Fun facts

• Oman is officially known as the 'Sultanate of Oman'.
  
• Oman, the capital of Muscat, is also the country's largest city.
  
• The official language of Oman is Arabic. Apart from that, English, Baluchi, Urdu, Hindi and other dialects are also spoken.
  
• Oman follows the system of 'Absolute Monarchy'.
  
• Oman gained independence from the Portuguese empire in 1651.
  
• Omani Arab is the main ethnic group in Oman, followed by Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi. Iranian, Egyptian, Somali.
  
• In the past, Oman used to be one of the richest countries in the world, with the wealth mainly originating from the incense trade.
  
• In Oman, Frankincense trees only grow in the wild.
  
• It is said that Ubar, the legendary city believed to be in control of Frankincense trade, got buried under the desert. The reason cited for this is that its wealth made people astray and led them away from religion.
  
• There is a shrub in Oman, known as myrtus communis or yas. Its leaves are used for making perfume.
  
• Oman was the home of ship building thousands of years ago, when it was mainly involved in the incense trade.
  
• Oman is traditionally known for breeding Arab horses.
  
• Omani men wear long robes known as dishdashas, while the womenfolk wear Omani burqa masks.
  
• Omani men can be found wearing the traditionally curved dagger, known as khanja. Their national dress also includes the 'turban'.
  
• Oman joined the League of Arab States in 1971.
  
• The national flag of Oman, adopted in 1971, is red, white and green.
  
• Oman joined the United Nations in 1971.
  
• Oman allowed tourists to enter its territory only at the beginning of the 1990s.
  
• Every two years, an Omani person is chosen by UNESCO, for the most noteworthy contribution to environment. He is then awarded a prize by the ' Sultan of Oman'.

3 more sleeps.

~ Lala