomadic tribes of Oman, along with Sharia, customary law is applied.
Until recently, the uncodified Muslim law remained almost the only form of valid law in Oman (see the section "Saudi Arabia"). The situation began to change in the course of the judicial and legal reform that unfolded with the accession to the throne in 1970 of Sultan Qaboos. Since then, Oman has issued a series of codified legislation in the areas of personal status, commercial, criminal, labor and tax law. Within the framework of an absolutist state and while maintaining a strict adherence to Islamic principles, elements of a modern legal state are gradually being established in the Sultanate.
The last major codification act was the Personal Status Law, adopted in June 1997, which regulates issues of legal capacity, marriage and family and some other relations. Revolutionary for the countries of the Persian Gulf was the Sultan's Decree of 1997 on the prohibition of marrying (marrying) persons under the age of 18 without their consent.
In connection with the active development of Oman's foreign economic relations in recent decades, trade and economic legislation has received significant development in the Sultanate, many of whose provisions are borrowed from both Western states and neighboring Arab countries. In 1974, the Law on Foreign Investments was adopted, which continues to operate with a number of changes.
The main source of labor law is the Labor Law of 1973. Trade unions and strikes are prohibited. At the same time, the legislation provides significant guarantees and benefits for workers, especially Omani nationals.
The first Criminal Code of Oman (which is still in force today) was adopted in 1974. To a large extent, it is based on Islamic norms. In 1997, by decree of the Sultan, amendments were made to the Criminal Code, increasing the liability for adultery, gambling and alcohol consumption. Among the types of punishments remains the death penalty which is rarely used.
By 2000, there was no codified criminal procedure law in Oman, the order of proceedings was determined by tradition and precedents. The Basic Law of 1996 secured some democratic guarantees of criminal justice.

Judicial system. Control bodies

The Basic Law of 1996 (Article 60) proclaimed the independence of the judiciary. The judicial system of Oman is in the process of intensive modernization. Up until the 1970s. Sharia courts considered all disputes, conflicts, offenses and crimes. They currently handle personal status matters (marriage, divorce, inheritance) as well as murder, rape, bodily injury and some others. The system of Sharia courts has 3 levels: the court of first instance, criminal and appellate courts. The decisions of the latter can be appealed to the Higher Complaints Committee, which consists of 4 members, including the Minister of Justice and the Chief Mufti of the Sultanate.
The establishment of non-Muslim courts began in 1981 with the establishment of a "bureau" to resolve commercial disputes. Since 1995, the same body began to consider labor conflicts, and in 1997 it was transformed into the Omani Commercial Court as an independent court. The competence of the latter also included cases relating to the taxation of entrepreneurial activities. Oman has also established a number of quasi-judicial bodies, such as the Rent Disputes Committee.
Outside the jurisdiction of Sharia courts, criminal justice is administered by Magistrates' Courts established in 1984 for minor crimes and the Central Magistrates' Court in Muscat, which hears more serious criminal cases and acts as a court of appeal. Cases affecting the security of the country and some others are considered by the Court state security in which the rights of the defendants are significantly limited.
At the end of 1999, the Sultan issued several decrees aimed at building the judiciary in accordance with the provisions of the Basic Law of 1996. The decrees formally establish the judiciary as an independent, hierarchical system, consisting of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the courts of first instance (one each in each province) and, within the latter, district courts. In the structure of each of the courts, there are chambers for considering commercial, civil, criminal, labor, tax cases, as well as personal status issues (the latter in accordance with Shariah). The Prosecution Service should leave the police structure and become an independent legal institution.
Despite these reforms, the Sultan remains the country's highest appellate instance, which, in particular, approves all death sentences.
The judges of Sharia courts (qadi) and other courts are appointed by the Sultan.

Literature

Gerasimov O.G. Oman. M., 1975.
Isaev V.A., Filonik A.O. Sultanate of Oman (Essay on Socio-Political and Socio-Economic Development). M., 2001.
Hawlay D. Oman and its Renaissance. L., 1995.
Riphenburg C.J. Oman: Political development in a changing world. L., 1998.