عمان « CUMĀN »
— Officially: سلطنة عمان « Sultanaḧ Cumān ».
— English: Oman.
— Seat of government: مسقط « Masqat ».
— Status: Not democratic.
— Structure: Autocratic government under a سلطان « sultān » chosen from the ruling family, usual a son designated by his predecessor.
— Governing party: آل سعيد « Ɔāl Sacīd ».
— Head of government: قابوس بن سعيد « Qābūs bin Sacīd », سلطان « sultān » (since 1970).
— Assessment: Traditional monarchy with the forms of genuine suffrage, including women; the weak مجلس الشورى « Maĝlis ɔal-Šūraj » is now elected by all citizens over 21 (though non-citizens are 45% of the population). قابوس « Qābūs » overthrew his father, سعيد بن تيمور‎ « Sacīd bin Tajmūr » (1932-70), in response to the latter’s devolving rule.
— FH: 6-5, not free. Econ: 3.26 (135), authoritarian.
— Updated: 2014 November 26.
 

O.T. FORD