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By Linda Pappas Funsch Special to the News-Post The population of Oman is estimated at 3 million, one-fifth of whom are expatriate workers. Ethnically mixed, Omanis identify as Arabs, although many are descendants of people from East Africa and the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, Omani society has been organized into tribes. This system pre-dates Islam. Tribes function as small autonomous states, each with its own history, identity and territory. In environments as harsh as those that exist in Oman, social cohesion and responsibility have proven to be indispensable. The tribe, in addition to observing an established code of conduct, requires responsibility from its leaders, provides respectability for its members, and offers a social safety net for the community. "Shaykhs," tribal leaders, are integral to the social fabric of Arabian life, even today. During our visit to the Wahibah Sands, our delegation had the unique privilege of learning about tribal organization and culture from the leader of such a community, who escorted us to his village of Mudharib. There he explained the responsibilities and obligations that such a system expects from its members. Although they represent a relatively small percentage of the overall population, Bedouin constitute an important part of the Omani mosaic. While some bedu live along the coastal areas, fishing in winter and harvesting dates in the summer, most are associated with the desert regions where, accompanied by their herds of camels, goats, and sheep, they wander in search of water. Modernity is gradually altering the traditional lifestyles of the Bedouin, not only in Oman, but in the rest of Arabia as well. As the demand for education and modern conveniences grows, pastoral nomads of the desert regions in particular are increasingly migrating closer to villages and towns throughout the sultanate. As elsewhere, Omani society is dynamic and changing.
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