dialects

Literacy:
definition: NA
total population: approaching 80%
male : NA%
female: NA%

@Oman:Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form : Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman

Data code: MU

Government type: monarchy

National capital: Muscat

Administrative divisions: 6 regions (mintaqah, singular - mintaqat)
and 2 governorates* (muhafazah, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah,
Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat, Musandam*,
Zufar*

Independence: 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday: National Day, 18 November (1940)

Constitution: none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a
royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things,
clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars
ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the
government, establishes a bicameral Omani council, and guarantees
basic civil liberties for Omani citizens

Legal system: based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate
appeal to the sultan; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: none

Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said
(since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government : Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said Al Said
(since 23 July 1970); note - the sultan is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet : Cabinet appointed by the sultan
elections: none; the sultan is a hereditary monarch

Legislative branch: unicameral Consultative Council or Majlis
ash-Shura (80 members; two appointed from each wilayat with a
population over 30,000, one appointed from each of the other wilayats;
members serve four-year terms; has advisory powers only)
note: new basic law to be implemented in 1997, provides for an upper
chamber - the Majlis ad-Dawla or State Council; also the Majlis
ash-Shura will be expanded to 110 members; the resulting bicameral
legislature will be known as the Omani Council

Judicial branch: none; traditional Islamic judges and a nascent civil
court system, administered by region

Political parties and leaders: none

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF,
ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IM