Oman
The Sultanate of Oman [1] is in the Middle East, on the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west, and Yemen in the southwest. Oman has two external enclaves separated from it by the United Arab Emirates
Regions
roughly from north to south:
- Musandam Peninsula - an enclave separated from the rest of Oman by the east coast of the United Arab Emirates
- Al Batinah Coast - the fertile strip along the Gulf of Oman
- Muscat area - the capital metropolis
- Hajar Mountains - the mountains south of the Batinah Coast
- Al Sharqiyah - the region east and south of Muscat, to the Arabian Sea
- Al Wusta - central Arabian coastline, extending inland into the desert
- Dhofar - lush coastal lowlands and frankincense-producing highlands
- Empty Quarter - the interior: sand
Cities
- Muscat - the capital and largest city
Culture and History
Until the ascension of Sultan Qaboos bin Said in 1970, Oman was a very underdeveloped nation. In the 35 years since that time, education, public works and tourism have taken off throughout the country, although outside of Muscat there are many regions which still remain true to their Bedouin roots.
Omanis are quite proud of their country's rapid progress, and locals will often point out to tourists that the road they are driving on is only 10 years old and that the journey used to take much longer.
Travel to Oman, visa requirements
Oman issues a visa on arrival to citizens of Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Italy, Poland, US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and some other countries(this includes major land border crossings). The price is 6 Omani rial for a one month visit visa (unless you are on an expatriate GCC visa, in which case it is 4 Omani rial). Major credit cards are accepted and many currencies. The visa can be extended another month by submitting your passport to the Royal Omani Police in Muscat, however there is one line, and the wait can be as long as 2 hours. Your line mates will not be bothered by the idea of maintaining constant physical contact with you while you sweat during your wait, nor by the idea of slowly attempting to take a place in front of you in the line since there are no line markings. If you are on a budget and need to extend your visa, I highly recommend taking a trip to the UAE. Buses are RO 10-12 return. Even a taxi would be an option.
Flights to Oman, airtickets
Virtually all international flights arrive at Seeb International Airport (MCT) in Muscat. There are also a small number of regional international flights to Salalah (SLL). Purchasing a visa on arrival in Salalah can be quite difficult, as the airport is very small and immigration officials tend not to have change for larger notes.
There are scheduled services by numerous airlines, including but not limited to Oman Air, Emirates, Gulf Air, Etihad, British Airways, Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian Airways, Swiss International, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Air India and Air France. The most frequent connections are via Dubai (DXB).
By boat
The port in Muscat is used by cruise ships, however there are no regular passenger sevices to Oman.
By car
There are some border crossings from the United Arab Emirates into Oman. Roads are excellent and the border crossing is quite easy. Don't forget to bring along some cash as you have to pay for the visa to enter Oman. If you are taking a car from the UAE into Oman you will need to produce evidence at the border that the car is insured in Oman. Note that there is a 20 Dh departure tax when leaving the UAE by car, and a 2 OR tax when leaving Oman by road.
Additionally, make sure that your passport is stamped with the relevant entry and exit stamps. This should go without saying, but some border officials will forget part of the procedure and cause administrative hassles later. Additionally, crossing from Oman to the UAE is often a chaotic business, so it is easier to miss out on the all-important stamp than one might expect.
Crossing from Oman to Yemen is significantly more challenging, and those of an adventurous bent should familiarise themselves very carefully with the regulations regarding that border. In previous years, there has been a law that no solo female travellers can exit Oman to Yemen. Additionally, bear in mind that the easternmost parts of Yemen are exceptionally remote.
While a border (unmarked) exists between Oman and Saudi Arabia, this is a very unadvisable crossing, as it involves going through most (if not all) of the Empty Quarter.
Get around
By air
Oman Air [2] is the national carrier and flies regularly among the three airports in the country (Muscat/Seeb, Salalah and Sur). Distances are short (Salalah-Muscat is only 90 minutes), and service is quite good. Legroom even in Economy class is ample.
Buses to Oman
There are regular, daily bus services connecting the bigger cities within Oman (Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, Sur and Nizwa). There are several, daily bus services from Muscat to Dubai. There is one bus a day from Muscat to Abu Dhabi. For details see the pages of the Oman National Transport Company.
By taxi
Taxis are expensive. There are no meters and a rate should be agreed on prior to the ride.
There are also taxi buses/cars (Baisa buses), the principle is you share the bus or car with others and only pay several hundred Baisa per trip. Please try to sit in the middle of the bus as the drivers are known for their special "driving skills".
By car
Dirty money Believe it or not, but it's actually illegal to drive around in a dirty car in Oman. You may get stopped by the police who can fine you OMR5, although they are more likely to just tell you to wash your ride. |
Driving around Oman in your own (rented) car is quite easy. A six-lane superhighway connects Muscat and Nizwa and a similar road between Muscat and Sur is under construction. When that road is ready, travelers should be aware that the old dirt road is extremely scenic and a fun ride and should not be missed. If you intend to drive in wadis (unsealed valley roads in river beds) a 4WD is highly recommended, though experienced drivers will usually manage with a normal car quite well (although rental companies may not be impressed with the state of the car after such an expedition and you are likely to void the insurance by taking it off-road). But you can never be sure how the road will be and if it starts raining the wadis will turn into rivers quickly.
Be aware: In heavy rain even main roads get flooded, though usually the floodways only. Every ten years or so there are heavy rainfalls in Oman which cause many roads to be impassable. Wadis will be filled with water and driving will be difficult and only possible with proper 4x4 with high clearance.
Talk
Arabic is the most common language, however most Omanis will speak good to excellent English, particularly in major tourist areas. In the southern Dhofar region, Swahili is sometimes spoken, and the historical presence of Indian traders has meant that Hindi is understood in urban areas. An English-speaking traveller should have no difficulties seeing most of the country unless he or she really travels "off the beaten track".
Be aware, however, that in some situations an enthusiastic willingness to use English does not always equate to communicating accurately. Even in five-star hotels, there will probably be moments where what is being said does not match reality.
Learn
Visitors to Oman should have a look into the monthly published Omani lifestyle magazine Oman Today, available everywhere in Oman.
Shopping, Oman souvenirs
Currency
The currency in Muscat is the Omani rial (OMR). One rial is made of one thousand Baisa. There are US$2.598 to the rial (2 Jul 2007).
There is an ATM at the airport and plenty of them in Muscat and every main city, although not all of them take foreign cards. At the ATMs which do work, you can use major credit card as well as Maestro cards.
You can change dollars at the counters inside the airport.
Shopping
The Omani national symbol is the silver-sheathed dagger known as the khanjar. These vary widely in quality and cost, but almost every shop will stock several different models. Most of the modern ones are made by Indian or Pakistani craftsmen under Omani direction, while many are actually made in India or Pakistan.
Another reminder of the country's tribal past is the walking stick known as arsaa. This is a cane with a concealed sword in it, which can prove quite a talking point at home. Unfortunately, in many countries, it will prove a talking point with customs officials rather than friends and family.
Omani silver is also a popular souvenir, often made into rosewater shakers and small "Nizwa boxes" (named for the town from which they first came). Silver "message holders", often referred to in souks as "old time fax machines" are often for sale as well--if you object to buying religious artefacts as souveniers, you might want to give these a pass as they were originally created by Jews in the region to carry scripture verses. Many silver products will be stamped with "Oman" on them, which is a guarantee of authenticity. Others will not, and will be the subject of many interesting stories explaining why the government does not in fact require stamping for authenticity.
The distinctive hats worn by Omani men are also commonly sold, particularly in the Matrah Souk in Muscat.
Particularly in the Dhofar region, frankincense is a popular purchase as the region has historically been a centre for production of this item. Myrrh can also be purchased quite cheaply in Oman.
As one might expect, Oman also sells many perfumes made from a great number of traditional ingredients. Indeed, the most expensive perfume in the world (Amouage) is made in Oman from frankincense and other ingredients. It retails at somewhere around the OR50 mark.
Good restaurants and cheap meals
The food is mainly Arabic, Lebanese and Indian. Many Omanis make a distinction between "Arabic" food and "Omani" food, with the former being the description of the standard dishes found throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Omani food itself tends to be slightly spicier and served in quite large portions - whole fish are not uncommon at lunch in some local restaurants (sticking to local food, it is quite easy to eat a substantial meal for less than OR2). As befits a country with a long coastline, seafood is quite a common dish, particularly shark, which is surprisingly tasty.
Omani sweets are well-known throughout the region, with the most popular being halwa. This is a hot, semi-solid substance which behaves a little like honey and is eaten with a spoon. The taste is similar to Turkish Delight. Omani dates are among the best in the world and can be found at every social place and at offices.
Oman nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs.
Bottled drinking (mineral) water is easily available at most stores. Tap water is generally safe; however, travellers unused to higher mineral content should stick to the bottled variety.
Alcohol is available only in select restaurants and large hotels and is usually very expensive. Non-Muslim Travellers are allowed 2 litres of liquor as duty free baggage allowance. Travellers can pick up liquor at the duty free shop in the arrival lounge.
Hotels, youth hostels, lodging
Oman has the full spectrum of accommodation - from ultra-luxurious hotels to extremely rustic huts in the desert constructed from date palm leaves.
In recent years, Oman has been attempting to turn itself into something of a five-star destination for well-heeled travellers. This does not pose a problem to the budget-minded in Muscat, and even outside of the capital there is still a range of budget options. In some parts of the country, however, accommodation may be limited to higher-end hotels and resorts.
Work
Working in Oman requires that you hold a residence permit. In common with other Gulf countries, you must be sponsored by an employer to obtain a residence permit. It's not uncommon for people to enter on a tourist visa then look for a job - this is fine. Penalties for the employer are substantial if they are caught employing illegals, although this naturally varies depending on how good their connections are.
The majority of positions are filled by expats from the sub-continent. Positions for Europeans tend to be restricted to upper management levels or specialised occupations, so don't expect to pick up a position as you pass through unless you are prepared to work for very little!
Stay safe
Oman is a safe country and crimes rarely happen as the Royal Oman Police is very efficient and honest.
Driving in Muscat can sometimes be a problem, although this is due more to congestion than bad driving on the part of the locals. Outside of the major cities, a common driving risk is falling asleep at the wheel due to the long stretches of featureless desert. Driving in Oman calls for attention to the unexpected. It has the second highest death rate from traffic accidents in the world (surpassed only by Saudi, followed closely by the UAE). Omani drivers outside of the cities tend to drive very fast and pass with impunity. Driving at night is especially hazardous as many drivers fail to turn their headlights on.
Stay healthy
Oman is warm year-round and summers can be extremely hot. Always carry drinking water with you and be wary of de-hydration in high temperatures. If you're not used to the heat it can sneak up on you and cause serious health problems.
Several people have tried to cross stretches of the Omani desert on their own in a rented 4WD. Some of these people have died or got rescued just in time.
Travelling through a desert requires proper preparation. It looks easy from a modern air-conditioned 4WD, but if that fails you are suddenly back to basics.
Never go off-road alone. A minimum of two to three cars (of the same make) is the rule. Leave your itinerary with a friend with clear instructions if you do not return in time. Take at least: - recovery tools: spades, rope (and attachments), sand mats or ladders - two spare tires and all required equipment - a good air pump (high capacity) - sufficient water (at least 25 litres more than you think you will need for drinking) - sufficient petrol: there are no petrol stations in middle of nowhere
If you have – or can get – a satellite phone, take it. (Mobiles work only in limited areas.) Check your car before embarking on such a trip.
Respect
The Omanis are generally very humble and down-to-earth people. The usual rules of respect when travelling in a Muslim country should be followed in Oman, even when locals appear to be a little less "uptight" than their neighbours.
Do not discuss or question the Sultan's sexuality; while this is a subject of rumors in the West, it is not an acceptable topic in Oman.
While Omanis may not say anything to foreigners who dress in tight or revealing clothing, it is quite disrespectful. Yes, some visitors push the goodwill of the Omanis in choosing their attire, but a little sensitivity goes a long way. It is best to cover one's shoulders and knees, and to avoid low cut necklines. Swimsuits are really appropriate only at the beach--even at a 5-star resort, wearing a loose covering between one's room and the beach is considered a courtesy. Women will get additional respect if they cover their heads and wear clothes covering their bodies.
Contact
The country code for Oman is 968.
Dialing out from Oman you will need to dial 00 + International Code + Number
Dialing into Oman callers use +968 followed by an 8 digit number...
These 8-digit numbers generally start with a 9 if it is mobile number, and with 2 for land lines, though other numbers will eventually start to get used.
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