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.

land

309,500 sq km

total

309,500 sq km

water

0 sq km

twice the size of Georgia

dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

2,092 km

highest point

Jabal Shams 3,004 m

lowest point

Arabian Sea 0 m

mean elevation

310 m

21 00 N, 57 00 E

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, a vital transit point for world crude oil

1,079 sq km (2020)

border countries

Saudi Arabia 658 km; UAE 609 km; Yemen 294 km

total

1,561 km

agricultural land

4.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.5% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

95.3% (2018 est.)

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE

Arabian Aquifer System

Middle East

contiguous zone

24 nm

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely poplulated

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

0-14 years

29.8% (male 594,909/female 566,682)

15-64 years

66.2% (male 1,428,141/female 1,155,438)

65 years and over

4% (2024 est.) (male 73,076/female 83,746)

beer

0.17 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.29 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.47 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

21.1 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

11.2% (2016/17)

29.7% (2014)

5.3% of GDP (2020)

56.4% (2023 est.)

3.2 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

4

potential support ratio

25.2 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

42

youth dependency ratio

38

improved: rural

rural: 97.9% of population

improved: total

total: 99.7% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 2.1% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.3% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

5.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

1.29 (2024 est.)

1.5 beds/1,000 population (2017)

female

12.6 deaths/1,000 live births

male

15.1 deaths/1,000 live births

total

13.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Swahili, Urdu, Indian dialects

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

female

79.4 years

male

75.5 years

total population

77.4 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

92.7% (2018)

male

97%

total population

95.7%

1.650 million MUSCAT (capital) (2023)

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

26.3 years

male

28.1 years

total

27.3 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Omani

noun

Omani(s)

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

27% (2016)

1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

1,805,866 (2024 est.)

male

2,096,126

total

3,901,992

the vast majority of the population is located in and around the Al Hagar Mountains in the north of the country; another smaller cluster is found around the city of Salalah in the far south; most of the country remains sparsely poplulated

1.75% (2024 est.)

Muslim 85.9%, Christian 6.4%, Hindu 5.7%, other and unaffiliated 2% (2020 est.)

note

note: Omani citizens represent approximately 56.4% of the population and are overwhelming Muslim (Ibadhi and Sunni sects each constitute about 45% and Shia about 5%); Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists account for roughly 5% of Omani citizens

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: 100% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0% of population

female

15 years (2021)

male

15 years

total

15 years

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.24 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.16 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

female

0.4% (2020 est.)

male

15.5% (2020 est.)

total

8% (2020 est.)

2.64 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.4% of total population (2023)

11 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafaza); Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Buraymi, Al Wusta, Az Zahirah, Janub al Batinah (Al Batinah South), Janub ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah South), Masqat (Muscat), Musandam, Shamal al Batinah (Al Batinah North), Shamal ash Sharqiyah (Ash Sharqiyah North), Zufar (Dhofar)

etymology

the name, whose meaning is uncertain, traces back almost two millennia; two 2nd century A.D. scholars, the geographer PTOLEMY and the historian ARRIAN, both mention an Arabian Sea coastal town of Moscha, which most likely referred to Muscat

geographic coordinates

23 37 N, 58 35 E

name

Muscat

time difference

UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Oman

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

unknown

amendments

promulgated by the sultan or proposed by the Council of Oman and drafted by a technical committee as stipulated by royal decree and then promulgated through royal decree; amended by royal decree 2011, 2021

history

promulgated by royal decree 6 November 1996 (the Basic Law of the Sultanate of Oman serves as the constitution); amended by royal decree in 2011

conventional long form

Sultanate of Oman

conventional short form

Oman

etymology

the origin of the name is uncertain, but it apparently dates back at least 2,000 years since an "Omana" is mentioned by Pliny the Elder (1st century A.D.) and an "Omanon" by Ptolemy (2nd century A.D.)

former

Sultanate of Muscat and Oman

local long form

Saltanat Uman

local short form

Uman

chief of mission

Ambassador Ana ESCROGIMA (since 4 December 2023)

email address and website

ConsularMuscat@state.govhttps://om.usembassy.gov/

embassy

P.C. 115, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Muscat

FAX

[968] 2464-3740

mailing address

6220 Muscat Place, Washington DC  20521

telephone

[968] 2464-3400

chancery

2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Moosa Hamdan Moosa AL TAI (since 17 February 2021)

email address and website

washington@fm.gov.omEmbassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington, USA - FM.gov.om

FAX

[1] (202) 745-4933

telephone

[1] (202) 387-1980

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the monarch

chief of state

Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)

head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister HAITHAM bin Tarik Al Said (since 11 January 2020)

note

note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government

three horizontal bands of white (top), red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band; white represents peace and prosperity, red recalls battles against foreign invaders, and green symbolizes the Jebel al Akhdar (Green Mountains) and fertility

absolute monarchy

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 5 judges)

judge selection and term of office

judges nominated by the 9-member Supreme Judicial Council (chaired by the monarch) and appointed by the monarch; judges appointed for life

subordinate courts

Courts of Appeal; Administrative Court; Courts of First Instance; sharia courts; magistrates' courts; military courts

mixed legal system of Anglo-Saxon law and Islamic law

description

bicameral Council of Oman or Majlis Oman consists of:Council of State or Majlis al-Dawla (87 seats including the chairman; members appointed by the sultan from among former government officials and prominent educators, businessmen, and citizens; members serve 4-year term)Consultative Assembly or Majlis al-Shura (90 seats; members directly elected in single- and 2-seat constituencies by simple majority popular vote to serve renewable 4-year terms)

election results

Council of State - 87 nonpartisan members were appointed by the sultan; composition - men 68, women 18, percentage women 20.9%Consultative Assembly percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; 90 nonpartisan members were elected (organized political parties in Oman are legally banned); composition - 90 men, 0 women, percentage women 0%; total Council of Oman percentage women 10.2%

elections

Council of State - last appointments on 8 November 2023 (next appointments in November 2027)Consultative Assembly - last held on 29 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2027)

lyrics/music

Rashid bin Uzayyiz al KHUSAIDI/James Frederick MILLS, arranged by Bernard EBBINGHAUS

name

"Nashid as-Salaam as-Sultani" (The Sultan's Anthem)

note

note: adopted 1932; new lyrics written after QABOOS bin Said al Said gained power in 1970; first performed by the band of a British ship as a salute to the Sultan during a 1932 visit to Muscat; the bandmaster of the HMS Hawkins was asked to write a salutation to the Sultan on the occasion of his ship visit

selected World Heritage Site locales

Bahla Fort; Archaeological Sites of Bat; Land of Frankincense; Aflaj Irrigation Systems of Oman; Ancient Qalhat

total World Heritage Sites

5 (all cultural)

National Day, 18 November; note - celebrates Oman's independence from Portugal in 1650 and the birthday of Sultan QABOOS bin Said al Said, who reigned from 1970 to 2020

khanjar dagger superimposed on two crossed swords; national colors: red, white, green

none; note - organized political parties are legally banned in Oman, and loyalties tend to form around tribal affiliations

21 years of age; universal; note - members of the military and security forces by law cannot vote

dates, tomatoes, milk, sorghum, vegetables, goat milk, cucumbers/gherkins, chilies/peppers, watermelons, cantaloupes/melons (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

on alcohol and tobacco

0.2% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

21.8% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

expenditures

$35.984 billion (2018 est.)

revenues

$29.334 billion (2018 est.)

Fitch rating

BB- (2020)

Moody's rating

Ba3 (2020)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

Standard & Poors rating

B+ (2020)

Current account balance 2020

-$12.514 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$4.834 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$5.652 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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

Currency

Omani rials (OMR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.385 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.385 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.385 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.385 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.385 (2023 est.)

Exports 2020

$35.691 billion (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$46.572 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$69.701 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

crude petroleum, natural gas, refined petroleum, fertilizers, semi-finished iron (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

China 40%, India 11%, South Korea 6%, UAE 4%, US 4% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

52.5% (2021 est.)

government consumption

22.1% (2021 est.)

household consumption

44.3% (2021 est.)

imports of goods and services

-41.4% (2021 est.)

investment in fixed capital

25.6% (2021 est.)

investment in inventories

-3.2% (2021 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

1.8% (2022 est.)

industry

57% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

44.5% (2022 est.)

$108.192 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports 2020

$33.827 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$37.216 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$46.326 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

refined petroleum, cars, iron ore, milk, iron pipes (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

UAE 27%, Saudi Arabia 11%, India 10%, China 9%, Qatar 5% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

5.05% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

1.68% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

2.51% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

0.94% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

2.316 million (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

note

note: excludes indebtedness of state-owned enterprises

Public debt 2017

46.9% of GDP (2017 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$175.986 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$183.574 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$185.96 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

3.09% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.31% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.3% (2023 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$38,900 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$40,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$40,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

0.04% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0.03% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0.04% of GDP (2023 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$19.731 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$17.606 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$17.455 billion (2023 est.)

31.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

1.9% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

1.51% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.46% (2023 est.)

female

13.3% (2023 est.)

male

5.5% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

6.8% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

24,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from consumed natural gas

52.348 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

27.188 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

79.559 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

31,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

73,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

105,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

39.012 billion kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

9.129 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

4.043 billion kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

fossil fuels

99.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

solar

0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

285.886 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

consumption

27.364 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

exports

15.446 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

1.506 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

production

40.754 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

651.287 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

5.373 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

211,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

1.056 million bbl/day (2023 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2020 est.)

total

508,949 (2020 est.)

1 state-run TV broadcaster; TV stations transmitting from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, and Yemen available via satellite TV; state-run radio operates multiple stations; first private radio station began operating in 2007 and several additional stations now operating (2019)

.om

percent of population

96% (2021 est.)

total

4.32 million (2021 est.)

domestic

fixed-line is 13 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 135 per 100 (2021)

general assessment

Oman has a modern mobile sector which comprises substantial coverage of both 3G and LTE networks; in February 2021 commercial 5G services were launched; the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a spike in mobile data traffic; while Oman’s fixed broadband infrastructure penetration is considered low, it is being improved with the building of fiber-based networks as part of Oman’s Vision 2040 program; Oman has also established itself as an important communications hub in the Middle East, with access to numerous submarine cables including the 2Africa submarine cable, which should become available during 2023-2024; the 9,800km Oman Australia Cable running from Muscat to Perth, with the potential for a branch line to Djibouti, is making progress and is expected to be completed in December 2021; this additional infrastructure will provide considerable additional bandwidth (2021)

international

country code - 968; landing points for GSA, AAE-1, SeaMeWe-5, Tata TGN-Gulf, FALCON, GBICS/MENA, MENA/Guld Bridge International, TW1, BBG, EIG, OMRAN/EPEG, and POI submarine cables providing connectivity to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2019)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

13 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

563,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

135 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

6.75 million (2022 est.)

36 (2024)

A4O

20 (2024)

by type

general cargo 11, other 46

total

57 (2023)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

510.43 million (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

10,438,241 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

57

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

106 km condensate, 4,224 km gas, 3,558 km oil, 33 km oil/gas/water, 264 km refined products (2013)

key ports

Duqm, Khawr Khasab, Mina Al Fahl, Mina Raysut, Sohar

medium

1

ports with oil terminals

6

small

4

total ports

7 (2024)

very small

2

paved

29,685 km (includes 1,943 km of expressways)

total

60,230 km

unpaved

30,545 km (2012)

the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) are responsible for defending the country, ensuring internal security, and protecting the monarchy; it is a small but well-equipped military that often trains with foreign partners such as the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the UK, and the US; the SAF has a longstanding security relationship with the British military going back to the 18th century; today, the SAF and the British maintain a joint training base in Oman; in 2017, Oman and the UK signed an agreement allowing the British military the use of facilities at Al Duqm Port; in 2019, the US obtained access to the port, expanding on previous military cooperation agreements in 2014, 2010, and 1980; Oman also allows other nations to use some of its maritime facilities, including ChinaOman has a small but relatively modern navy that conducts maritime security operations along the country’s long coastline, including patrolling, ensuring freedom of navigation in the key naval chokepoint of the Strait of Hormuz, and countering piracy and smuggling; while Oman is not a member of the US-led, multinational Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), which operates task forces to counter piracy and smuggling, the Omani Navy has at times participated in CMF-led joint exercises (2024)

Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), Sultan's Special ForcesRoyal Oman Police (ROP): Civil Defense, Immigration, Customs, Royal Oman Police Coast Guard, Special Task Force (2024)

note

note 1: the Sultan’s Special Forces and the ROP Special Task Force are Oman’s primary tactical counterterrorism response forcesnote 2: in addition to its policing duties, the ROP conducts many administrative functions similar to the responsibilities of a Ministry of Interior in other countries

approximately 40,000 active-duty troops (25,000 Army, 5,000 Navy; 5,000 Air Force; 5,000 Royal Guard) (2023)

the SAF's inventory includes a mix of older and some more modern weapons systems from a variety of suppliers, particularly the UK and the US; other suppliers have included China, EU countries, South Africa, and Turkey (2024)

Military Expenditures 2019

11.8% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

11% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

5.5% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

5.5% of GDP (2023 est.)

18 for voluntary military service for men and women (women have been allowed to serve since 2011); no conscription (2023)

refugees (country of origin)

5,000 (Yemen) (2017)

Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS)

note

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

63.46 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

5.6 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

34.88 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

limited natural freshwater resources; high levels of soil and water salinity in the coastal plains; beach pollution from oil spills; industrial effluents seeping into the water tables and aquifers; desertificaiton due to high winds driving desert sand into arable lands

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

agricultural land

4.7% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 4.5% (2018 est.)

forest

0% (2018 est.)

other

95.3% (2018 est.)

Arabian Aquifer System

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

1.4 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

1.55 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

240 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

130 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.32% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

88.4% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

1,734,885 tons (2014 est.)