Qaboos bin Said Al Said is the incumbent Sultan of Oman. He rose to power by overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur, in a palace coup in 1970. He is a 14th-generation descendant of the founder of the Al Bu Sa'id dynasty. He is the longest serving Arab leader, having held the office since 1970.
The national emblem of Oman is an insignia consisting of a khanjar inside its sheath that is superimposed upon two crossed swords. Adopted in the 18th century as the badge of the Omani royal family, it subsequently became the national emblem of the Sultanate of Oman. The emblem is featured at the canton on the Flag of Oman.
Oman is divided into eleven governorates (muhafazah), and has been since 28 October 2011. Each of the 11 governorates are divided into provinces (wilayat).
Sir Charles William Chadwick Oman, was a British military historian. His reconstructions of medieval battles from the fragmentary and distorted accounts left by chroniclers were pioneering. Occasionally his interpretations have been challenged, especially his widely copied thesis that British troops defeated their Napoleonic opponents by firepower alone. Paddy Griffith, among modern historians, claims that the British infantry's discipline and willingness to attack were equally important.
Al-Seeb, As Seeb or As Sib is a coastal fishing city, located several kilometres northwest of Muscat, in northeastern Oman. As of the 2003 census, it had a population of 221,115.
A khanjar is a traditional dagger originating from Oman. Worn by men for ceremonial occasions, it is a short curved sword shaped like the letter "J" and resembles a hook. It can be made from a variety of different materials, depending on the quality of its craftsmanship. It is a popular souvenir among tourists and is sold in souqs throughout the region. A national symbol of the sultanate, the khanjar is featured on the country's national emblem and on the Omani rial. It is also utilized in logos and commercial imagery by companies based in Oman.
The Royal Air Force of Oman is the air arm of the Armed Forces of Oman
The 7th Arabian Gulf Cup took place in Muscat capital of Oman, from March 9, to March 28, 1984. Iraq won this tournament after beating Qatar in the decisive match between the two teams. Both Iraq and Qatar had finished with the same count of points at the round robin tournament earlier. Iraqi Players Hussein Saeed scored seven goals, to become Topscorer, Saeed was also selected as best player of the tournament along Oman's Ghulam Khamis.
The Royal Navy of Oman, abbreviated RNO, is the maritime component of the Royal Armed Forces of the Sultanate of Oman. Given its long coastline and strategic location along the Indian Ocean, as well as being close to the Strait of Hormuz, the Royal Navy is one of the priorities of the government of Oman. It has a fleet of gunboats, fast missile boats and support, training, cargo and hydro-graphical survey vessels, which can be deployed to defend the territorial waters and coastline of Oman as well as protect tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The Royal Navy's headquarters are in As Sib, several miles west of Muscat, the capital. A modernization program is ongoing, with the objective of creating a first rate fleet.
The Omani passport is issued to citizens of Oman for international travel. Omani passports are issued by the Royal Omani Police or at an Omani Embassy overseas.
The 19th Arabian Gulf Cup was the nineteenth edition of the biannual Gulf Cup competition, and took place in Muscat, Oman, from 4 to 17 January 2009 and was won by Oman for the first time in its history, in a penalty shootout against regional rivals, Saudi Arabia.
The 2011 Omani protests were a series of protests in the Persian Gulf country of Oman that occurred as part of the revolutionary wave popularly known as the "Arab Spring".
The Royal Oman Police (ROP), also known as Oman Police, is the main law and order agency for the Sultanate of Oman. It maintains a helicopter fleet and also carries on the duties of safeguarding the long Omani coastline.
Muscat International Airport, formerly Seeb International Airport, is the main international airport in Oman and is situated 32 km from the old city and capital Muscat within the Muscat metropolitan area. The airport serves as the hub for flag carrier Oman Air and Oman's first budget airline Salam Air features flights to several regional destinations as well as some intercontinental services to Asia, Africa and Europe.
The 2013 AFC U-22 Championship was the first edition of the AFC U-22 Championship. The hosting rights for the tournament was awarded to Oman. It was set to take place between 23 June and 7 July 2013 but was postponed to be held between 11 and 26 January 2014 due to the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup.
Visitors to Oman must obtain a visa prior to travel unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
Shabab Oman II is a full-rigged ship which is to entered service with the Royal Navy of Oman in August 2014, replacing the current ship of the same name. She is a full-rigged ship which was built in Romania, fitted out in the Netherlands and launched in 2013.
The Military ranks of Oman are the military insignia used by the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces. Being a former British protectorate, Oman shares a rank structure similar to that of the United Kingdom.
