1959-1970 since 1990







Oman, 1970-1990


Administration . The informal British protectorate, in place since 1892, ended in 1971, and without formal proclamation, Oman became independent.
Oman is a monarchy; political parties are not permitted. Sultan Qabuus bin Said ruled ousted his father in a coup d'etat in 1970 and rules ever since. In 1970 the state was renamed from Muscat of Oman into Sultanate of Oman.
In 1964 a Communist rebellion began in the southern province of Dhofar, bordering on Southern Yemen (which had gained independence that year and supported the rebels). With British support, it was suppressed by 1975.

Foreign Policy . In 1971 the Sultanate of Oman joined the Arab League and the United Nations. In 1981 Oman joined the Gulf Cooperation Council. Since 1970, Oman has maintained close ties with the United Kingdom.
The USSR, via her satellite South Yemen, long had supported the Dhofar rebels; Oman and the USSR only established diplomatic relations in 1986. Diplomatic relations with the PR China were established in 1978.
In 1980 Oman and the U.S. signed an agreement which permitted the latter to use airbases in the Sultanate. During the Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988, the GCC countries until 1986 pursued a neutral course, and from 1986 on supported Iraq.

The Economy . In a 1970 currency reform, the Omani Riyal Saidi was introduced, replacing the Gulf Rupee. In 1972 the Omani Riyal replaced the Omani Riyal Saidi.
The Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industries (OCCI) was established in 1973.
First Five Year Development Plan 1976-1980, Second Five Year Development Plan 1981-1985, Third Five Year Development Plan 1986-1990.
Oil production in 1971 was at 14.5 million metric tons, in 1990 at 34.0 million (IHS pp.363, 364). Oman is not an OPEC member. High oil prices from 1973 to 1981 (First Oil Crisis) resulted in increased Omani revenues. In 1976 the first seawater desalination plant was constructed. Oman Airlines was established in 1981, but did not start operations until 1993.

Social History . The population estimate for 1970 is 654,000, for 1990 1.625 million (Lahmeyer). Legal slavery was abolished in Oman in 1970.

Cultural History . The Oman Football Association was established in 1978. The National Olympic Committee of Oman was established in 1982 and received recognition from the IOC the same year. Omani athletes participated in the Summer Olympics of Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988. The Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat was opened in 1986.






EXTERNAL
FILES 		Articles History of Oman, Dhofar Rebellion, Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman, Qaboos of Oman, Oman Air, National Olympic Committee, Oman at the 1984 Summer Olympics, Oman at the 1988 Summer Olympics, Oman Football Association, Sultan Qaboos University, from Wikipedia
History, from Oman Info
The Insurgency in Oman 1962-1976, from Global Security
Oman 1957-1976, from Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth
Oman, from A Global History of Currencies
Desalination in Oman & The Fundamentals of the Reverse Osmosis Design, by Ahmed al Busaidi
Economic Development, from Ministry of Information, Sultanate of Oman
Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industries
DOCUMENTS Oman Statesmen : World Statesmen, by Ben Cahoon
Historical Population Statistics, UAE, from Population Statistics (Jan Lahmeyer)
REFERENCE IHS : International Historical Statistics : Africa, Asia & Oceania 1750-2000, edited by B.R. Mitchell, Basingstoke : Palgrave MacMillan 4th ed. 2003
Article : Oman, in : Britannica Book of the Year 1971 p.572, 1972 pp.534-535, 1973 p.525, 1974 pp.530-531, 1975 p.538, 1976 p.547, 1977 pp.547-548, 1978 p.573, 1979 pp.564-565, 1980 p.563, 1981 p.564, 1982 p.566, 1983 p.559, 1984 p.558, 1985 pp.493-494, 754, 1986 pp.488-489, 752, 1988 pp.416, 673, 1989 pp.416, 673, 1990 pp.433-434, 689 [G]
Article : Oman, in : Statesman's Yearbook 1975-1976 pp.1206-1208, 1978-1979 pp.940-943, 1980-1981 pp.947-950, 1983-1984 pp.944-947, 1984-1985 pp.943-947, 1985-1986 pp.944-948, 1987-1988 pp.949-953, 1988-1989 pp.951-955, 1989-1990 pp.963-967, 1990-1991 pp.965-969 [G]
Article : Oman, in : The World in Figures 1st ed. 1976 p.190, 2nd ed. 1978 p.190, 4th ed. 1984 p.190 [G]
Article : Oman, in : Americana Annual 1972 p.519, 1973 p.523 [G]


This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on June 14th 2007

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