Oman is an Arab country whose official religion in Islam. It shares borders with Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, and its coast is formed by the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman. The powerful empire has been such since the 17th century, as it vied for power of the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf with  Portugal and Britain. At its peak of power during the 19th century, Oman ruled Strait of Hormuz, to Iran and Pakistan. In the 20th century Oman came under British rule.

Since 1970,  Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said has been the country’s leader. He’s the third longest serving monarch in the world, and longest serving monarch in Oman’s history. He has not designated a successor, and his rule is characterized by extensive modernization that opened the nation to more outside influence, while maintaining a close relationship with the UK and the US, while avoiding external entanglements.

Oman is a member of the United Nations, Gulf Cooperation Council, Non-Aligned Movement, Arab League, and other international organizations. It also has the 25th largest oil reserves in the world.

Oman rules as a sovereign state under an absolute monarchy. Qaboos serves as head of state and has direct control over foreign affairs. With absolute power the sultan issues law by decree in Oman. As an absolute monarchy, the sultan has force over the legal system, with the judicial branch being a subordinate of his rule.  Sharia law is one of the sources of law under Oman’s Constitution.

The country’s civil court system overseas family law matters including divorce and inheritance cases. There is no checks and balances in Oman, and there is no separation of powers. Personal freedoms and civil liberties are protected under the judicial system, however, the regime ignores these liberties regularly.

The National Law Review covers legal news, stories, and content, about Oman through its online publication. Cases regarding employment law, international affairs, environmental concerns, and international duties on trade, are among the topics visitors can read about online. Visitors can find the latest coverage relating to Oman and its international relations with countries around the world, updated regularly at the National Law Review.