Oman’s diverse and fascinating geology coupled with the demand to exploit natural resources has encouraged the existence and growth of a geologic community in the country. Some geologists are working to discover and produce oil and gas accumulations; others are searching for commercial mineral deposits.

A significant number is employed in the public sector within the Ministry of Oil and Gas, the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, and the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment and Water Resources.

The more academically inclined have joined the Earth Science Department at the Sultan Qaboos University. As a community, geologists consist of diverse sub disciplines that represent different cross sections of the working force in Oman. As divers as this community may be, geologists are all bound by their keen interest in rocks and the resources that they contain.

As geologists are constantly reminded that to be effective, they have to see more rocks and keep up to date. Geologists are also encouraged to develop local and regional networks to facilitate knowledge sharing and the exchange of ideas. It is for all these reasons and more that geological societies are formed. They act as a venue through which knowledge is disseminated to the wider geologic community, thereby advancing the science of geology. They also serve as a common ground for all the sub disciplines in geology. Above all, they increase the awareness of lay people of the type of work geologists do in an effort to raise their interest in the science.

Attempts to establish a geological society go back to the early 90s. The latest attempt, which culminated in the establishment of the Society, was started in May 1999. This attempt benefited from the revised rules and regulations for the establishment of new societies and clubs that were endorsed by the Royal Decree number 14/2000, which was issued on the 13/02/00. The real break through came when the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Vocational Training issued a Ministerial Order No. 149/2000 on the 12/06/00, which added vocational societies to the category of societies and clubs initially covered by the Royal Decree No.14/2000.

The Geological Society of Oman’s request for establishment was endorsed by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and Vocation Training and was transferred to the Council of Ministers for final approval. The Council of Ministers granted its approval for the Society’s establishment in its meeting on the 20th of March 2001. The formal announcement of the Society was declared by a Ministerial Order No.79/2001 issued by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and Vocational Training on the 15th of April 2001.