Omani Arab in Saudi Arabia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Saudi Arabia is a large Middle Eastern nation covering three-fourths of the Arabian Peninsula. Most of it is a vast desert where few people live and little or nothing grows. However, lying beneath its surface is half of the world's petroleum reserves. Today, Saudi Arabia exports more oil than any other nation. Wealth from these exports has made it a leading economic power in the Middle East as well as a land of contrasts. For example, one can still find camel caravans and mud houses next to newly constructed highways and apartment buildings. Omani Arabs in Saudi Arabia make up only a small percentage of the country's total population. They live in the scattered oases of Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province (or Eastern lowlands), located along the Persian Gulf and the border with Oman. The Omanis are set apart from other Saudi Arabians by their unique Arabic dialect and by their slightly different form of Islam.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Omani Arabs living in Saudi Arabia are farmers. They live in rural farm villages or oasis settlements where they lead simple lives. A typical village consists of a cluster of homes made of stones or sun-dried mud. The farmers grow dates, melons, tomatoes, and wheat. The Omani often gather in the marketplaces to buy and sell goods and also to socialize. They love to tell stories, recite poems or verses from the Koran, and visit with their friends and neighbors.


Omani Arabs were among the first people in the middle east to accept Islam.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Omanis were among the first people to embrace Islam. They are overwhelmingly Ibadi Muslims, a branch that is similar to Sunni Islam. The Ibadis favor the selection of their imams through consensus not heritage. In that way they differ from the dominant Sunni sector of Islam. Some would describe the Ibadi sector of Islam as moderately conservative. As far as we know there are almost no followers of Christ among the Omani Arabs and no fellowships of believers.


What Are Their Needs?

Omani Arabs need the chance to flourish economically so they don't have to migrate to other countries like Saudi Arabia. They also need the chance to hear and respond to the claims of Jesus Christ so they can experience the abundant life He offers those who follow Him.


Prayer Points

Pray for persons of peace among Omani Arabs to open the door to the gospel among their communities and family members.
Pray for Omani Arabs in Saudi Arabia to have open hearts to the One who offers life to the full.
Pray for a massive movement to Christ among the Omani Arabs no matter where they live.
Pray for Christ's ambassadors to go to them.


Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Omani in Saudi Arabia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Arab, Omani
People Name in Country Arab, Omani
Natural Name Omani Arab
Pronunciation oh-MAH-nee AE-rub
Alternate Names Arabic, Omani Spoken; Omani Arab
Population this Country 147,000
Population all Countries 2,826,000
Total Countries 10
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 10378
ROP3 Code 100431
Country Saudi Arabia
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Country Saudi Arabia
Region Africa, North and Middle East
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.10 %)
0.30 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.70 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Omani (147,000 speakers)
Language Code acx   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Unknown
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Omani (147,000 speakers)
Language Code acx   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Omani

Primary Language:  Arabic, Omani

Bible Translation Status:  Unspecified

Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Arabic Bible Online Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Photo Source CharlesFred - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Map Source Bethany World Prayer Center  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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