Country Profile

Located in the south-eastern quarter of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is the only member of the GCC situated outside of the Gulf itself. Leveraging its strategic location, it has invested in infrastructure with the goal of becoming a global logistics centre. While less hydrocarbons-rich than its GCC neighbours, the sultanate’s diversification efforts are a driving force behind its economic growth. Its long-term development strategy, Oman Vision 2020, emphasises industrialisation, privatisation and Omanisation. Logistics, tourism, mining, fisheries and industrial manufacturing have all been identified as potential future economic drivers, and will be the focus of development under Vision 2040. This chapter contains a viewpoint from Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said; and an interview with Abdul Latif Al Zayani, Secretary-General of the GCC.