Military in Oman

The Commander-in-Chief of the Oman Armed Forces isHaitham ibn Tariq. The size of these armed forces is quite manageable. About 43,000 soldiers are active in the country, ensuring secure borders and – especially in recent years – due to the unrest in theneighboring countries of Oman, also ensuring that this unrest from Yemen and Saudi Arabia does not cross the border into Oman. Additionally, the military supports the police in maintaining order in the country. The army consists of four branches:

- Land Forces

- Artillery

- Navy

- Air Force

There is no conscription in Oman; the army is a purely professional force. In December, Oman celebrates Armed Forces Day, in remembrance of the fact that the then Sultan Qaboos achieved the final victory over insurgents in the south of the country in 1975.

Military as a growing economic sector

When comparing the expenditures in the military sector in Oman over the last two decades, it becomes clear that these have continuously grown, from about 3.59 billion US dollars in 2001 to up to 9.08 billion US dollars in 2016. The absolute peak of these expenditures was reached in 2012 with 12.63 billion US dollars.

Against the backdrop of the Arab Spring and the unrest in the countries surrounding Oman, the significant increase from 2010 with 5.37 billion US dollars to the aforementioned 12.63 billion US dollars in 2012 is easily explainable. The fact that expenditures are currently decreasing again clearly shows that Oman is not a country interested in active rearmament.

Keep your distance

As in most other countries around the world, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter, photograph, or film military facilities. Also, when encountering military or police checkpoints on the highways in Oman, one should not linger longer than necessary and should refrain from taking photos and video recordings here as well.