Tagged: Oman

According to Paradisdachat, Oman is an absolute monarchy with a political system based on Islamic law and traditions, established by the Al Said family. The government of Oman is headed by the Sultan, currently Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, who serves as both head of state and head of government. The Sultan is advised by a Council of Ministers which he appoints from among the members of the royal family. The legislative branch consists of the Consultative Assembly (Majlis al-Shura), which consists of 84 members appointed to four-year terms. This body is responsible for proposing laws and approving budgets for the country. The Sultan has ultimate authority to approve or veto any proposed legislation. The judicial branch consists of various levels of courts including a Supreme Court at the apex. Judges are appointed by the Sultan on recommendation from the Ministry of Justice and are responsible for interpreting and applying laws in accordance with Islamic jurisprudence (sharia). Oman has local governments in governorates where citizens can participate directly in decision-making on local issues such as education, public works, sanitation, and health services. The central government in Muscat has ultimate authority over all aspects of life in Oman but allows some autonomy to local governments to encourage citizen participation in decision-making processes. The Constitution guarantees citizens’ rights such as freedom from arbitrary arrest or exile; freedom from torture or cruel or degrading treatment or punishment; freedom from interference with privacy; freedom to express opinion freely; freedom to assemble peacefully without arms; freedom to form political parties; right to due process under law; right to vote in free elections; right to education; right to work and equal pay for equal work regardless of gender; right to health care services provided by the state; right against discrimination based on sex, religion or ethnicity etc.; protection against exploitation at workplace etc. These freedoms are respected in practice although certain restrictions may be imposed due to religious considerations and/or security concerns. Oman’s foreign relations are based on the principles of the peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and respect for the sovereignty and independence of all states. The country has maintained close ties with its Arab neighbors in the Middle East and North Africa and is a member of the Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and United Nations. Oman has also increasingly sought to expand its presence on the international stage through involvement in international organizations such as OPEC, WTO, IMF and World Bank. Oman’s foreign policy emphasizes regional stability through dialogue and cooperation with other countries in the region. It has been an active participant in numerous regional security initiatives, including those aimed at resolving conflicts such as those between Iraq and Kuwait, Yemen and Saudi Arabia. In addition, Oman has sought to promote dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia over their differences. It also maintains strong ties with both Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as other Gulf nations. The country is also a major supporter of UN peacekeeping operations around the world. In terms of economic relations, Oman is a member of several economic organizations such as OPEC, WTO, IMF and World Bank. The country has signed free trade agreements with many countries including China, India, Pakistan and UAE. Oman also maintains strong bilateral ties with numerous countries including France, Germany, India, Japan and United Kingdom among others. In addition to this it is an active participant in regional trade blocs such as GCC which seeks to promote economic integration among Arab nations in order to boost growth within the region. See recipesinthebox for Oman defense and foreign policy.