CIAO DATE: 08/04

Oman

Victoria Garcia

Center for Defense Information

February 2004

Background

Oman is strategically located in the Middle East, encircled by the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, as well as Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Oman is an absolute monarchy that has been under the rule of the Al Bu Sa’id family since the mid-1700s. Oman’s history, however, has not been completely peaceful, as it is an oil-rich country that has endured numerous low-level rebellions and a major leftist insurgency that began in 1964 and lasted over a decade. The Marxist-inspired guerillas were finally defeated in 1976 with the help of the United Kingdom, a country that has historically maintained strong political and military ties with Oman. The current Sultan, Qaboos Bin Sa’id Al Sa’id, who ousted his father and has governed Oman since 1970, is the chief of state and controls all branches of the government. The sultan is advised by a Consultative Council made up of tribal leaders and other elites that are chosen by government-appointed voters. The Consultative Council, together with a 53-member appointed State Council, rules as the bicameral body named Majlis Oman, or Council of Oman. Citizens do not have the ability to change their government through democratic means, although in 2003 the sultan announced his intention to open the Consultative Council elections to all Omanis 21 and older.

While the U.S. State Department has noted some improvements in the area of human rights, Oman’s record is still poor. The judiciary is not independent of the sultan’s rule, freedom of expression and association are limited, due process is sometimes denied, citizens are not free to marry foreigners, human rights organizations are forbidden, women’s rights and workers’ rights are restricted, and forced labor as well as the abuse of foreign domestic servants are significant problems.

U. S. Military Assistance Prior to Sept. 11, 2001

Oman’s military expenditure is $2.4 billion, accounting for approximately 12 percent of its Gross Domestic Product. As of 2001, it is estimated that Oman has 43,500 active personnel serving in the Royal Omani Armed Forces. According to the UN Register of Conventional Arms, in 1992 the Sultanate adopted the General Assembly resolutions on transparency of conventional weapons; however the government did not participate in the Register from 1993-2001. According to U.S. government data, between 1990 and 2001, Oman received approximately $13.5 million in Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) and $1.1 billion in Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Also in that period, the Omani government was appropriated $1.9 million in International Military Education and Training (IMET), and $4.5 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF). The FMF, however, was only disbursed between 1991 and 1993.

U. S. Military Assistance Since Sept. 11, 2001

Oman has openly supported the U.S. war on terrorism by making public statements of encouragement and cooperation. Oman also opened three of its air bases to U.S. troops during Operation Enduring Freedom. In Fiscal Year 2002 (FY 02), $481,000 was appropriated to Oman in IMET funding. Also in FY 02 Oman was granted $25 million in FMF through the Supplemental Appropriations request. In FY 03, $650,000 was promised to Oman in IMET funds and $20 million in FMF. For FY 04, Oman has been promised $1 million in IMET and $25 million in FMF.

Case Study Profile

Country	Oman
Government Type	Monarchy
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births–2001 estimate)	21.01
Total Armed Forces (2000 estimate)	43,500
Military Expenditure (U.S. $) (FY 01)	$2.4 billion
Military Expenditure % GDP (FY 01)	12.2%
Imports/Conventional Arms Transfers (U.S. $, millions – FY 01)	0
Human Rights Record 2002	poor

Oman’s Submission to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a
1999	n/a
2000	n/a
2001	n/a

Fiscal Year	IMET	FMF	FSA	ESF	Total
1990	$164,000	$0	$0	$0	$164,000
1991	$214,000	$3,000,000	$0	$0	$3,214,000
1992	$97,000	$500,000	$0	$0	$597,000
1993	$92,000	$1,000,000	$0	$0	$1,092,000
1994	$54,000	$0	$0	$0	$54,000
1995	$131,000	$0	$0	$0	$131,000
1996	$119,000	$0	$0	$0	$119,000
1997	$117,000	$0	$0	$0	$117,000
1998	$217,000	$0	$0	$0	$217,000
1999	$233,000	$0	$0	$0	$233,000
2000	$230,000	$0	$0	$0	$230,000
2001	$250,000	$0	$0	$0	$250,000
2002	$481,000	$0	$0	$0	$481,000
2002 ERF	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
2002 SUP	$0	$25,000,000	$0	$0	$25,000,000
2003 (request)	$650,000	$20,000,000	$0	$0	$20,650,000
2004 (request)	$1,000,000	$25,000,000	$0	$0	$26,000,000
Total	$4,049,000	$74,500,000	$0	$0	$74,500,000

Sources

“Background Note: Oman,” Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State, November 2003.

“Human Development Report,” United Nations, 2002.

“Human Rights Report 2002,” U.S. Department of State, March 31, 2003.

“Oman open to closer U.S. military ties” WorldNetDaily.com, Jan. 14, 2002.

“Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Yearbook,” Appendix 5C, Register of the transfer and licensed production of major conventional weapons, 2001.

“The World Fact Book,” U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, 2003.

“United Nations Register of Conventional Arms,” UN Department for Disarmament Affairs.