Second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture

About Sultanate of Oman

The Sultanate of Oman is the third largest country on the Arabian Peninsula, with a total area of 309,500 square kilometers (approximately 120,000 square miles) and a coastline which stretches for over 3,000 kilometers overlooking the Arabian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Oman is strategically located at the junction of three of the world’s largest continents - Africa, Eu-rope and Asia. The Sultanate Borders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to the west and the Republic of Yemen in the south, with the Straits of Hormuz to the north and the Arabian Sea to the east. Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate, is in the northern part of the country. The country is divided into eleven governorates Muscat, Batinah South and North, Dakliyah, Dhahirah, Sharqiyah South and North, Wusta, Dhofar, Musandam and Buraimi. It has 61 provinces known as wilayats. The population of Oman stands at 4,614,713 until August 2017.

Area	309,500 km²
Capital	Muscat
Population	4,614, 713 (until the end of August 2017) people
Official Language	Arabic (Official Language) English (commonly used)
Religion	Islam
Natural Resources	Oil, natural gas, copper, fish, agriculture, tourism
Local Time	GMT +4 Hours
Currency	Omani Rial, Equivalent to 2.6 USD
Length of Oman’s Coast	3,165 Km
Highest Mountain Peak	3,004 m (10,000 ft) Jabal Shams mountain
Summer season	May to September
National Day	November 18

Governorates

Main Tourist Destination Highlights

Muscat offers forts and museums, as well as five-star business and entertainment venues, while further north presents opportunities for adventure holidays, mountain climbing in Jabal Shams and diving and sailing in Musandam. Oman’s ancient capital, Nizwa, 2015’s Capital of Islamic Culture is rich in history and culture and home to Falaj Daris, a UNESCO World Heritage site – one of four such recognized sites in the sultanate. Further south, the Wahiba Sands present desert landscapes while the island of Masirah offers outstanding marine wildlife and world-class windsurfing. Deep in the south, Salalah is a vibrant city with white pristine beaches, whose mountains come to life during the Khareef season. Further inland begins the largest continuous sand desert in the world, the Rub’ Al Khali. Each of these areas offers significant tourist sites and activities, that’s becoming increasingly popular among tourists.

Discover Muscat