Pray for Oman

Oman is on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula.

It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in
the west, and Yemen in the southwest.

Muscat is the capital.
The capital is over 2 million.

FACTS
Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said is the third-longest current reigning monarch in the world.

DEMOGRAPHICS
66.8% Arab
16.6% Iranian-Median
14.3% South Asian
2.4%  Other

75%  Ibadhi Muslim
24%  Sunni and Zaydi Shi'ite Muslim  
1%   Twlever Shi'ite Muslim
5%   Other (Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Baha'is, Christians.)

HISTORY
People have lived in Oman for thousands of years.

From the 6th century B.C. to the 7th century A.D Oman was controlled and/or influenced
by three Persian dynasties, the Achaemenids, Parthians and Sassanids.

Oman was one of the first countries to embrace Islam in the 7th century.

The Portuguese occupied Muscat from 1507-1650.

During the 17th century, the Omanis succeeded in forcing the Portuguese colonizers
out of Oman.

From the late 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was a powerful empire
It competed with Portugal and the UK for influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.

Oman was involved in extensive trading and seafaring in East Africa and the Far East, particularly during the 19th century.

During the 20th century Oman came under heavy influence from the UK, but was never formally part of the British Empire.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the hereditary leader of the country since 1970.

CONDITIONS
Oman has long-standing military and political ties with the UK and the US.

Since 1970 Oman has pursued a moderate foreign policy and expanded its diplomatic relations.

Oman is among the very few Arab countries that has maintained friendly ties with Iran.

Oman enjoys more freedom and political stability than the surrounding area.

Citizens enjoy good living standards.

Oman is known for its popular tourist attractions.

Over 25% of the population is expatriate.

There is some economic uncertainty with Oman's limited oil reserves.

The state controls all media.
Government approval is required for public assemblies.

SPIRITUAL CONDITIONS
Oman is dominated by Ibadhi Islam.

The Christian population consists almost entirely of foreign workers.
Foreign Christians are allowed to worship in private homes or on work compounds.

The law prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, but all religious organizations must be registered.

The law guarantees freedom of expression and assembly, but this is not always enacted.

Locals are strongly discouraged from visiting Christian compounds.

Although sharing the gospel with Muslims is not illegal, it is strongly discouraged.

The government will sometimes pressure those who do evangelize.

Believers from a Muslim background may face persecution from family and society.

The government may act if the family asks it to do so.
In such cases, these believers are treated as psychiatric patients.

PRAYER NEEDS
Pray that the economy remains stable.

Pray that believers will find ways of sharing the Gospel.

Pray that believers will have access to Christian materials.
Pray for more openness in towards Christianity.