Oman
Frankincense coast and mountains at Arabia's edge
Oman occupies the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, a sultanate of dramatic mountains, vast deserts, and a long Indian Ocean coastline that once anchored a seafaring empire reaching to Zanzibar. Less flashy than its Gulf neighbors, it cultivates a reputation for stability, tradition, and quiet diplomacy. The ancient frankincense trade, mud-brick forts, and the wind-towered houses of old Muscat speak to a heritage distinct in the Arab world.
The rugged Hajar Mountains arc across the north, rising to Jabal Shams above deep canyons, while the great sands of the Rub al Khali stretch into the interior and the green, monsoon-touched hills of Dhofar rise in the south. The climate is mostly hot and arid. Oil and gas underpin the economy, supplemented by a strategic position commanding the Strait of Hormuz, alongside fishing, dates, and a growing tourism sector.
Maritime Oman built a trading and naval power that controlled coasts of East Africa and the Gulf, and the Al Said dynasty has ruled since the eighteenth century. Opened to modern development after 1970 under Sultan Qaboos and led since 2020 by Sultan Haitham, it pursues neutral, mediating diplomacy and hosted US-Iran talks until the 2026 war. Since then drone strikes, disowned by Tehran, have hit Omani ports, and its Musandam waters sit on the edge of the Hormuz closure. Muscat is the capital.