About Oman

Geography

The Sultanate of Oman occupies the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula. The coastline extends approximately 1,700 km from the Strait of Hormuz in the north, to the borders fo the Republic of Yemen in the south and overlooks three seas: the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The Sultanate borders the the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the West, the United Arab Emirates in the Northeast, the Republic of Yemen in the South, the Strait of Hormuz in the North and the Arabian Sea in the East.

Getting there

Seeb International Airport is located 40 km from Muscat and also serves domestic destinations. There are frequent flights from a number of European, Asian and African cities including daily flights from London Heathrow with British Airways and London Gatwick with Oman Air. There are also direct flights from Dubai to Salalah and to Khasab, the gateway to Musandam.

Entry requirments

Visit visas valid for a one month stay may be obtained on arrival by citizens of over 60 countries including the European Union, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Japan. GCC Nationals do not require a visa. Common Visa and Reciprocal Visa agreements are in place with Dubai and Qatar. It is important that your passport is valid for the duration of your stay and there are blank pages for the visa stamp.

Customs

No customs duty is levied on personal effects brought into Oman. It is forbidden to import drugs and pornographic material. Videos, books and magazines are occasionally checked and videotapes may be temporarily confiscated.

Getting around

Oman has a modern network of roads and motorways. Taxis are the best way of getting around though it is essential to agree on the fare beforehand, as most taxis are not metered. Taxi fares from the airports to hotels are regulated and the rates are displayed. Transfers to and from airports are generally included in the price of your holiday with Oman First.

Facilities for the physically challenged

Most hotels and public places provide facilities and make special arrangements for physically challenged visitors.

Health

While tap water is safe for drinking in good hotels, a variety of locally bottled mineral water is widely available. Most hotels have medical help available and there is a modern medical infrastructure in terms of private and government medical facilities.

Oman can get very hot so make sure you wear a sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen.

No vaccinations are currently mandatory, but it's worth checking with your GP about those which might be recommended. Make sure you are up to date with your vaccinations.

Car Hire

Hire cars from...? Most visitors can use their own national drivers licence or International Driving Licence.

Climate

Summer is between April and September when the weather is hot and humid. Mild weather is experienced in the mountains and the Dhofar region all year round which also enjoys a regular monsoon between June and October bringing greenery and cooler air.

The best time to visit is October to April. Temperatures at this time average 25-35 degrees Celsius (dropping to 17-19 degrees Celsius at night).

Clothing

Lightweight summer clothing in cottons or blends is ideal for most of the year. Sweaters, a light jacket or a shawl may be needed in cold evenings. Swimwear and shorts are acceptable by the pool, but in public, respect for local tradition should be shown by wearing less revealing clothing.

Food and drink

Omani food is moderately spicy, and traditional main meals almost always comprise marinated meats served with rice. Look out for shuwa, spiced goat roasted in a clay oven served with rukhal (thin Omani bread), and maqbous, a rice dish, flavoured with saffron and cooked with spicy meat. With such an extensive coastline, fish dishes are popular - especially shark and dried sardines. The Omanis are extremely hospitable and will undoubtledly offer you kahwa (coffee), a strong, bitter drink flavoured with cardamom. Dates and halwa, a sweet gelatinous dessert made from brown sugar, eggs and honey, are also often on the table. Alcoholic drinks are freely available in international hotels and restaurants.

Language

Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken.

Religion

Islam [type?] is the official religion. Other faiths are also excercised and respected. Ramadan is the holy month of fasting when Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours. As a sign of respect, visitors are also required to refrain from these activities in public between sunrise and sunset.

Local time

GMT +4 hours

Business hours

Most shops and malls are open from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 9pm. The weekend starts on Thursday afternoon and Friday although government offices are closed for the whole of Thursday and Friday.

Currency, Banking and Credit Cards

The unit of currency is the Omani Rial (RO) comprising 1,000 baizas. The Omani Rial has a fixed exchange rate that is linked to the US Dollar - 1 OMR = approx. 2.60 USD. Banking hours are generally Saturday to Wednesday from 8am to 1pm and Thursday from 8am to 12.30pm. All major credit cards are accepted in hotels, stores and larger shops, but in traditional souqs only cash is accepted.

International dialling code

+968

Mobile Phones

Oman has an extensive GSM network. Visitors can avoid roaming charges by purchasing a pre-paid SIM card at Muscat Airport or other various outlets.

Public Telephones

Accept pre-paid phone cards only. Cards are available in supermarkets and smaller shops.

Electricity

The electricity system is based on 220/240 AC volts with 3 pin British type plugs. US-made appliances may require an adaptor.

Further information

For more information visit the following websites: