The Middle East

The guide contains listings of some of the leading hotels and resorts in Oman, and contacts for important government offices and services. It also contains useful tips and information for first-time or regular and business and leisure visitors alike.

Prior to 1971 the sharia courts had jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters, as well as personal status affairs in the sultanate of Oman. However, following the succession of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the judicial system was reformed and Sharia Courts now only govern matters related to family disputes and inheritance. The 1996 Basic Statute of the State reshaped and codified the...

In recent decades there has been a major improvement in the quality of health care in Oman. Rising living standards have greatly reduced the impact of contagious diseases, though the high rates of non-communicable diseases – common among many GCC countries – continue to climb. Despite feeling the impact of the fiscal austerity caused by low oil prices, the country’s health sector is poised to...

The education sector has been expanding fast, growing from only 10 schools in 1970 to over 1800 in 2018. This is thanks to robust population growth, economic development and the policy of Omanisation, which seeks to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign workers, technicians and managers. Despite a temporary slowdown caused by the oil price slump of 2014-16, education is set for further...