Oman is a country located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. Its official religion is Islam. It shares land borders with the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest, and shares marine borders with Iran and Pakistan. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the southeast and the Gulf of Oman on the northeast. The Madha and Musandam exclaves are surrounded by the UAE on their land borders, with the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman forming Musandam's coastal boundaries. From the 17th century, the Omani Sultanate was a powerful empire, vying with Portugal and Britain for influence in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. At its peak in the 19th century, Omani influence or control extended across the Strait of Hormuz to modern-day Iran and Pakistan, and as far south as Zanzibar. When its power declined in the 20th century, the sultanate came under the influence of the United Kingdom. For over 300 years, the relations built between the two empires were based on mutual benefits. The UK recognized Oman's geographical importance as a trading hub that secured their trading lanes in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean and protected their empire in the Indian sub-continent. Historically, Muscat was the principal trading port of the Persian Gulf region. Oman's official language is Arabic. The Omani economy is dominated by oil and gas resources, which generates about 60% of its revenue. The economy has been diversifying to include tourism and infrastructure, with Muscat seeing development in recent years. Oman is categorized as a high-income economy and ranks as the 70th most peaceful country in the world according to the Global Peace Index. The Sultanate is administratively divided into eleven governorates. Oman is known for its popular tourist attractions. Wadi Shab in Tiwi, Ash Sharqiyah region, is a popular wadi located 76 km from Muscat. The country has a number of different tourist attractions such as the historic town of Nizwa, Jabal Akhdar, Misfat al Abryeen, Ras al Jinz, the Musandam Peninsula, and the recently developed Jebel Sifah and Hawana Salalah. Oman is known for its cultural tourism, a blend of modernity and ancient Arab, Persian, Indian, African, Portuguese, and Ottoman cultures. This cultural blend is evident in Oman's varied architectural styles and diverse cuisine. The Omani people are known for their hospitality and offer a warm welcome to visitors.