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Oman
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Oman or the Sultanate of Oman سلطنة عُمان is situated on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Yemen in the northwest, west and southwest respectively with three waters of the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea in the east. The seasonal change found in the Sultanate like in the more moderate zone, even though it�s one in tropics, where during mid October � March is the best time to visit. Muscat the capital is featuring the prime examples of intelligent and artistic development blending with the ancient, while Sur plays a major part in shipping port, originated Sinbad legend. Salalah boasts the diverse landscapes of mountainous, beaches with ancient places. Oman�s 1,700 km long sandy beaches provide adventure and enjoyment with dramatic wall drop-offs to scenic coral lined fjords.
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Much of the coast of Oman was controlled by Portugal from 1508 to 1659, when the Ottoman Empire took possession. The Ottoman Turks were driven out in 1741 by Ahmad ibn Said of Yemen, who founded the present royal line. In the late 18th cent., Oman began its close ties with Great Britain, which still continue. In the early 19th cent., Oman was the most powerful state in Arabia, controlling Zanzibar and much of the coast of Iran and Baluchistan. Zanzibar was lost in 1856, and the last Omani hold on the Baluchistan coast, Gwadar, was ceded to Pakistan in 1958. The sultan of Oman has had frequent clashes with the imam (leader) of the interior ethnic groups.
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The Cuisine of Oman is fairly simple, but by using various marinades and impregnating meat with spices, the result is a mouth-watering concoction which stimulates the taste buds. Chicken, fish and mutton are regularly used in dishes. A favorite drink is laban, a salty, buttermilk yogurt drink, flavored with cardamom. Dates, dry fruits and pistachio nuts are ... very popular.
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There are many factsheets on Oman available in the WWW... not always accurate. Most of them derive from the same source and are based on the CIA factbook which is also available from dozens of different sites.
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Believe it or not, but it's actually illegal to drive around in a dirty car in Oman. You may get stopped by the police who can fine you OMR5, although they are more likely to just tell you to wash your ride.
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The direct rule of the sultan gives Oman a largely stable economic and social system free of party politics. Sultan Qaboos, encourages market-oriented policies and private sector development as the mechanism for prosperity and growth.
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Oman