Oman is a 1,000-mile-long (1,700 km) coastal plain at the southeast tip of the Arabian Peninsula lying on the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Arabs migrated to Oman from the 9th century BC onward, and conversion to Islam occurred in the 7th century AD Muscat, the capital of the geographical area known as Oman, was occupied by the Portuguese from 1508 to 1648. Then it fell to Ottoman Turks, but in 1741, Ahmad ibn Sa'id forced them out, and the descendants of Sultan Ahmad rule Oman today.
Like Yemen to the southwest, the territory of Oman has always benefited from its fine trading position at the southern extremity of the Arabian peninsula. From here merchants, without needing to sail far from land, can make easy contact with Persia to the north, India to the east and Africa to the south. This stretch of coast, together with that of Muscat just round the corner, is a valuable territory.
A plain red flag was used in Oman as early as AD 750, and from 1868 to 1871 a plain white flag, the symbol of the imam (religious leader), served as the national flag.
The flag of Oman consists of three equal sized horizontal stripes with a red vertical stripe on the left side of the flag - the top horizontal stripe is white; the middle one red; and the bottom stripe is green. Situated in the top of the vertical stripe is the national emblem of Oman which consists of two crossed swords, a dagger called a Khanjar and a belt.
For centuries, the flag of Oman was plain red and represented the indigenous people. However, 1970, the new Sultan had other ideas regarding the flag's design: it has introduced green and white stripes and added the national symbol of the Albusaidi Dynasty (the dagger) to it.
Also featured is the national coat of arms, dating from about 1940 and consisting of two crossed swords, a dagger, and a belt. On November 18, 1995, the horizontal stripes at the fly end, originally of different widths, were made equal.
Like Yemen to the southwest, the territory of Oman has always benefited from its fine trading position at the southern extremity of the Arabian peninsula. From here merchants, without needing to sail far from land, can make easy contact with Persia to the north, India to the east and Africa to the south. This stretch of coast, together with that of Muscat just round the corner, is a valuable territory.
A plain red flag was used in Oman as early as AD 750, and from 1868 to 1871 a plain white flag, the symbol of the imam (religious leader), served as the national flag.
The flag of Oman consists of three equal sized horizontal stripes with a red vertical stripe on the left side of the flag - the top horizontal stripe is white; the middle one red; and the bottom stripe is green. Situated in the top of the vertical stripe is the national emblem of Oman which consists of two crossed swords, a dagger called a Khanjar and a belt.
For centuries, the flag of Oman was plain red and represented the indigenous people. However, 1970, the new Sultan had other ideas regarding the flag's design: it has introduced green and white stripes and added the national symbol of the Albusaidi Dynasty (the dagger) to it.
Also featured is the national coat of arms, dating from about 1940 and consisting of two crossed swords, a dagger, and a belt. On November 18, 1995, the horizontal stripes at the fly end, originally of different widths, were made equal.
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