Oman

Oman (formerly Muscat and Oman), independent sultanate on the southeast coast of the Arabian peninsula. One area of the country, a peninsula separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates, juts into the strategic Straits of Hormuz. Oman's area is 82,030 sq mi (212,457 sq km). Its population is 1,647,000. Much of Oman is barren, with little rainfall and temperatures reaching 130°F (54°C). Dates are grown on the Batinah coastal plain, northwest of Muscat (the capital), and Dhofar province is noted for sugarcane and cattle. Grains and fruits are grown around Jebel Akhdar. Oil was discovered in 1964, and over 100 million barrels are produced yearly. Closely associated with Britain since 1798, Oman has a population that is mostly Arab but includes blacks, Indians, and Pakistanis. In 1970 the reformist Sultan Qabus bin Said ousted his father and has become a prominent moderate in Middle Eastern affairs.