Map of Oman
Oman is a country in Asia with its capital at Muscat, home to about 5.49 million people across 309,500 km². The interactive map below plots 10 cities and towns, 1 mountain summits and 4 ports recorded for Oman in YearMaps.
- Population
- 5.49 million
- Area
- 309,500 km²
- Capital
- Muscat
- Continent
- Asia
Interactive Map of Oman
Centred on Muscat at 23.6133° N, 58.5933° E. Use the layer panel to switch on rivers, dams, ports, peaks and historical borders.
About Oman
Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is a country in the southeastern Arabian Peninsula in West Asia. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, and maritime borders with Iran and Pakistan. Its coastline extends along the Arabian Sea to the southeast and the Gulf of Oman to the northeast. The exclaves of Madha and Musandam are surrounded by the United Arab Emirates on their land borders, while Musandam's coastal boundaries are formed by the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. With an area of 315,331 km2 (121,750 sq mi) and a population of approximately 5.46 million, Oman is the third-largest country on the Arabian Peninsula. Muscat is the capital and largest city, Islam is the state religion, and Arabic is the official language.
Oman has been continuously ruled by the Al Bu Said dynasty since 1744. Beginning in the 17th century, Oman emerged as a major regional power, expelling the Portuguese from its coastal possessions and establishing an empire that competed with the British and Portuguese for influence in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence and control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to what later became Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Zanzibar. In the 20th century, Oman came under the influence of the British Empire while de jure remaining sovereign. After the Dhofar rebellion and the 1970 Omani coup d'état, the state of Muscat and Oman transitioned into the modern state under Qaboos bin Said.
Oman is an absolute monarchy ruled by a sultan, who serves as both head of state and head of government. Executive authority is exercised through the Council of Ministers, while the bicameral Council of Oman consists of the appointed Council of State and the elected Consultative Assembly. Qaboos bin Said served as sultan from 1970 until his death in 2020. His nearly five-decade reign marked the beginning of a period of rapid modernization now known as the Omani Renaissance, which saw a rise in the country's living standards, the abolition of slavery, the end of the Dhofar Rebellion, and the promulgation of Oman's constitution. In 2020, Haitham bin Tariq succeeded Qaboos as the Sultan of Oman.
Oman's oil reserves are ranked as the 22nd largest globally. In 2010, the United Nations Development Programme recognised Oman as the most improved country in the world in terms of development during the preceding 40 years. A portion of Oman's economy involves tourism, and trade of fish, dates and other agricultural produce.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Oman (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Geography and Climate of Oman
The inhabitants of the area of present-day Oman have long prospered from Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, the nascent sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors increased, although the sultanate never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said overthrew his father and ruled as sultan for the next five decades. His extensive modernization program opened the country to the outside world. He prioritized strategic ties to the UK and US, and his moderate, independent foreign policy allowed Oman to maintain good relations with its neighbors and avoid external entanglements. In 2011, the popular uprisings that swept the Middle East and North Africa inspired demonstrations in Oman that called for more jobs and economic benefits and an end to corruption. In response, QABOOS implemented economic and political reforms such as granting Oman’s legislative body more power and authorizing direct elections for its lower house. Additionally, the sultan increased unemployment benefits and issued a royal directive mandating a national public- and private-sector job creation plan. As part of the government's efforts to decentralize authority and allow greater citizen participation in local governance, Oman successfully conducted its first municipal council elections in 2012. QABOOS, Oman's longest reigning monarch, died in 2020. His cousin, HAYTHAM bin Tariq Al Said, former Minister of Heritage and Culture, was sworn in as Oman's new sultan the same day.
- Location
- Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE.
- Climate
- Dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south.
- Terrain
- Central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south.
- Highest point
- Jabal Shams 3,004 m.
- Lowest point
- Arabian Sea 0 m.
- Coastline
- 2,092 km.
- Land borders
- Total: 1,561 km; border countries: Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km.
- Natural resources
- Petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas.
- Land use
- Agricultural land: 4.8% (2023 est.); arable land: 0.3% (2023 est.); permanent crops: 0.1% (2023 est.); permanent pasture: 4.4% (2023 est.); forest: 0% (2023 est.); other: 95.2% (2023 est.)
- Natural hazards
- Summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts.
- Geographic note
- Consists of Oman proper and two northern exclaves, Musandam and Al Madhah; the former is a peninsula that occupies a strategic location adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz.
- Languages
- Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects.
- Religions
- Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)
- Ethnic groups
- Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African.
- Economy
- High-income, oil-based economy; large welfare system; growing government debt; citizenship-based labor force growth policy; US free trade agreement; diversifying portfolio; high female labor force participation.
From the CIA World Factbook (public domain), archived edition of 2026-01-22. The Factbook is no longer updated, so figures reflect that edition.
Oman in Numbers
- Population
- 5.49 million
- GDP
- US$109.6 billion
- GDP per person
- US$19,947
- Life expectancy
- 80.3 years
- Population growth
- 3.96% a year
- Population density
- 17 per km²
- Urban population
- 79.5%
- Surface area
- 309,500 km²
- Forest cover
- 0.0%
- Arable land
- 0.3%
- Access to electricity
- 100.0%
- Internet users
- 95.3%
Indicators from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). The year under each figure is its reference year.
Oman in Depth
History
Al Aybut Al Awal, in the Dhofar Governorate of Oman, a site was discovered in 2011 containing more than 100 surface scatters of stone tools, belonging to a regionally specific African lithic industry—the late Nubian Complex—known previously only from the northeast and Horn of Africa. Two optically stimulated luminescence age estimates place the Arabian Nubian Complex at 106,000 years old. This supports the proposition that early human populations moved from Africa into Arabia during the Late Pleistocene.
As of 2011, surveys have uncovered Palaeolithic and Neolithic sites on the eastern coast. Main Palaeolithic sites include Saiwan-Ghunaim in the Barr al-Hikman. Archaeological remains are particularly numerous for the Bronze Age Umm an-Nar and Wadi Suq periods.
Geography
Oman lies between latitudes 16th parallel north and 28th parallel north, and longitudes 52nd meridian east and 60th meridian east. A gravel desert plain covers most of central Oman, with mountain ranges along the north (Hajar Mountains) and southeast coast (Dhofar Mountains), where the country's main cities are located: the capital city Muscat, Sohar and Sur in the north, and Salalah in the south and Musandam. Oman's climate is hot and dry in the interior and humid along the coast.
The peninsula of Musandam (Musandem), strategically located on the Strait of Hormuz, is an exclave separated from the rest of Oman by the United Arab Emirates.
Madha, another exclave, is an enclave within UAE territory located halfway between the Musandam Peninsula and the main body of Oman.
Economy
Oman's Basic Statute of the State expresses in Article 11 that the "national economy is based on justice and the principles of a free economy". By regional standards, Oman has a relatively diversified economy, but remains dependent on oil exports. In terms of monetary value, mineral fuels accounted for 82.2 percent of total product exports in 2018. Tourism is the fastest-growing industry in Oman. Other sources of income, agriculture and industry, are small in comparison and account for less than 1% of the country's exports, but diversification is seen as a priority by the government. Agriculture, often subsistence in its character, produces dates, limes, grains and vegetables, but with less than 1% of the country under cultivation, Oman is likely to remain a net importer of food.
Demographics
By 2020, Oman's population exceeded 4.5 million. The total fertility rate in 2020 was estimated to be 2.8 children born per woman; this rate has been rapidly decreasing in recent years. About half of the population lives in Muscat and the Batinah coastal plain northwest of the capital. Omanis are entirely Arab, with certain groups of Baluchi and African descent.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Oman (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Oman: Key Facts
| Currency | Omani rial |
|---|---|
| Official language | Arabic |
| Head of state | Haitham bin Tarik Al Said |
| Head of government | Haitham bin Tarik Al Said |
| Form of government | absolute monarchy |
| Calling code | +968 |
| Internet domain | .om |
| Highest point | Jebel Shams |
| Lowest point | Majlis al Jinn |
| Established | 23 July 1970 |
Facts from Wikidata Q842 (CC0).
History of Oman: Empires and States
The atlas records 20 polities whose mapped territory included part of Oman, from Parthian Empire in 126 BCE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here | Extent |
|---|---|---|
| Parthian Empire | 126 BCE – 237 CE | A large part |
| The Sasanian Empire | 238–632 CE | A large part |
| Rashidun Caliphate | 633–665 CE | Most |
| The Umayyad Caliphate | 666–750 CE | Most |
| The Abbasid Caliphate | 751–898 CE | Most |
| Buyid Dynasty | 970–1055 CE | A large part |
| Great Seljuk Empire | 1056–1168 CE | A large part |
| Mahdids | 1169–1506 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of Portugal | 1507–1705 CE | A small part |
| The Portuguese Empire | 1507–1705 CE | A small part |
| Iberian Union | 1582–1639 CE | A small part |
| The Spanish Empire | 1582–1639 CE | A small part |
| Yarubid dynasty | 1626–1740 CE | Most |
| Afsharid Iran | 1741–1747 CE | Most |
| Sultanate of Oman | 1744–2024 CE | Most |
| Sultanate of Muscat and Oman | 1900–1946 CE | Most |
| Imamate of Oman | 1913–1919 CE | A large part |
| The British Empire | 1920–1997 CE | Most |
| Kingdom of Great Britain | 1920–2023 CE | Most |
| Qatar Protectorate | 1947–1955 CE | Most |
Historical Maps of Oman
Oman on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Visiting Oman
The Sultanate of Oman (Arabic: سلطنة عُمان) is on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula. Under the radar of most visitors to the Gulf, Oman is peaceful and prosperous, with amazing natural sights and hospitable people.
Travel notes adapted from Wikivoyage: Oman (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Largest Cities in Oman
10 cities recorded. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muscat | 734,697 | Muscat | National capital |
| 2 | As Sib | 237,816 | Muscat | Populated place |
| 3 | Salalah | 203,877 | Dhofar | Populated place |
| 4 | Suhar | 151,349 | Al Batnah | Populated place |
| 5 | Ibri | 101,640 | Al Dhahira | Populated place |
| 6 | Nizwa | 72,076 | Ad Dakhliyah | Populated place |
| 7 | Sur | 71,152 | Ash Sharqiyah | Populated place |
| 8 | Alayat Samail | 47,718 | Ad Dakhliyah | Populated place |
| 9 | Dawwah | 2,000 | Ash Sharqiyah | Populated place |
| 10 | Mirbat | 1,120 | Dhofar | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Oman
1 mountain recorded. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jabal Shams | 3,035 m | 9,957 ft | Asia |
Jabal Shams
Mountain · 3,035 m
Jabal Shams is a mountain rising to 3,035 metres (9,957 ft) in Oman, in the Asia region.
Jabal Shams or Jebel Shams (Arabic: جَبَل شَمْس, lit. 'Mountain of Sun') is a mountain located in northeastern Oman north of the town of Al-Hamra.
It is the highest mountain in Oman, and is part of the Jebel Akhdar or Jabal Akhdar Mountains, which in turn belongs to the Hajar range. The mountain is a popular sightseeing area located 240 km (150 miles) from Muscat.
It is known as Jabal Shams because it is the first place to receive sunrise in Oman due to its high peak.
In the summer, the temperature is around 20 °C (68 °F) and in the winter it drops to less than 0 °C (32 °F). Jabal Shams also hosts Al Nakhur Canyon which is labeled as the Grand Canyon of Arabia.
Adapted from Wikipedia: Jebel Shams (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Elevation
- 3,035 m (9,957 ft)
- Global rank
- #223 of 641 indexed
- Region
- Asia (#91)
- Country
- Oman
- Coordinates
- 23.2369°, 57.2640°
Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Jabal Shams ranks #223 by elevation, below Jabal Marrah (3,042 m) and above Fuyul Sojol (3,030 m).
- Ranges:
- Al Hajar Mountains (Asia), Central Makran (Asia)
- Neighbouring summits:
- Jabal Yibir (1,527 m), Kuh-e Taftan (3,941 m), Jabal ad Dukhan (134 m)
More about Jabal Shams
Description
The highest point of the mountain is the North Summit, which is occupied by a military base and is a restricted area. The Ministry of Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, states the North Summit to be 3,009 m (9,872 ft) high.
The mountain also has a second summit, the South Summit, which is publicly accessible for trekking via the W4 Trail, marked by the Oman Ministry of Tourism. The elevation of the second south summit is 2,997 m (9,833 ft).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Jebel Shams (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Jabal Shams: Key Facts
| Topographic prominence | 2,818 m |
|---|---|
| Mountain range | Al Hajar Mountains |
Facts from Wikidata Q1261915 (CC0).
Ports in Oman
4 ports recorded. Ranked by approach channel depth, the figure that limits which ships can call. Harbours link to their write-up on the page of the sea or coast they lie on.
| # | Name | Channel Depth | Class | Sea | Max Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mina Raysut | 23.8 m | Small | Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal | large vessels |
| 2 | Port of Sohar | 23.8 m | Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | point_of_interest |
| 3 | Qalhat Lng Terminal | — | Very Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | medium vessels |
| 4 | Khawr Khasab | — | Small | Persian Gulf & Gulf of Oman | medium vessels |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Oman
5 World Heritage Sites recorded. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bahla Fort | 1987 | Cultural | (iv) |
| 2 | Bat, Al-Khutm and Al-Ayn archaeological sites | 1988 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
| 3 | Land of Frankincense | 2000 | Cultural | (iii) (iv) |
| 4 | Aflaj Irrigation System of Oman | 2006 | Cultural | (v) |
| 5 | Qalhat | 2018 | Cultural | (ii) (iii) |
Mountain Ranges, Deserts and Landforms of Oman
6 mountain ranges, deserts and other landforms recorded. Ranked by mapped area. Covers mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, named glaciers, plains, basins, peninsulas and capes. One that crosses a border is listed under every country it lies in, with the area of the whole feature.
| # | Name | Area | Type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Asia | 46.28M km² | Continent | Asia |
| 2 | Rub’ al Khali | 596,502 km² | Desert | Asia |
| 3 | Arabian Peninsula | 297,867 km² | Pen/cape | Asia |
| 4 | Wahiba Sands | 11,157 km² | Desert | Asia |
| 5 | Al Hajar Mountains | 943 km² | Range/mtn | Asia |
| 6 | Musandam Peninsula | 247 km² | Pen/cape | Asia |
Countries Bordering Oman
Land and maritime neighbours.
More Maps in Asia
Oman: Quick Answers
- What is the capital of Oman?
- The capital of Oman is Muscat.
- What is the population of Oman?
- Oman has a population of about 5.49 million, the #121 largest of 225 countries in YearMaps. Source: World Bank, 2025.
- How big is Oman?
- Oman covers 309,500 km², ranking #73 by area, with about 18 people per square kilometre.
- Which continent is Oman in?
- Oman is in Asia.
- Which countries border Oman?
- Oman shares a land or maritime border with Iran, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates.
- What is the largest city in Oman?
- Muscat is the largest city in Oman, with a metropolitan population of about 734,697.
- What is the highest mountain in Oman?
- The highest summit recorded for Oman in YearMaps is Jabal Shams at 3,035 m (9,957 ft). Summits on a border are counted for both countries.