|
|
Article: Celebrating 25 years of achievement. (Oman)(includes related article on Omani royal counsellor Qais Zawawi)(Oman: Looking Forward To 2020: Special 25th Anniversary Survey)
- Article from:
- The Middle East
- Article date:
- November 1, 1995
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1995 IC Publications Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
When Sultan Qaboos came to power in 1970 Oman was among the most backward countries in the Arab world. As neighbouring Gulf states were embarking upon multi-million dollar infrastructural development projects, funded by oil earnings, Oman remained firmly entrenched in the past.
For a number of years high rise buildings of concrete and glass had been mushrooming in cities throughout Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the Emirates. New road building schemes cut a swath through desert and wadi while international airlines competed for landing rights and the business of scores of contract-hungry businessmen from around the world. Meanwhile in Muscat, at sunset ...