Oman Military Power Ranking 2025

MPR Rank: 73rd
MPR SCORE: 444
MPR Index: 0.1672 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.7893 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.015 (standard deviations above the mean)

Overview

Oman ranks 46th in the 2025 Military Power Rankings (MPR). As a strategically located Gulf nation, Oman’s military is structured primarily for territorial defense, internal stability, and regional maritime security. Governed under the authority of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman’s Armed Forces (SOAF) maintain a well-balanced, professional force with British-trained officers, modern Western equipment, and a focus on border control, naval patrol, and counterinsurgency operations. Although not geared toward large-scale offensive operations, Oman’s military strength lies in its operational discipline, logistical coherence, and stability-focused doctrine, making it a reliable actor in the Gulf security architecture.

Strengths

1. Professional, Deployable Force

Oman maintains a small but well-trained military, with an emphasis on interoperability, British military standards, and effective unit cohesion across the Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force of Oman.

2. Strategic Maritime Position

Oman controls critical access to the Strait of Hormuz, giving it unique strategic value in regional naval operations, anti-smuggling patrols, and Gulf chokepoint monitoring.

3. Stable Political-Military Interface

Oman’s military functions under a centralized command with minimal political interference, allowing for cohesive planning, discipline, and predictable defense policy.

4. Defense Partnerships and Training

Longstanding partnerships with the UK, United States, and GCC neighbors ensure a steady flow of training support, military exercises, and equipment modernization.

Why Oman Is Still Ranked Only 46th

1. Limited Force Size and Power Projection

  • Oman maintains a defensive posture with a limited number of active personnel

  • No significant expeditionary capabilities or forward-deployed assets

  • Force projection capacity limited to border regions and coastal defense zones

2. Outdated Equipment in Some Branches

  • Despite modernization efforts, parts of the ground force rely on aging armored vehicles

  • Air combat platforms are relatively few and not fully suited for sustained air superiority

  • Dependence on foreign contractors for equipment servicing and technical maintenance

3. No Strategic Deterrence or Cyber Capabilities

  • Oman lacks a strategic missile program, nuclear deterrent, or advanced electronic warfare tools

  • Cyber capabilities are underdeveloped and not integrated into core defense strategy

  • Intelligence operations remain basic and reactive, with little emphasis on long-term deterrence

Conclusion

Oman’s military stands as a professional, stable, and well-managed force suited for territorial protection and regional maritime defense, rather than global influence or offensive capabilities. It benefits from British and American defense ties, as well as from its strategic location, but lacks the scale, strategic deterrence, and combat projection tools that define higher-ranking MPR nations. As a result, Oman ranks 46th, reflecting its limited size, niche strengths, and regional defense orientation within the broader global military balance.

Military Strength and Force Projection

Ground Forces

Air Force

Naval Forces

Missile Capabilities

Oman does not possess ballistic missile capabilities but relies on air defense and anti-ship systems, including:

Strategic Partnerships

Oman maintains strong defense ties with the United States, United Kingdom, and France, often hosting joint military exercises. It is also part of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) security framework, cooperating with Saudi Arabia and the UAE while maintaining an independent foreign policy.

Oman has growing defense procurement partnerships with Turkey and China, focusing on drone technology, radar systems, and naval modernization.

Military History & Combat Experience

Oman’s military history is rooted in internal conflict, regional stabilization efforts, and strategic maritime security. While not a participant in large-scale conventional wars, Oman has developed a seasoned military through counterinsurgency and regional defense cooperation.

Dhofar Rebellion (1962–1976): Oman’s most significant modern military engagement was the Dhofar Rebellion, a Marxist insurgency in the southern Dhofar province. With support from the United Kingdom and Iran, the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF) conducted sustained counterinsurgency operations, ultimately suppressing the rebellion through air-ground coordination, civic action programs, and foreign military assistance.

Border Skirmishes with South Yemen (1970s): During the Dhofar conflict, Oman also faced intermittent border clashes with the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen. These engagements tested Oman’s ability to secure its remote frontier and highlighted the SAF’s growing professionalism and air mobility capabilities.

Peacekeeping and Gulf Security Engagement (1980s–2000s): Oman contributed indirectly to GCC military frameworks and offered logistical support during conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq War and Gulf War, although it avoided frontline combat. Its strategic location made it a quiet facilitator of Western naval operations and crisis diplomacy.

Support for Counterterrorism and Maritime Security (2000s–Present): Oman has played a discreet but vital role in anti-piracy operations, strait security patrols, and intelligence-sharing related to regional counterterrorism efforts. The SAF have trained extensively in mountain warfare, desert operations, and combined exercises with partners including the US, UK, and France.

Domestic Stability Operations (2011–Present): During the Arab Spring, Oman’s military helped maintain internal order through low-profile deployments in support of civil authorities, ensuring continuity without widespread unrest. The SAF remain engaged in homeland defense and disaster response, maintaining operational readiness without engaging in offensive campaigns.

Oman’s military experience is shaped by counterinsurgency, border defense, and regional security support, rather than conventional warfare. The Sultan’s Armed Forces are respected for their discipline, adaptability, and integration with external partners, reinforcing Oman’s reputation as a neutral but strategically important Gulf security actor.

General Information

Demographics and Geography

  • Population: ~4.7 million (2024 est.)

  • Population Available for Military Service: ~1.5 million

  • Geographic Area: 309,500 km²

  • Land Boundaries: 1,374 km

  • Bordering Countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen

  • Coastline: 2,092 km

  • Climate: Dry desert; hot, humid along the coast

  • Terrain: Central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south, fertile coastal strip

  • Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, copper, asbestos, marble, limestone

  • Proven Oil Reserves: ~5.3 billion barrels

  • Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~24 trillion cubic feet

Economic Indicators

  • Defense Budget (2025): ~$9.0 billion USD

  • Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~7.1%

  • GDP (PPP): ~$125 billion USD

  • GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$26,500

  • External Debt: ~$48 billion USD

  • Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): High, consistent with regional posture

Military Infrastructure and Readiness

  • Military Service Obligation: Voluntary; limited conscription authority

  • Primary Defense Focus: Maritime security, territorial defense, Gulf stability

  • Military Industry Base: Small; reliant on foreign suppliers

  • Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Developing

  • Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)

  • Major Military Districts / Commands: Northern, Southern, and Central sectors under Royal Army of Oman

  • Missile Inventory Highlights: Crotale, NASAMS, Javelin, MM40 Exocet

  • Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: Moderate; 30–60 days

  • Reservist Force Size: ~20,000

Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure

  • Space or Satellite Programs: Developing under national tech strategies

  • Military Satellite Inventory: None

  • Intelligence Infrastructure: Internal Security Service (ISS), military intelligence

  • Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: GCC, U.S., UK

  • Airports (Total): ~133

  • Major Military Airports: Muscat AB, Thumrait AB, Masirah AB

Naval Power and Maritime Logistics

  • Merchant Marine Fleet: ~230 vessels

  • Major Ports: Salalah, Sohar, Duqm, Muscat

  • Naval Infrastructure: Strong coastal and offshore defense, corvettes, fast attack craft

  • Naval Replenishment Capability: Regional; under development at Duqm

Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure

  • Railway Network: Planned; not yet operational

  • Roadways: ~64,000 km

Energy and Fuel Logistics

  • Oil Production: ~1 million barrels/day

  • Energy Imports: Minimal; self-sufficient in gas/oil

  • Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Maintains strategic reserves at major ports

Defense Production and Strategic Forces

  • Domestic Defense Production: Small arms assembly, logistics, limited munitions

  • Military Installations (Domestic): Key bases in Muscat, Salalah, Seeb

  • Military Installations (Overseas): None

  • Foreign Military Personnel Presence: U.S. access at Thumrait, UK at Duqm

  • Defense Alliances: GCC, bilateral pacts with UK, U.S.

  • Strategic Airlift Capability: Operates C-130s; relies on allied support for heavy lift

  • Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Low

Research and Industry Support

  • Defense R&D Investment: Limited

  • Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Oman Oil, Oman Shipping, logistics, construction, food reserves

Political and Administrative Structure

  • Capital: Muscat

  • Founding Date: July 23, 1970 (modern Oman under Sultan Qaboos)

  • System of Government: Absolute monarchy with advisory councils

Military Power Ranking Map of Oman – 2025
Military Power Ranking Flag of Oman – 2025
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