COUNTRY SUMMARY

Oman was contaminated by antipersonnel and antivehicle landmines, as a result of an internal conflict between the Royal Army of Oman and the People’s Front for the Liberation of Oman and the Arabian Gulf, in the period from 1964–1975.[1]

In its initial Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report, submitted in 2015, Oman reported that all of its hazardous areas had been cleared before it joined the treaty, but were in the process of being “re-inspected” based on a workplan for the release of all remaining suspected mined areas by its Article 5 deadline of 1 February 2025.

Oman reported that there were no confirmed mined areas, though it has reported the existence of “many” suspected mined areas in the south, particularly in Dhofar governorate.[2]

Oman does not have risk education or victim assistance programs in place.

ASSESSING THE IMPACT

Contamination

 Extent of contamination[3]

 Note: SHA=suspected hazardous area; N/A=not applicable.

Landmine contamination

In 2021, Oman developed a workplan to release its remaining 514,800m² of suspected mined areas by April 2024, without providing further details on this estimate.[4]

Casualties

In 2020, Oman reported that no incidents involving landmines or explosive remnants of war (ERW) had occurred in the country in two decades, with no casualties recorded since 2001.[5] From 1975–2001, a total of 12 people were killed and 84 injured by mines/ERW in Oman.[6]

ADDRESSING THE IMPACT

Clearance

Management and coordination

In 2017, Oman reported that it intended to establish a national mine action center. However, no further details have subsequently been reported. In its Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report for 2020, Oman included a workplan to complete clearance by its 2025 Article 5 deadline.[7]

Land release: antipersonnel landmines

Five-year landmine clearance: 2018­–2022[8]

 Note: APM=antipersonnel mines; N/R=not reported.

As of the end of 2023, Oman had not yet submitted Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 reports covering calendar years 2021 or 2022.

In 2020, a total of 232,600m² was reported as cleared, though no mines were found.[9] In 2019, Oman reported re-clearance of 11 mined areas, totaling 130,100m², in Al-Mughsail, Dhofar governorate, but no mines were found.[10] Oman reported re-clearance of 79,200m² in 2018, but did not specify where this clearance took place nor whether any mines were destroyed.[11]

Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 clearance deadline

Summary of Article 5 clearance deadline extension request(s)

 Note: N/A=not applicable.

The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force for Oman on 1 February 2015. Oman provided States Parties with a workplan for the re-inspection and release of remaining suspected mined areas in the period from 2021–2024, ahead of its Article 5 clearance deadline of 1 February 2025.[12]