Oman - A stunning contrast of deserts, mountains, and beaches with all the comforts of a bustling, modern metropolis. Muscat, the capital city of Oman, has white villas interspersed with golden minarets, all of which are nestled in the foothills of dark-brown mountains rolling down to the Arabian Sea. It is easy to see why Oman is described as “the jewel of Arabia.”

Oman keeps a balance between its traditional past and a course of modernization and development. The oldest independent state in the Arab world, the Sultanate of Oman is considered a cultural center in the Gulf region.

The country offers a surprisingly wide range of opportunities for eco-tourism. Nature lovers can choose from a diverse spectrum of recreational pursuits that include bird watching, mountain-climbing, dolphin and whale watching, spelunking (cave tourism), scuba diving and snorkeling, tours of wadis and deserts, turtle watching, geological tours, and camping, among others. The Sultanate of Oman is one of the most beautiful countries in all the Middle East, making it a glorious place to vacation.

Government:  A monarchy with a bicameral parliament composed of the Consultative Council, elected by the populace, and the State Council. They function in an advisory capacity with some powers to propose legislation.

Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. His Majesty has ruled since 1970, and during this time he has led the country to great achievements in modernization and development. The era of his leadership is known as 'the Renaissance' for Oman.

Major Industries: Oil, natural gas, agriculture, and fishing, with growing initiatives in tourism and industry.

Population: Approximately 2.4 million, of which 1.8 million are Omani nationals. The remaining are expatriates from around the world.

Area: The Sultanate encompasses an area of approximately 300,000 sq kms.

Climate: The country's climate is cooler and arid in the winter, and it is hotter in the summer with higher humidity along the coast. Milder weather dominates the mountains and Dhofar region all year round. Winter temperatures can be as low as 15° Celsius (59° Fahrenheit), and summer temperatures can be as high as 48° Celsius (118.4° Fahrenheit) in Muscat and as high as 54° Celsius (129.2° Fahrenheit) in the desert.

Religion: Islam is the state religion, and is comprised of Ibadi, Sunni, and Shia. Through immigration and expatriate presence, many of the world’s religions are found in Oman. Freedom of religion is respected and provided for in the Basic Law of the country.

Language: The official language is Arabic. Other languages spoken include Swahili and Baluchi, as well as a number of languages from the Indian Sub Continent. English is widely spoken and, along with Arabic, is the common business language.