Oman
Except for a short period of Persian rule, Oman has been independent since 1650. The country has generally played a mediating role in regional conflicts, without involving its military. Oman does not manufacture weapons or ammunition,1 and has no significant role in transnational arms trafficking. It is, however, used as a transit point for arms trafficked to Yemen.2
The country’s guiding gun control legislation includes the Arms and Ammunition Act of 1990.3 Oman was the first state in the Persian Gulf to sign, in 1980, an agreement permitting US forces to use its facilities. The countries cooperate on combating terrorist groups and other regional threats. The United States has provided Oman with financial, technical and educational assistance related to capacity building for counterterrorism and border security facilities, as well as personnel training and the prevention of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.4
1 Philip Alpers and Marcus Wilson, Oman – Gun Facts, Figures and the Law (GunPolicy.org, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, 2022), https://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/oman.
2 “Global Organized Crime Index: Oman,” Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, 2021, https://ocindex.net/country/oman.
3 Oman, Royal Decree 36/90 Promulgating the Weapons and Ammunition Law, March 10, 1990, https://decree.om/1990/rd19900036.
4 Kenneth Katzman, Oman: Politics, Security, and US Policy (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2022), https://sgp.fas.org/crs/mideast/RS21534.pdf.
Launch the country dashboard
Further information
Accidental explosions
Since the Small Arms Survey began collecting data in 1979, no accidental explosions have been reported in Oman.
Source: “Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS) Database,” Small Arms Survey, updated December 15, 2021, https://smallarmssurvey.org/database/unplanned-explosions-munitions-sites-uems.
Cases of diversion
Insufficient information on cases of diversion in Oman.
Disposal
Insufficient information on the disposal of ammunition in Oman.
Needs
No reported needs have been identified for Oman.
Source: Oman, National Report on the Implementation of the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PoA) and the International Tracing Instrument (ITI) (New York: Permanent Mission of Oman to the UN, 2010), https://unoda-poa.s3.amazonaws.com/poa-reports-le/2010%40149%40PoA-Oman-2010-E.doc.
