Located in the Arabian Gulf, Oman has an area of 212,460 square kilometers (81,715 square miles), with Muscat as its capital. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the Arabian Sea. In 2005 its population numbered just over 3 million people. Oman is mainly composed of desert and some mountains, which is reflected in its hot and dry weather.

Oman is a rich country; oil, natural gas, cement, and copper are among its chief exports. Its economic situation has improved with the rise in oil prices. Purchasing power parity (an indicator used to measure the power to buy the same commodities in different countries) is U.S.$8,300. Life expectancy is good, estimated to be seventy-three for the entire population (seventy for males and seventy-five for females). Oman is not very diverse religiously: Ibadhi Muslims account for 75 percent of the population while the rest are Sunni, Shi'a, and Hindu...