The Sultanate of Oman occupies a vitally important strategic location – a factor that has always been reflected in its foreign policy and trade relations. Outward looking and lying in south-East corner of the Arabian Peninsula between the latitudes 16ْ  40"  and 26ْ  20"  to the north and the longitudes 51ْ  50"  and 59ْ  40" to the east, the coastlines  extends from the Strait of Hormuz in the North to the border with the Republic of Yemen in the South. Oman overlooks three seas – the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

     Oman, the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula, has land borders with Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Oman lies on the Tropic of Cancer, and the total land area is approximately 309,500 sq.kms.

     This varies from one area to another. It is hot and humid on the coastal areas in  summer, while it is hot and dry in the Interior with the exception of higher mountains which enjoy a moderate climate year round. Rainfall is generally light and irregular. In the south, the Dhofar Governorate has a moderate climate with heavy monsoon rains occurring regularly between June and September.  

The Sultanate is administratively divided into three governorates ( Muscat, Dhofar and Musandam)and five regions ( Batinah, Dhahirah, Dakhiliyah, Sharqiyiah and Wusta). These governorates and regions  comprise  several wilayats(59 wilayats). Each region has one or more regional centres( total is 12 centres).

     The Sultanate`s  population is 2,331,391  (according to 2003 statistics).