Social conditions
Until the takeover of power by Sultan Qabus ibn Said in 1970, Oman was perhaps the world’s most isolated and backward country, even wearing glasses was forbidden. Visit AbbreviationFinder to see the definitions of OMN and acronym for Oman. Slavery was commonplace and all modernization was rejected. Since then, major efforts have been made to develop Oman, especially in housing, education, health care and communications as well as a comprehensive social insurance system. In 2011, government spending on health care amounted to 2.3 percent of GDP. Oman has free healthcare and some 50 hospitals with approximately 4,700 beds (2012). Medical care is free. Between 1965 and 1990, infant mortality dropped dramatically. During the same period, life expectancy increased by almost 30 years.
The woman’s position in Oman is freer than in the more orthodox neighboring countries of Saudi Arabia and Iran. However, she is still subordinate to the man. Check to see Oman population.
Muscat
Muscat, Oman’s capital, port city at the entrance to the Persian Gulf; 1.29 million in the metropolitan area (2015). approximately 40% are foreigners. The large number of foreigners reflects the rapid economic development of the city and the country. Until 1970, the city also named the Sultanate, which after a palace revolution became part of Oman.
The city lies between volcanic mountains and for centuries was strategically located on the important trade routes between India, Arabia and Africa. The appearance and architecture of the city still bear its mark with Arabic, Persian, Indian and Portuguese-style buildings.
Now Muscat is the modern headquarters of the central administration; Here are the Sultanate University, modern hospitals and exclusive shops in the Matrah district. This blend of tradition and modernity is characteristic of the cosmopolitan city.
Economic conditions
The discovery and extraction of oil have triggered a series of venting initiatives the country from the medieval immobility in which it had remained fossilized for centuries. The main commitment was directed to the construction of civil infrastructures, which led to a significant growth of the cement and construction industry. The oil is extracted mainly from the Ghaba, Habur and Zufar wells, connected by oil pipeline (280 km) to the port of Mina al-Fahal (seat of a refinery) for marketing. THE. it also has large reserves of natural gas (extracted in Shams, Rafash, Habiba, Khulud; liquefaction plant in Mascat) in which the government is investing heavily. Chromite, copper, gold and silver are also mined. The oil reserves will allow, at the current rate of extraction (over 44 million tons per year), just over 15 years of production, and for this reason a policy of diversification of the productive apparatus has been launched which should lead to the substantial reduction of the contribution of oil to the formation of national income, to the strengthening of the trade and tourism sector, to the development of manufacturing, construction and, as already mentioned, of the natural gas sector. The attention of the state is also directed to the training of skilled local labor, to reduce the strong dependence on foreign work.
Agriculture, albeit aided by various initiatives, operates in modest spaces wherever possible conditions exist: it supplies dates and citrus fruits, which feed a growing export, as well as cereals, tobacco, and fruit and vegetables, mainly intended for internal needs. Traditional and often complementary activity is the breeding of goats, sheep, cattle and camels, which are considered among the best in Arabia. Fishing is widely practiced by the coastal populations along the entire coastal perimeter. Industrial activities are developed in the metallurgical (copper processing), chemical, textile and cement sectors.
Land communications make use of a road network of approximately 41,600 km. The airlines fly to the international airports of Seeb (Mascat) and Salalah. Maritime trades have their major ports, as well as in Mina al-Fahal, Matrah and Mascat.
The trade balance remains active, thanks to the export of hydrocarbons; dates, fruit, fish, tobacco and incense are also exported (collected on the hills of the interior); industrial machinery, food products and capital goods are imported.