| [indian workers in oman]. | until recently oman was a country of emigration, but by 1980 an estimated 200,000 foreign workers were in the country due to the petroleum boom. almost 1/3 of the estimated 300,000 indian workers in the gulf states were in oman, a country whose colonial heritage was closely tied to that of india and many of whose inhabitants still speak urdu. the number of work permits granted to indians working in the private sector in oman increased from 47,928 in 1976 to 80,787 in 1980. an estimated 110,00 ... | 1985 | 12280376 |