Oman’s Model of Growth

On November 18^th 2010, Oman celebrated Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said’s birthday and 40-year rule. The festivities, however, also signify the country’s magnificent transition during the Sultan’s reign. Sultan Qaboos attended college at Sandhurst Military Academy in Britain. Upon his return, Sultan Said bin Taimur, Qaboos’ father, placed him “under virtual palace arrest at Salala; he was forbidden to marry or even to receive guests without his father's permission." His father’s excessive control extended beyond his son’s life, affecting all Omani residents. Under Said bin Taimur’s leadership, Omani citizens were banned from owning cars or attending the movies. Furthermore, the nation had an abysmal educational system. There were only three schools, educating a little over 900 students. Infrastructure built by Sultan Said’s government was virtually non-existent; only ten miles of paved roads could be found in the entire country. In July 1970, Sultan Qaboos overthrew his father with the help of Sultan Said’s own bodyguard. His accession to power marked the beginning of a period of profound change. In his first public speech after his father’s exile, Qaboos vowed, “to proceed forthwith in the process of creating a modern government. My first act will be the immediate abolition of all the unnecessary restrictions on your lives and activities.”

Oman has financed a number of beneficial projects with its oil revenue. Qaboos’ commitment to modernization has translated into remarkable academic gains over the past 40 years. Oman’s educational system has grown tremendously; by 2009, over 500,000 students were enrolled in 1040 schools. Furthermore, nearly half of the students in general education are female. Promoting learning throughout the country has generated substantial developmental gains. Oman now has a high literacy rate, with 80-90% of its citizens able to read and write.

Oman has made similar progress in other areas. Its health care system dramatically improved under Sultan Qaboos. The nation provides universal health care for nearly all its citizens. Its mortality rate for children under five decreased 94% in the past thirty years. Oman’s extraordinary transformation has not gone unnoticed. The United Nation’s Human Development Report recently “listed Oman at the top of the world's ten leading countries that have made the greatest progress in recent decades in education and public health.”

The country’s economy has also strengthened through increasing foreign trade and expanding oil production. Oil production surged from 332,000 barrels/day in 1970 to 812,500 barrels/day in 2010. Crude reserves have likewise increased, rising during the same period from 1.4 billion barrels to 4.8 billion barrels. Omanis’ personal economic circumstances vastly improved. The League of Arab States estimated Oman’s per-capita income at $20,908, making it one of the richest states in the Middle East.

While Islam is an integral part of its citizens’ lives, Oman has been able to reject extremist factions. Roughly 75% of the Omani people follow Ibadi Islam, a distinct sect. Ibadism most closely resembles Sunni Islam, but “[differs] in its emphasis on an elected, rather than a hereditary, imam as the spiritual and temporal leader of the Ibadi community.” Oman’s recent history of religious tolerance can partly be attributed to “Ibadhi’s […] interpretation of Islam.” The nation's moderate religious views stand out in the region. Sultan Qaboos has even designated land for Western churches and Hindu temples to be built.

Oman’s prosperity and literacy rates mark a striking contrast with its neighbor Yemen. As Yemen struggles to quell the growth of terrorism groups, Oman has successfully warded off radical fundamentalists. As Nicholas Kristof said, “In short, one of the lessons of Oman is that one of the best and most cost-effective ways to tame extremism is to promote education for all.”

Sultan Qaboos conceived an optimistic vision for his nation and continues to push toward greater development. As the world tries to manage extremist factions, Oman’s model of growth indicates the ideal way to promote change.