The Sultanate of Oman is a country and an absolute monarchy located in the southeastern Arabian Peninsula, sharing land borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Its capital and largest city is Muscat, and its coastline faces the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. Oman is the oldest independent state in the Arab world, continuously ruled by the Al Bu Said dynasty since 1744. The country's modern development, known as the "modern renaissance," began in 1970 under Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said, who focused on education and infrastructure.
Oman functions as an absolute monarchy where the Sultan serves as both the head of state and head of government, holding broad executive powers. The Sultan appoints a cabinet and is the supreme commander of the armed forces. The country's first "basic law" was decreed on November 6, 1996, which established the Majlis Oman (Council of Oman), a bicameral legislature consisting of the appointed Council of State (Majlis Al-Dawla) and the elected Consultative Assembly (Majlis Al-Shura). The elected Majlis Al-Shura has limited power to propose legislation and primarily serves in an advisory capacity to the Sultan. A significant recent change occurred in 2021 with the reform of the succession process, establishing the position of Crown Prince and adopting a primogeniture system for the Sultan's eldest son.
Oman is a crucial pillar of India's West Asia Policy and its oldest regional strategic partner, with people-to-people contact dating back 5,000 years. Diplomatic relations were established in 1955 and upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2008. This partnership is marked by robust defence cooperation, with Oman being the first Gulf country to formalize defence relations with India, including joint exercises by all three wings of the Indian armed forces. Economic ties are strong, with bilateral trade reaching US$10.61 billion in fiscal year 2024–25. The India–Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed on December 18, 2025, further deepens economic integration by granting duty-free access on a high percentage of tariff lines for both countries. Oman was also invited as a guest country during India's G20 Presidency in 2023.