1. The Al Said family is the longest-ruling royal family in the whole of Arabia whose reign has been continuous since 1744
  2. Oman is one of the oldest human-inhabited countries on Earth, it is estimated that humans have been living in Oman for at least 106,000 years
  3. In the Global Terrorism Index Oman comes near last on the list with a score of 0, which means it is one of the countries with the least terrorism in the world and in fact a safe country 
  4. Oman was once colonised by the Portuguese when entering the Indian Ocean trade they coveted the port of Muscat and took over the Omanis for almost 150 years until local tribesman drove them out in 1650
  5. Oman was the only member of the Gulf Cooperation Council to oppose the Saudi intervention in the Yemeni Civil War. They have also worked to help displaced Yemenis by sending in supplies, taking in refugees, and even offering Yemenis use of Omani hospitals
  6. Pepsi products are much more common than Coca-Cola Products in Oman. This is due in large part to the popularity of Mountain Dew which is one of the top-selling beverages in the country. 
  7. The Omanis were once considered among the greatest ship builders in the world. They used Coir – rope made from coconut fibers – to lash shipboards together.
  8. Between 1800 and 1900, the Omani empire included Zanzibar and Mombasa on Africa’s east coast and parts of the Indian subcontinent
  9. In fact, Oman’s capital was once moved to Africa: Stone Town, on the island of Zanzibar in modern day Tanzania. The then sultan, Said bin Sultan, liked the outpost so much he relocated the capital from Muscat to Zanzibar in 1832
  10. Oman is one of 27 countries that do not have any trains.
  11. Oman once fought the shortest war in recorded history. On 27th August 1896, the Anglo-Zanzibar War fought between Oman and Britain lasted no longer than 40 minutes.
  12. Used for 6,000 years as a perfume and panacea, frankincense was once the main source of wealth in Oman and was prized more than gold. The frankincense trees of Oman have even been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Land of Frankincense.
  13. Oman is an important turtle-nesting site for the endangered green turtle. Ras Al Jinz sees more than 20,000 female turtles return annually to the beach where they hatched to lay their own eggs.
  14. The largest uninterrupted sand desert in the world is partly located in Oman. Rub’ al Khali – or the Empty Quarter in English – is 650,000km2 in size
  15. The national symbol of Oman is a khanjar dagger and a pair of crossed swords. The khanjar is a ceremonial dagger worn by Omani men for formal occasions. The Omani royal family adopted the emblem in the mid-18th century.
  16. Oman’s flag is made up of three stripes (white, green and red) with a red bar on the left that contains the national emblem. White represents the imam and peace; green represents the mountains and fertility; red represents the indigenous people, the Kharijite Muslims, and is common on flags of the Gulf States.
  17. Oman is an excellent destination for birdwatching. The country’s location at the crossroads of three continents – Europe, Africa and Asia – makes it a great place to observe migratory birds.
  18. In 1997, Sultan Qabus granted women the right to be elected to the country’s consultative body, the Shura Council
  19. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is world’s largest chandelier. It measures 14 meters and weighs 8.5 tons. It has a 24-carat gold plating and took more than four years to complete it.
  20. Jebel Shams, the Sun Mountain, is the highest point in Oman. With an elevation of 3,000 meters above sea level, it is the first place to receive sunrise in Oman.