Oman

Oman has one of the best records in environmental conservation and pollution control measures to protect the land, ecology, air and water. The Global Environment Facility has funded a project to strengthen Oman’s existing national capabilities and expertise in climate change to enable it to produce its first national communication.

Oman is in Western Asia and it occupies the south-eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. It lies at 21 00 N, 57 00 E and has a total area of 309, 500 square kilometers. The coastline extends almost 1700 km and borders three seas: the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Oman has a varied climate and geography. It consists of a central desert plain with rugged mountains in the north and south. The northern coastal plain, the Batinah, is both hot and humid. The climate is hot and dry in the central region. There is a strong southwest summer monsoon from May to September in the far south.

In Oman there are periodic droughts and the summer winds often produce large sand and dust storms in the central region. Oman has limited natural fresh water resources and there is rising soil salinity. Oman’s natural resources are petroleum, copper, limestone, gypsum and natural gas.

Sources: Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook, Oman (as at 11 November 2009); and Global Environment Facility. National capacity building to enable the Sultanate of Oman to prepare its National Action Plan and First National Communication, Project Document.