Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE Area: total: 212,460 sq km land: 212,460 sq km water: 0 sq km Climate: dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south Terrain: central derset; hot, humid along coast; hot , dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to Sepotember) in far south Capital: Muscat Administrative divisions: 5 regions and 3 governorates Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam, Zufar Population: 3,001,583 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi) and other Nationality: noun: Omani(s) adjective: Omani Languages: Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu Literacy: 75.8%

Government type: monarchy Executive branch: • chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (since July 1970) • head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (since July 1970) • cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch National Holiday: Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) ACD Member: ACD Member since 2003 Prime Mover (PM) on Working Group: Road Safety Co-Prime Mover on Working Group: None Oman government official web site : www.omanet.om

Currency (code): Omani rial (OMR) GDP: $40.14 billion (2005 est.) GDP per capita: $13,400 (2005 est.) Exports - commodities: petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles Exports - partners: China , South Korea , Japan , Thailand , UAE Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants Imports - partners: UAE , Japan , UK , Italy , Germany , US Agriculture - products: dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle; fish Industries: crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals optic fiber Source: The World Fact Book 2005 (www.cia.gov)