How long has Oman been a country?

The earliest evidence of human settlement in Oman dates back to 100,000 years ago. However, the country as we know it today was founded in 1698 by Imam Saif bin Sultan Al-Yarubi, who established the Yaruba dynasty and ruled until 1711. With the exception of a brief Portuguese occupation from 1507 to 1650, Oman has been an independent country ever since.