Oman
Oman is a country in Southwest Asia on the coast of the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf. Neighboring countries include Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Oman has a strategic location on the Arabian Peninsula adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for crude oil. The geography of Oman is mountainous and arid. The government system is a monarchy; the chief of state and head of government is the sultan and prime minister. Oman is a member of the League of Arab States (Arab League) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
| Population | Population Growth Rate | Age Dependency Ratio | Urban Population | Infant Mortality Rate | Life Expectancy at Birth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4,520,471 (2021) |
-0.506 annual % (2021) |
41.966 % of working-age population (2021) |
87.044 % of total (2021) |
9.5 per 1,000 live births (2020) |
74.757 years (2020) |
Business Partners
Exporters | Select your indicators | |
Value imported in 2020 (USD thousand) | Share in Oman’s imports (%) | |
Total | 28,403,649 | 100 |
United Arab Emirates | 9,688,488 | 34.1 |
China | 3,091,184 | 10.9 |
India | 2,308,351 | 8.1 |
Japan | 1,291,234 | 4.5 |
United States of America | 1,129,864 | 4 |
Saudi Arabia | 839,949 | 3 |
Germany | 838,780 | 3 |
Qatar | 747,622 | 2.6 |
Brazil | 737,319 | 2.6 |
Korea, Republic of | 610,735 | 2.2 |
Importers | Select your indicators | |
Value exported in 2020 (USD thousand) | Share in Oman’s exports (%) | |
Total | 34,790,058 | 100 |
China | 15,551,773 | 44.7 |
India | 3,045,148 | 8.8 |
Korea, Republic of | 2,176,821 | 6.3 |
United Arab Emirates | 1,835,145 | 5.3 |
Saudi Arabia | 1,651,689 | 4.7 |
Japan | 1,467,607 | 4.2 |
United States of America | 886,675 | 2.5 |
Taipei, Chinese | 728,842 | 2.1 |
South Africa | 662,745 | 1.9 |
Malaysia | 647,010 | 1.9 |
Culture
Oman is a welcoming, but conservative, country. Modest dress is appreciated, such as loose clothing covering arms and legs. The main religion in the country is Islam, specifically the branch of Islam known as Ibadism. Religion is very important in Oman and plays a large part in the daily life of most citizens.
If you are invited to visit on Omani household, it is recommended to bring a small, non-alcoholic gift, and to take off your shoes before entering. Conversations are likely to include questions about your personal life, including marital status, your age, religion, and your thoughts about Oman. These questions come from a genuine interest in getting to know you and are not meant to cause offence.
Natural Resources
Oman has limited water resources. The country is dependent on groundwater and its limited rainfall (of around 100 millimeters annually) for about 65 percent of its water supply. The remaining 35 percent comes from desalinated seawater.
While grazing lands, land for agriculture, and wildlife have always provided the mainstay for food production, the marine environment and fishing were the most important resources in the coastal parts of the country.
Today, however, oil and gas, which have been exploited since the 1960s, are the most important resources of national income. Among the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council Oman has one of the smallest proven oil reserves: 5,500 million barrels. More important are its gas reserves: 30,000 billion cubic feet.
Other resources include copper, chromite, magnesium, gold, coal, industrial ores and raw materials for building materials such as sand, silica, marble, and limestone.
The mining and quarrying sector in Kenya accounts for less than 1 percent of gross domestic product, with the majority being contributed by the soda ash operation at Lake Magadi in south-central Kenya. In 2010, Kenya’s share of the world’s soda ash production amounted to 4%. Cement, Fluorspar, and Petroleum refining were the other mining and mineral processing activities undertaken by the mining sector.
Economic Index
GDP
64,648,393.04
GDP, PPP
246,068,248.30
GDP per capita, PPP
28,448.86
GDP per capita
12,659.7
Gini index 2020
30.75
Inflation, consumer prices
-0.9
Social Media Stats in Oman
Facebook = 38.17%
Instagram = 28.48%
YouTube = 16.34%
Twitter = 8.92%
Pinterest = 7.42%
LinkedIn = 0.32%
Browser Market Share in Oman
Chrome = 72.7%
Safari = 16.22%
Samsung Internet = 3.58%
Edge = 3.31%
UC Browser = 1.73%
Opera = 1.33%
Standards
The Directorate General of Specifications and Metrology (DGSM) at the MOCIIP is responsible for standardization, metrology, testing, quality control and quality assurance, conformity assessment and certification, and accreditation activities. Oman is harmonizing its technical regulations and standards at the GCC level and develops technical regulations and standards at the national level only if there is a pressing need, according to authorities.
Trade Agreements
Under the FTA, Oman provides immediate duty-free access on virtually all industrial and consumer products in its tariff schedule, and it phased out tariffs on the remaining handful of products in 2019. The United States provides immediate duty-free access for 100 percent of Oman’s current exports of agricultural products to the United States. Oman is also a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which allows for duty-free trade between its members and with other countries with which it has a free trade agreement.
Import Tariffs
Oman’s tariff schedule imposes duties, generally not exceeding 10 percent, on all foreign, non-American/GCC goods imports. Virtually all U.S.-origin products enjoy duty-free access, and Oman has phased out nearly all tariffs on the remaining handful of products. Tariff preference levels on certain textile and apparel products expired at the end of 2018.
Despite the entry into force of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in 2009, U.S. firms report some difficulty importing some goods duty-free. The Royal Oman Police Directorate General of Customs (ROP Customs) still occasionally collects customs duties on some bonded items transshipped to Oman by road via the UAE. Some American companies have reported that goods not individually engraved as “Made in the USA” do not receive the preferential treatment to which they are entitled under the FTA. In addition, some importers have reported that ROP Customs has denied duty-free entry to imports meeting the 35-percent American origin requirement for duty-free access, due to the presence of a few non-American parts in the same container. This practice is also in violation of the FTA. The FTA does not require the legalization or “casualization” of trading documents. The FTA also does not require shipments to originate in U.S. ports or airports, and it allows for transshipment by land.
The Oman Tax Authority imposes an excise tax on alcoholic beverages, carbonated drinks, energy drinks, pork and pork products and tobacco and tobacco products, ranging from 50 percent to 100 percent. Oman implements a 5-percent value-added tax (VAT) on most goods and services, consistent with the GCC Unified Agreement.
Companies can request advance rulings based on tariff classification, customs valuation, or rules of origin through ROP Customs.
