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OMAN
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Muscat
I stayed in Muscat for two days but didn't visit much of the city: My luggage was lost so I spent a lot of time in the airport, at the hotel and on the phone.
Capital: Muscat
Official languages: Arabic
Population: 2 600 000
Currency: Rial (OMR)
The Sultanate of Oman lies at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula.
It was ruled by the Persians (present day Iran) in the old days.
On the 7th Century, when Arab tribes settled there, Oman adopted Islam, with Ibadism being the dominant religious branch. The Ibadis founded the Al Said Dynasty, but they had to face conquering powers such as the Qarmatians (Ancient Bahrain), the Buyyds (Iran), and their lands also became part of the Seljuk Empire.
The Portuguese took Muscat an 1515 but had to face the Otts and Persia.
Then the Imamate of Oman was formed.
By 1850 Oman was taken by the United Kingdom who recognized its independence in 1951.
From 1970, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the ruler of the country.
A rebellion was encountered in Dhofar province, with communist forces from former South Yemen, but border disputes are settled since 1992.
Today the contry has good infrastructures and modern cities, thanks to the oil revenues.
Click here to begin te trip to Oman
Click here for Muscat
Click here for the Asia Trip 2006