Oman Explaied in 12 minutes History Geography And Culture

this is the oldest independent state in the Arab world hello welcome to open Tiera today we're exploring Oman nestled on the Southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula Oman offers unique Landscapes and delicious food join us and stay to the end to delve deeper into oman's fascinating history and cultural gems Oman is located in the Middle East bordering the Arabian Sea the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates it covers total area of 39,500 KM and has varied geography consisting of plains deserts and mountains large part of Aman consists of plains and deserts the central desert spans the entire interior of the country here you will find vast expanses of sand dunes Grand Plains and Salt Flats the desert climate is extremely arid and hot rainfall is scarce in the interior averaging less than 4 in per year the coastal plains are somewhat more fertile and receive greater rainfall due to the influence of the Indian Ocean Monsoon date palm Groves and grazing lands for cattle and camels can be found in parts of the Plains region the hajer mountains run parallel to the coastline of Oman and dominate the landscape in the northern part of the country this mountain range Rises dramatically from the desert floor with Peaks soaring to almost 10,000 ft in elevation the hajer mountains capture moisture from the ocean winds creating fog and rainfall that supports the growth of trees and terorist farming Wy valleys cut through the mountains providing oases with running streams and vegetation the mountains historically protected oman's residence and made parts of the Interior more habitable it has around 1,700 Mi of Coastline along the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman the coastal areas have hot humid climate the coastline is varied consisting of sandy beaches lagoons marshlands islands and Bays the waters along the coast of Oman Harbor diverse marine life including fish Turtles dolphins and whales the coastal regions have traditionally relied on fishing and trade some of oman's main cities and ports are located along the coast Oman is home to diverse population made up of various ethnic religious and linguistic groups the Omani people trace their roots to tribes that have inhabited the Arabian Peninsula for Cent centuries its total population as of 2022 is roughly 4.5 million according to World Bank data the majority of oman's residents are ethnic Arabs with centuries of shared history and culture the largest group is known as ibadi Muslims who have distinct religious tradition within Islam in addition Oman has communities of ethnic balushi zaris and Persians with ancestors who migrated at various points in history while Arabic is the main language spoken traditional dress music and Customs vary between oman's ethnic groups the official religion of om man is ibadi Islam an Islamic sect distinct from Sunni or Shia Islam ibadis make up around 75% of oman's Muslim population Sunni Muslims account for the largest minority religious group at around 25% of the total population Oman is known for its religious tolerance with small communities of Hindus Christians Buddhists and others able to openly practice their faiths mosques Hindu temples and Christian churches exist side by side in major cities like Muscat Arabic is the official language used in schools government and business there are numerous Arabic dialects spoken across the regions of Oman many omanis also speak baluchi Swahili uru or Persian as second languages English is widely used in higher education Commerce and tourism the native minority languages of Kumari batari and Mari are also maintained in parts of Oman Omen has Del ious and distinct Cuisine that reflects its location along historic spice trade rots rice fish meat dates and herbs are staple ingredients in ammani dishes these are some highlights of amanii food culture shua is traditional Omani dish made with marinated meat that is slow cooked in an underground oven called tanur lamb is usually used seasoned with spices like kumin cloves cardamom and pepper the meat becomes extremely tender after cooking for hours buried in the hot sand shua is usually served on special occasions halwa is sweet confection popular across the Middle East but Oman has its own unique version the main ingredients are sugar ghee spices and seeds like Sesame fennel and cardamum Omani halwa comes in many colorful gelatinous textures and Designs it's labor intensive to make and is commonly found at festivals and religious celebrations Kawa refers to Omani coffee which has an elaborate preparation ritual the beans are roasted over an open fire and then ground with spices like saffron and cardamom the coffee is brewed strong in dollar coffee pot and served in tiny handleless cups as sign of Hospitality mishak are Omani skewers of meat fish or vegetables marinated in spicy acidic mixture called madb common proteins are Chicken shrimp or lamb mishak gets its flavor from the madb marinade made with ingredients like lime juice garlic chili Thyme and vinegar strategically located along trade routes between Asia and Europe Omar developed into an important Regional power the ancient period saw Oman populated by nomadic tribes who settled near the coastal oases artifacts date human activity in Oman back to the Stone Age from 3000 to 2,000 BC the Samad late Stone Age culture flourished through sea trade the introduction of metal tools marked the beginning of the Iron Age around 2,000 BC Omen adopted Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad in the 7th Century ad in the early 8th Century Oman fell under the control of the umad caliphate based in Damascus over the next centuries portions of Oman were at times ruled by the Persians and Ottomans the Portuguese Empire conquered oman's coastal regions in 1507 controlling important ports and trade routes the Portuguese built forts to exert their Regional domination however they faced constant Rebellion from omanis opposed to foreign rule in 1744 Ahmed bin SED al- busaidi drove out the Portuguese and established oman's albu Dynasty this ruling family continues to hold power today making it one of the Arab world's oldest dynasties under their rule Oman thrived as maritime and trading Nation connecting Asia Africa and Europe modern Oman emerged in 1970 when Sultan kabo bin SED Al Saed overthrew his father in bloodless coup as Sultan kaboose implemented major social and economic reforms while retaining oman's cultural Traditions Oman continues its development today as high income oil exporting Nation from ancient civilizations to European colonizers to oil wealth oman's strategic location has subjected it to outside influence throughout its long history while maintaining distinctive Omani culture the modern sultanate carries this proud history into the 21st century Oman has high income economy that is heavily dependent on oil exports however the Omani government has been actively working to diversify the economy and establish new Industries according to the World Bank its GDP is roughly 114 billion do as of 2022 oil and gas production accounts for over 70% of oman's total government revenue it has proven oil reserves of around 5 billion barrels and established liquefied natural gas facilities petroleum development Omen and ocidental petroleum are the largest oil producers new Investments are being made to expand oil production and tap undeveloped reserves the country is developing new industrial and Manufacturing sectors as part of its economic diversification strategy this includes Metals manufacturing petrochemicals Ship Repair and other light Industries major industrial zones can be found near the ports of soar and salala the government has provided tax incentives and infrastructure support to grow new Industries Services make up an increasingly important part of oman's economy Logistics Transportation Financial Services real estate and tourism are key service sectors Oman is marketing itself as an upscale tourist destination showcasing culture beaches and adventure activities is new airports hotels and attractions are being built especially in Muscat if you enjoyed this video on Oman you'll love this next one