Paul Harris reports from Oman

Oman is the oldest independent country in the Arab world and one of the most modernising. Since 1970 when the current ruler Sultan Qaboos Bin Said overthrew his isolationist father, Oman has become one of fastest growing 'emergent' business and holiday destinations in the world.

However what makes this remote Arab country particularly attractive is that last year the Sultan passed a royal decree offering what are widely agreed to be the most transparent residency rights and freehold property ownership laws in the Gulf region, potentially making this embryonic investment marketplace ripe for big gains.

But how stable is future economic growth, what do residency rights really mean and what are the likely gains?

Economic Growth and Stability