Jabal Amman is a tourist attraction in old Amman, where the city's largest souks, museums, ancient constructions, monuments, and cultural sites are found. Oman - 10 Largest Cities. +1 (630) 571-5466. Amman was later destroyed by several earthquakes and natural disasters, including a particularly severe earthquake in 747. The sector consists of 25 banks, 15 of which are listed on the Amman Stock Exchange. "[173] Omar has criticized the U.S. government's drone assassination program, citing the Obama administration's policy of "droning of countries around the world". Offset Time Zone Abbreviation & Name Example City Current Time; UTC +4: GST: Gulf Standard Time: Muscat: Sat, 10:26:59 pm: Oman observes Gulf Standard Time all year. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders defended Omar. [120], Zahran district in west Amman is the location of the Jordan Gate Towers, the first high-rise towers in the city. Committed to working together equitably, so that each learner has the knowledge and skills to be a successful and contributing citizen in a diverse global . The governorates and Wilayats (districts) The Sultanate is a modern state and in that context its administrative divisions are . [96], The population of Amman reached 4,007,526 in 2015; the city contains about 42% of Jordan's entire population. It means "Inspiration" in Arabic. [158], The main airport serving Amman is Queen Alia International Airport, situated about 30km (18.64mi) south of Amman. [172], Omar has been critical of U.S. foreign policy, and has called for reduced funding for "perpetual war and military aggression",[173] saying, "knowing my tax dollars pay for bombs killing children in Yemen makes my heart break," with "everyone in Washington saying we don't have enough money in the budget for universal health care, we don't have enough money in the budget to guarantee college education for everyone. [181][182] Following the murder of Floyd, Omar supported the police abolition movement in Minneapolis that sought to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department, saying that the department had "proven themselves beyond reform. Despite the changes, much remains of its old character. Oman has several large cities. It was announced as a new district in 2021. [22][23] Her mother, Fadhuma Abukar Haji Hussein, a Benadiri, died when Ilhan was two. From a population of roughly 1,000 in 1890, Amman grew to around 1,000,000 inhabitants in 1990, primarily as a result of immigration, but also due to the high birthrate in the city. Region and District Map - Toastmasters International The large growth in population has significantly increased the need for new accommodation, and new districts of the city were established at a quick pace. Known For : Mutrah Corniche Grand Mosque Muscat Royal Opera House, Muscat. [24][25], Amman is mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible. Approximately one million visitors arrived in Amman in 2018, which made it the 89th most-visited city in the world and the 12th most-visited Arab city. [105] A further 200,000 Palestinians arrived after their expulsion from Kuwait during the 1991 Gulf War. Muscat's population is 797,000, with an estimated 1.4 to 1.55 million people in its governorate. The Umayyads were overthrown by the Abbasids three years later. The social media hashtag #IStandWithIlhanOmar was soon trending in the United States and other countries. [131] Wakalat Street ("Agencies Street") is Amman's first pedestrian-only street and carries a lot of name-label clothes. [22] These statues are human figures made with white plaster, with painted eyes. [33], Amman's importance declined by the mid-8th century after damage caused by several earthquakes rendered it uninhabitable. It was initially built on seven hills, but now spans over 19 hills combining 22 areas,[9] which are administered by the Greater Amman Municipality. Passengers scan their cards or QR codes on phone when boarding the bus, where the price ticket is subtracted from the available balance. As of 2011[update], there were 77 registered nightclubs in Jordan (excluding bars and pubs), overwhelmingly located in the capital city. [2][4], In 2009, Omar married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British Somali. This is a list of cities and towns in Oman . Population of Cities in Oman 2023 - World Population Review 10:26 59 pm. Bush. A frequent critic of Israel, Omar supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has denounced its settlement policy and military campaigns in the occupied Palestinian territories, as well as what she describes as the influence of pro-Israel lobbies in American politics. By 1982, when the excavations started, around 600 meters (2,000 feet) of road ran through the site. She is also one of the first two Muslim women (along with Rashida Tlaib) to serve in Congress. [203] Neither candidate won their primary election. [89], Amman is the 4th most visited Arab city and the ninth highest recipient of international visitor spending. [86], On January 7, 2021, Omar led a group of 13 House members introducing articles of impeachment against Trump on charges of high crimes and misdemeanors. That's based on telltale iconography, naming patterns, webs of linkages and the breadth of the postelection scrubbing. The two theaters and the nymphaeum fountain were built during the reign of Emperor Antoninus Pius around AD 161. Despite the damage brought by urban expansion, the remains of Ain Ghazal provided a wealth of information. [17] By the Islamic era, the Rashidun Caliphate restored its ancient semitic name and called it Amman in the 7th century AD. Punjab has three regions named Malwa, Majha, and Doaba. She suggested he's Islamophobic. [7][8][9] In February 2023, the House voted to remove Omar from her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, citing past comments she had made about Israel and concerns over her objectivity. [63] The 5th district is the most Democratic district in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest, (it has a Cook Partisan Voting Index of D+26) and the DFL has held it without interruption since 1963. [232], In November 2021, Republican Representative Lauren Boebert said she had shared an elevator with Omar, and that she and a Capitol Police officer both mistook Omar for a terrorist. [143] House Appropriations Committee chairwoman Nita Lowey also called for an apology and criticized the statements in a March 3 tweet, which led to an online exchange between the two. Ilhan Omar fled Somalia's civil war as a child and spent four years in a refugee camp before her family received asylum in the United States. It will also give you a better idea of the size of the districts of the state. "[127][128][125] Omar has voiced support for a two-state solution to resolve the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. Hotels, towers and commercial buildings are either covered by stone, plastic or glass. Queen Alia International Airport is the major international airport in Jordan and the hub for Royal Jordanian, the flag carrier. Punjab Map | Map of Punjab - State, Districts Information and Facts Her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, an ethnic Somali from the Majeerteen clan of Northeastern Somalia,[21] was a colonel in the Somali army under Siad Barre and also worked as a teacher trainer. [187], In February 2019, Omar questioned whether Elliott Abrams, whom Trump appointed as Special Representative for Venezuela in January 2019, was the correct choice given his past support of right-wing authoritarian regimes in El Salvador and Guatemala, his initial doubts about the number of reported deaths in the El Mozote massacre in 1982, and his two 1991 misdemeanor convictions for withholding information from Congress about the IranContra affair, for which he was later pardoned by George H. W. She co-sponsored a similar bill when she was a member of the Minnesota House. (CAIR was founded in 1994, but many new members joined after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. She said, "The face of the Capitol will forever be changed. [4][5], In March 2020, Omar married Tim Mynett, a political consultant whose political consulting firm, the E Street Group, received $2.78 million in contracts from Omar's campaign during the 2020 cycle. [124], The towers in the first phase include Rotana Hotel Amman, W Hotel Amman, The Heights Tower, Clemenceau Medical Center tower, Abdali mall tower, Abdali Gateway tower, K tower, Vertex Tower, Capital tower, Saraya headquarters tower and Hamad tower. Check out the image for the List of Districts Present Today in Manipur State. The map shows Sudan with international borders, provincial boundaries, the national capital Khartoum, state capitals, cities and towns. . This has resulted in increasing traffic jams, particularly during summer when there are large numbers of tourists and Jordanian expatriates visiting. Member Back to Member Detail . [134] Sweifieh is considered to be the unofficial red-light district of Amman as it holds most of the city's nightclubs, bars. "[119], In June 2019, Omar was one of four Democratic representatives to vote against the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, a $4.5 billion border funding bill that required Customs and Border Protection to enact health standards for individuals in custody such as standards for "medical emergencies; nutrition, hygiene, and facilities; and personnel training." Netanyahu also said that Omar and Tlaib did not plan on visiting or meeting with any Israeli officials from the government or the opposition, and additionally accused Miftah, the sponsor of Omar's trip, of having members who support terrorism against Israel (in 2016, Israel approved a visit by five U.S. The ruins of Rujm Al-Malfouf consist of a stone watchtower used to ensure the protection of their capital and several store rooms to the east. [140] Peter Beinart, after tweeting that the controversy was about "policing the American debate over Israel",[141] thought Omar's statement inaccurate, wrong and irresponsible, but argued that her congressional critics were more "bigoted" on Israeli-Palestinian issues than Omar. [42], In 2013, Omar managed Andrew Johnson's campaign for Minneapolis City Council. The Sweifieh area is considered to be the main shopping district of Amman. 94, His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1934, p. 305. Saudi Arabia, for one", "No, BDS Is Not Anti-Semitic, And Neither Is Ilhan Omar", "Ilhan Omar has become the target of a dangerous hate campaign", "Ilhan Omar: We must apply our universal values to all nations. Administrative Map of Sudan - Nations Online Project P.O. [10] Areas of Amman have gained their names from either the hills (jabal) or the valleys (wadi) they occupy, such as Jabal al-Luweibdeh and Wadi Abdoun. [167] U.S. Representative Max Rose (who is Jewish) also criticized the move to ban Omar, adding that Omar and Tlaib did not speak for the Democratic Party. [190], On February 4, 2014, Omar was attacked and wounded by multiple attendees during a DFL caucus for Minnesota's House of Representatives District 60B. As of 2017, the population of Oman is 4,741,305, reflecting a population increase of 1.87% from 2016. [249], On October 19, 2020, Omar joined Ocasio-Cortez, Disguised Toast, Jacksepticeye, and Pokimane in a Twitch stream playing the popular game Among Us, encouraging streamers to vote in the 2020 election. [115] A small Armenian Catholic community of around 70 families is present in the city. [68] She was sworn in on a copy of the Quran owned by her grandfather. "[217], Omar has frequently been the target of online hate speech. Popup Window Fullscreen Exit. [58], The city's demographics changed dramatically after the Ottoman government's decision to construct the Hejaz Railway, which linked Damascus and Medina, and facilitated the annual Hajj pilgrimage and trade. Minnesota, District 5 2003, 2010, 2020 census Governorates [4] The First and Second Battle of Amman were part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I and the Arab Revolt, taking place in 1918. [40], The occupation of the Citadel Hill by the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem is so far based only on interpretations of Crusader sources. [105][107] She criticized Israel's settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank. The Abu Darweesh Mosque, noted for its checkered black-and-white pattern, has an architectural style that is unique to Jordan. "[148], Reaction among 2020 Democratic presidential candidates was mixed. [171] In August 2019, Omar wrote on Twitter in support of the Palestinian LGBT rights group Al Qaws after the Palestinian Authority banned Al Qaws's activities in the West Bank. [39] In September 2018, Jeff Cirillo of Roll Call called her a "progressive rising star". Circassian entrepreneurship, facilitated by the railway, helped to attract investment from merchants from Damascus, Nablus, and Jerusalem, many of whom moved to Amman in the 1900s and 1910s. [79] The campaign primarily focused on crime and Omar's effectiveness in office. [155] Al-Arab Al-Yawm is the only daily pan-Arab newspaper in Jordan. It is an upmarket district, near the beach, where you can easily reach shops, malls, and restaurants. Hundreds of years later, the prophet Jeremiah foresaw the coming destruction and final desolation of the city (Jeremiah 49:2). [38][35] Omar was a Policy Fellow at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. [145] Amman also hosts the Jordan Rally, which form part of the FIA World Rally Championship, becoming one of the largest sporting events ever held in Jordan. But the food here isn't just the sum of its calories. The Greater Amman Municipality has 22 areas which are further divided into neighborhoods. [56] By 1908 Amman contained 800 houses divided between three main quarters, Shapsug, Kabartai and Abzakh, each called after the Circassian groupings which respectively settled there, a number of mosques, open-air markets, shops, bakeries, mills, a textile factory, a post and telegraph office and a government compound (saraya). [13] Moreover, it was named one of the Middle East and North Africa's best cities according to economic, labor, environmental, and socio-cultural factors. Local urban and nomadic communities formed alliances with the Circassians, some of which are still present today. Taxis are the most common way to get around in Amman due their high availability and inexpensiveness. Capital: Muscat 2 Population: (2023 est.) Ilhan Abdullahi Omar (born October 4, 1982) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Minnesota's 5th congressional district since 2019. [103] A large proportion of Amman's inhabitants have Palestinian roots (urban or rural origin), and the two main demographic groups in the city today are Arabs of Palestinian or Jordanian descent. "[182] Omar hoped to see a new police department that would be modeled after the Camden County Police Department in New Jersey. [103][104] In October 2018, she tweeted: "The Saudi government might have been strategic at covering up the daily atrocities carried out against minorities, women, activists and even the #YemenGenocide, but the murder of #JamalKhashoggi should be the last evil act they are allowed to commit. Shortly after he began the construction of that large building, in c.170-168 BC, upon returning from a military campaign in Egypt, Antiochus IV conquered Jerusalem, ransacked the Second Temple where the treasure of Hyrcanus was kept, and appeared determined to attack Hyrcanus. Political Map of Oman - Nations Online Project [61], The British report from 1933 shows around 1,700 Circassians living in Amman. [84] In 2015 GAM and Zain Jordan started operating free-of-charge Wi-Fi services at 15 locations, including Wakalat Street, Rainbow Street, The Hashemite Plaza, Ashrafieh Cultural Complex, Zaha Cultural Center, Al Hussein Cultural Center, Al Hussein Public Parks and others. The bones showed evidence of burning, which led to the assumption that the altar functioned as a pyre and used for human sacrifice. Somalia Maps & Facts - World Atlas [86], The city is administered as the Greater Amman Municipality and covers 22 areas which include:[87][88], The banking sector is one of the principal foundations of Jordan's economy. Prosecutors also alleged that Hasson was in contact with an American neo-Nazi leader, stockpiled weapons, and compiled a hit list. One of them just won a seat in Congress", "Ilhan Omar reveals racist threat to shoot her at state fair", "Leave the US, Trump tells liberal congresswomen of color", "Trump Tells Congresswomen to 'Go Back' to the Countries They Came From", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "On the edge of making history, Ilhan Omar confronts fresh wave of scrutiny", "Ilhan Omar: First female Somali American lawmaker", "We Should Be Paying More Attention to Somalia", "Ilhan Omar's improbable journey from refugee camp to Minnesota Legislature", "Ilhan Omar Just Became the First Muslim Women Elected to US Congress", "Ilhan Omar On Being Unapologetically Muslim", "Glorified and Vilified, Representative-Elect Ilhan Omar Tells Critics: 'Just Deal', "Ilhan Omar: 'There's a Reason That I Got Elected to Be in Congress, and It Has Nothing to Do With the Fact That I'm a Refugee', "Rep. Ilhan Omar, Somali refugee turned congresswoman, to publish memoir in 2020", "Ilhan Omar elected first Somali-American legislator in the US", "Ex-Somali refugee's U.S. Congress win sparks debate in former home Kenya", "Ilhan Omar's American story: It's complicated", "Ilhan Omar: Who is Minnesota's Somalia-born congresswoman? He reportedly told investigators that he did not want Muslims in the government. [56] They were joined by Circassians from the Kabardian and Abzakh groups in 18801892. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attributed the ban to Israeli law preventing the entry of people who call for a boycott of Israel (as Omar and Tlaib had done with their support for BDS). [157] Venues for such cultural events often include the Roman and Odeon Theaters downtown, the Ras al Ain Hanger, King Hussein Business Park, Rainbow Theater and Shams Theater, the Royal Film Commission, Shoman libraries and Darat al Funun, and the Royal Cultural Center at Sports City. [30][31][32], Omar's family secured asylum in the U.S. and arrived in New York in 1995,[33][34] then lived for a time in Arlington, Virginia,[26] before moving to and settling in Minneapolis,[26] where her father worked first as a taxi driver and later for the post office. [100] The population of Amman has risen exponentially with the successive waves of immigrants and refugees arriving throughout the 20th century. Horn, S. H. (1973). [20] The site was discovered in 1974 as construction workers were working on a road crossing the area. [18], The Neolithic site of Ain Ghazal today lies in the outskirts of Amman. The site contains some well-preserved mosaic floors, particularly the mosaic floor of the Church of Saint Stephen. "[221], On April 11, 2019, the front page of the New York Post carried an image of the World Trade Center burning following the September 11 terrorist attacks and a quotation from a speech Omar gave the previous month. Eight roundabout "circles", which formerly marked neighborhoods, are used as landmarks. [151], Most Jordanian newspapers and news stations are situated in Amman. [135] Jabal Amman and Jabal al-Luweibdeh are home to many pubs and bars as well, making the area popular among bar hoppers. "This Supreme Court decision is an affront to decades of Supreme Court rulings, and the basic . [75], Amman's position on the mountains near the Mediterranean climate zone places it under the semi-arid climate classification (Kppen climate: BSh borders on BSk). Its houses were rectangular mud-bricked buildings that included a main square living room, whose walls were made up of lime plaster. In the 3rd century BC, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Pharaoh of Ptolemaic Egypt, rebuilt the city and renamed it "Philadelphia", making it a regional center of Hellenistic culture. Best Answer Copy There are total 60 wilayats (districts) in Oman. Getting around in Oman - Lonely Planet Her congressional district includes all of Minneapolis and some of its first-ring suburbs. [87] The charges are related to Trump's alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia and incitement of the attack at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. by his supporters, which occurred during the certification of electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election that affirmed Joe Biden's victory. There are no Daylight Saving Time clock changes. [50] From then until 1878, Amman was an abandoned site periodically used to shelter seasonal farmers who cultivated arable lands in its vicinity and by Bedouin tribes who used its pastures and water. [134], In February 2019, Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy threatened to "take action" against Omar and Rashida Tlaib for their support of the BDS movement. "[154] Some Minnesota Jewish and Muslim community leaders later expressed continuing concern about Omar's rhetoric and language and indicated that the issue remained divisive in Omar's district. "[225][226][227][228] Some Democratic representatives condemned Trump's retweet, predicting that it would incite violence and hatred. [91], Amman, and Jordan in general, is the Middle East's hub for medical tourism. 4.5 /5 View 57+ photos. [130], Large shopping malls were built during the 2000s in Amman, including the Mecca Mall, Abdoun Mall, City Mall, Al-Baraka Mall, Taj Mall, Zara Shopping Center, Avenue Mall, and Abdali Mall in Al Abdali. Philadelphia was renamed "Amman" by the Muslims and became part of the district of Jund Dimashq. that she believed U.S. foreign policy and economic sanctions are aimed at regime change and have contributed to the "devastation in Venezuela". Oman | History, Map, Flag, Capital, Population, & Facts [71] The most important areas in the city are named after the hills or mountains they lie on. [15][16][206] In response, Omar said Trump was "stoking white nationalism" because he was "angry that people like us are serving in Congress and fighting against your hate-filled agenda. The two most popular Jordanian TV channels, Ro'ya TV and JRTV, are based in Amman. [208], At a July 17 campaign rally in North Carolina, Trump made additional comments about The Squad: "They never have anything good to say. A leading example is the Abdoun Bridge, which spans Wadi Abdoun and connects the 4th Circle to Abdoun Circle. The University of Jordan is the largest public university in the city. Find India Districts map showing States and Union Territories. Jabal Amman also contains the famous Rainbow Street and the cultural Souk Jara market. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lists the phrase "Go back to where you came from" as an example of "harassment based on national origin". The median age of the population is 29.4 years old, reflecting that though Oman-like many Middle Eastern countries-has a young population, it is still one of the higher median ages of the region. They didn't succeed in stopping the functions of democracy, but I do believe they succeeded in ending the openness of our democracy. Winter usually starts around the end of November and continues from early to mid-March. [41] In 1166 Philip joined the military order of the Knights Templar, passing on to them a significant part of his fief including the castle of Ahamant[42] or "Haman", as it is named in the deed of confirmation issued by King Amalric. Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842 USA. At that time, the site was a typical aceramic Neolithic village. Nearby Fuheis is a predominantly Christian town located to the northwest of the city. [103], Omar condemned China's treatment of its ethnic Uyghur people. Amman derives its name from the ancient people of the Ammonites, whose capital the city had been since the 13th century BC. A second wave arrived after the Six-Day War in 1967. Service taxis, which most often operate on fixed routes, are readily available and inexpensive. [170] In June 2019, she participated in Twin Cities Pride in Minnesota. A large part of the population already spoke Arabic, which facilitated integration into the caliphate, as well as several conversions to Islam. Amman (English: / m n /; Arabic: , Ammn pronounced ) is the capital and the largest city of Jordan, and the country's economic, political, and cultural center. According to the biblical narrative, the Ammonite king Hanun allied with Hadadezer, king of Aram-Zobah, against the United Kingdom of Israel. Spring is brief and warm, where highs reach 28C (82F). The 87th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, enacted S.B. Musandam The Governorate of Musandam, located in the extreme north of the Sultanate faces the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Music genres of the local bands are diverse, ranging from heavy metal to Arabic Rock, jazz and rap. [149] While Senator Cory Booker found her comments "disturbing", he recognized that some of the attacks against her had "anti-Islamic sentiment". [153] On March 7, the House passed the amended resolution. They reconciled and had a third child in 2012. abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota District 5, 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota District 5, 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Minnesota District 5, Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact, Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, 2019 Turkish offensive into northeastern Syria, September 2019 Israeli legislative election, National Republican Congressional Committee, "go back" to the "places from which they came", U.S. [165][166] AIPAC released a statement saying that it disagreed with Israel's move and that Omar and Tlaib should have been allowed to "experience Israel firsthand", while the head of the American Jewish Committee put out a statement agreeing with AIPAC on the matter. Amman - Wikipedia [65][66] Most recently a wave of Syrian refugees have arrived in the city during the ongoing Syrian Civil War which began in 2011. 296, to recognize the Armenian genocide,[111] causing a backlash. [53] Between 1878 and 1910, tens of thousands of Circassians had relocated to Ottoman Syria after being displaced by the Russian Empire during the events of the Russo-Circassian War. [217] Many foreign politicians condemned Trump's comments. [49] The increasingly frequent division and sale of the city and lands of Amman to different owners signalled declining revenues coming from Amman, while at the same time, Hisban was restored as the major city of the Balqa in the 15th century. [34], In the 630s, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the region from the Byzantines, beginning the Islamic era in the Levant. Oman by region - FM.gov.om As with the Edomites and Moabites, trade along this route gave the Ammonites considerable revenue. [68], Amman is situated on the East Bank Plateau, an upland characterized by three major wadis which run through it. [246] It was selected to show at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Mill Valley Film Festival. In response to the AP's request for comment, her campaign sent a statement saying, "all of Rep. Omar's tax filings are fully compliant with all applicable tax law. [245], The 2018 documentary film Time for Ilhan (directed by Norah Shapiro, produced by Jennifer Steinman Sternin and Chris Newberry) chronicles Omar's political campaign. It is capped by a blue mosaic dome beneath which 3,000 Muslims may offer prayer. [117][118] Omar accused Politico of distorting her comments and said that she had been "saying how [President] Trump is different from Obama, and why we should focus on policy not politics," adding, "One is human, the other is really not. It was oriented north and built into the hillside, to protect the audience from the sun. [72] The area's elevation ranges from 1,000 to 1,100m (3,300 to 3,600ft). [2] According to Omar, in 2011 she and Elmi had a faith-based divorce and she reconciled with Hirsi, with whom she had a third child in 2012. [8] It has a land area of 1,680km2 (648.7sqmi) which yields a population density of about 2,380 inhabitants per square kilometer (6,200/sqmi). Regions and governorates before 2011 [ edit] Before 28 October 2011, Oman was divided into five regions ( mintaqah) and four governorates ( muhafazah ). Its most populous city is Muscat, which is also the nation's capital. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, the city alternated between periods of devastation and abandonment and periods of relative prosperity as the center of the Balqa region.