Oman is a slender, long piece of flat land that juts out from the southeast tip of the Arabian Peninsula and into the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. The sultanate is 1,700 kilometers long and is bordered by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. While its borders with the Emirates and Yemen are clear, its frontier with Saudi Arabia is yet to be defined. All of its eastern side is coastline.

Oman - Facts and Figures

• Official name is Sultanate of Oman.
• Oman’s terrain is mostly flat desert plain with rugged mountains in the north and south.
• Climate is dry desert, being hot and humid in coastal areas while hot and dry in the interior and far south areas.
• Its land boundaries total 1,374 kilometers while its coastline is 2,092 kilometers.
• Area: 212,460 sq km, all of it land. It is slightly smaller than Kansas.
• Islam arrived in Oman around the seven century AD. The country was occupied by Portugal from 1508 to 1648 before being seized the Ottomans, who were ousted in 1741 by Ahmad ibn Sa’id.
• Population is around 3.1 million. Races include Arab, Baluchi, African, Indian, Pakistani and Sri Lankan.
• Official Language is Arabic. English, Baluchi, Urdu and several Indian dialects are also spoken.
• Islam is the majority religion with Ibadhi’s comprising 75% and Sunnis, Shiites and Hindus the rest.
• Capital city is Muscat.
• Oman’s major exports include petroleum, fish, metals and textiles. Its major natural resources are petroleum, copper, asbestos, marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum and natural gas.
• The local currency is the Omani rial.
• Agricultural products are dates, lime, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables, camels, cattle and fish.
• Major trading partners include China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and the United States.
• Government is an absolute monarchy.

Jordan shares its borders with four territories – Israel in the west, Syria in the north, Iraq in the east and Saudi Arabia in the south. To the west, there is also the Dead Sea. Most of the country is made up of hills and mountains while the southern part of the Jordan River flows through the country.

Jordan - Facts and Figures

• Official name is The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
• The terrain in Jordan is mostly desert plateau in the east and higher land in the west. The East and West Banks of the Jordan River are separated by the Great Rift Valley.
• Jordan’s climate is mainly arid desert. From November to April is the rainy season.
• Its land boundaries total 1,619 kilometers. Coastline consists of only 26 kilometers.
• Area: 92,300 sq km in total, 91,971 sq km of land and 329 sq km of water.
• Islam arrived in Oman around the seventh century AD after being conquered by the Arabs. It has since been administered by the Ottomans and the British.
• Population is around 6 million. Arabs make up 98% while other races include Circassian and Armenian.
• Official Language is Arabic. English is also spoken.
• Islam is the majority religion with 92% being Sunnis while 6% are mainly Greek Orthodox Christians.
• Capital city is Amman. Other cities are Zarka, Irbid and As-Salt.
• Jordan’s major exports are clothing, phosphates, fertilizer, potash, vegetables and pharmaceuticals. Natural resources include phosphates, potash and shale oil.
• The local currency is the Jordanian dinar.
• Agricultural products include wheat, barley, citrus fruits, tomatoes, melons, olives, sheep, goats and poultry.
• Major trading partners are United States, Iraq, India, Saudi Arabia, China and Germany.
• Government is a constitutional hereditary monarchy.

Egypt is the gateway to Africa from the Middle East. It is bordered on the west by Libya and on the south by Sudan. On the east is the Red Sea and Israel. Egypt is divided by the Nile River, both sides being arid and hot. The Nile flows north from around 161 kilometers south of the Mediterranean and its tributaries empty into the sea between Alexandria and Port Said.

Egypt - Facts and Figures

• Official name is Arab Republic of Egypt.
• The terrain of Egypt is dominated by a vast desert plateau as well as the Nile valley and delta.
• Climate is mostly desert with hot and dry summers and moderate winters.
• Egypt’s land boundaries are 2,689 kilometers while it has 2,450 kilometers of coastline.
• Area: 1,001,450 sq km, of which 995,450 sq km is land and 6,000 sq km is water.
• Egypt has a rich history of civilization and culture. Islam came to Egypt in the seventh centuries with the arrival of the Arabs.
• Population is about 80 million, of which 98% are Egyptian while the rest are comprised of Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, Beja, Greek, Armenian, Italian and French.
• The official language is Arabic. English and French are also spoken.
• Islam is the majority religion practiced by 90% of Egyptians, most of whom are Sunnis. Other religions include Coptic (9%) and Christian.
• Capital is Cairo. Other cities are Alexandria, Giza, Shubra el Khema and El Mahalla el Kubra.
• Major exports are machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals and wood products. Natural resources are petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead and zinc.
• The local currency is the Egyptian pound.
• Agricultural products are cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables, cattle, water buffalo, sheep and goats.
• Major trading partners are Italy, United States, Syria, Germany, Spain, France, China, United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
• Government is a republic.

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