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The Sultanate of Oman occupies the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula and is located between latitudes 16° 40' and 26° 20' North and Longitudes 51° 50' and 59° 40' East. The coastline extends 1,700km from the Strait of Hormuz in the north, to the borders of the Republic of Yemen in the south and overlooks three seas - the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The Sultanate of Oman borders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the West; the Republic of Yemen in the South; the Strait of Hormuz in the North and the Arabian Sea in the East.

The total land area is approximately 309,500km2 and it is the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula.

There are eight administrative regions: A'Dakhliyah; A'Dhahira; Al Batinah; Dhofar; Al Wusta; Muscat; Musandam; Al Sharqiya. Each of these is subdivided into smaller districts called wilayats, which are governed by the wali, the person responsible for the area who reports to the Ministry of the Interior.

Topography

Oman's terrain has a varied topography, consisting of plains, desert, mountain ranges and wadis. The rock matter is predominantly sedimentary and is rich in metallic mineral deposits, such as copper, chromite and gold. The two main mountain ranges are the Hajar range, running from Musandam to Ras al Hadd; and the Qara range in Dhofar, which attracts the light monsoon rains during the mid-summer months. Around 82% of Oman consists of desert. Most conurbations arise on the coast.

There are many caverns in Oman and the country is home to one of the largest caves in the world, Teyq Cave, which is 250m in depth, 300 million m3 in size. It is thought that the cave was formed as a result of several chambers collapsing due to erosion.

There are several islands located in Oman's waters, the largest of which is Masirah in the southeast which is accessed by boat and plane.

Climate

The climate differs from one area to another. It is hot and humid in the coastal areas in summer; while it is hot and dry in the Interior with the exception of the higher mountains, which enjoy a moderate climate throughout the year. Rainfall is generally light and irregular; although heavy rains and thunderstorms can cause severe flooding. In the south, the Dhofar region has a moderate climate and the pattern of rainfall is more predictable with heavy monsoon rains occurring regularly between May and September.

Average temperatures for the north of Oman are 32 - 48 0C from May to September; 26 - 36 0C from October to April. Due to the monsoon season, June to September, Dhofar in the south of the country maintains a fairly steady year-round temperature of around 30 - 35 degC. Dhofar is transformed after the rains into a lush landscape of green fields and verdant vegetation.

Average rainfall in Muscat is 75mm. In the Jebel al Akhdar region, average rainfall can be from 250mm to 400mm. The monsoon season in Dhofar can bring rainfall of between 100 - 400mm.