The Sultanate of Oman lies on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula and has a strategically important position at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest and also shares a marine border with Iran. Oman lies between latitudes 16° and 28° N, and longitudes 52° and 60° E.
A vast gravel desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along the north (Al Hajar Mountains) and southeast coast, where the country’s main cities are also located: the capital city Muscat, Sohar and Sur in the north, and Salalah in the south. Oman’s climate is hot and dry in the interior and humid along the coast.
Unlike the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council nations, the country is very laid back but progressive. There is religious freedom for expatriates with temples and churches in the capital Muscat. Education has seen Omanis going to all parts of the world for education. The past decades have seen heavy investments in infrastructure with good road networks and bridges across the country. Many new airports and ports are being developed with the country being opened up for tourism.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said opened up the country, embarked on economic reforms and followed a policy of modernisation by spending on health, education and welfare. In 1981 Oman became a founding member of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.