Economics
A Peaceful Corner of the Gulf Feels the Strain
Oman’s economy shrank for the first time in years in 2017, and cash is flooding abroad. Can the nation afford to keep its fierce independence?
Mutrah Corniche and harbor side in Muscat.
Photographer: Christopher Pike/BloombergSurrounded by grey rocky mountains and the blue Sea of Oman, the city of Muscat feels like an oasis of calm in a region afflicted by a deepening sectarian conflict.
Omanis slip into the nearest mosque to pray, not caring whether it’s run by Ibadis, Shiites or Sunnis. Civil service and military jobs are open for all. And any skepticism expressed about their coexistence is considered offensive.