s: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch: bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper
chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (48 seats; members appointed by the
monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis
al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by limited suffrage, however,
the monarch makes final selections and can negate election results;
body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise
has only advisory powers)

elections: last held NA September 2000 (next to be held NA
September 2003)

election results: NA; note - two women were elected for the first
time to Majlis al-Shura, about 100,000 people voted

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has
non-Islamic judges as well as traditional Islamic judges

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: none

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Abdallah bin Muhammad bin Aqil al-DHAHAB

chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988

FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
John B. CRAIG

embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat

mailing address: international: P. O. Box 202, Code No. 115,
Medinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat

telephone: [968] 698989

FAX: [968] 699189

Flag description: three horizontal bands of white, 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 at the top of the
vertical band

Oman Economy

Economy - overview: Oman's economic performance improved
significantly in 2000 due largely to the upturn in oil prices. The
government is moving ahead with privatization of its utilities, the
development of a body of commercial law to facilitate foreign
investment, and increased budgetary outlays. Oman continues to
liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization
(WTrO) in November 2000.

GDP: p