The Omani are set apart from other ethnic groups by their unique use of the Southeast Asian Colloquial Arabic language and by their culture. Oman was an extremely poor country until oil was discovered there in 1964. In 1970, Oman's new sultan introduced several developmental programs to help modernize the country. These included developing the oil industry, building new roads, hospitals and schools, allowing girls to attend school, and establishing adult literacy programs. Since that time some Omanis have gone to the US and other Western nations for higher education.

Omani Arabs have a reputation for being generous and polite, while remaining impersonal. The Omani standard is to accept others on their terms. For example, they view anything less than excessive generosity as rudeness. Sunnis are welcomed by the Ibadis with Sunni greetings. Even Christians are tolerated as long as they are not Muslim converts.

While virtually all Omani Arabs are Muslims, they are segregated into three Islamic sects: Ibadi Isam (Oman's state religion), Sunni, and Shia. Three-fourths of the Omani Arabs in Oman belong to the Ibadaya sect. The Ibadis live primarily in the mountainous regions of Oman. The Sunnis live in the coastal villages and the Shias are located in the cities.

Very few of the Omani of Oman follow Christ. Prayer is the key to effectively reaching this people with the gospel.

Pray that God will provide His contacts, strategies, and wisdom for any mission agencies that focus on the Omani Arabs of the United States. Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin to break up the soil through worship and intercession. Pray for a strong church planting movement among the Omani Arabs. Pray for a spiritual hunger among Omani Arabs that will open them to the claims of Jesus Christ, the one that Muslims regard as sinless.

Scripture Prayers for the South Asian, Bengali-speaking in United States.