Oman at a Glance

Area

309,500 Km².

Population (2008)

3,204,897

Language

Arabic (official), English (widely spoken), German & French (most hotel staff).

Religion

Islam makes up 99% Of total population. To be more specific, about 50% are Ibadhi Muslims. Sunni Muslims account for 40% of the population, while Ja'fari jurisprudence Muslims make ups 7%. The remaining 3% of the population are Hindus, Christians and other minorities, most of whom are expatriates

Capital

City of Muscat.

Natural Resources

Petroleum, Natural Gas, Copper, Fishery, Agriculture.)

Local Time

GMT +4.

Currency

Omani Rial, which equates to $ 2.58. Omani Rial (OMR) = 1,000 baiza. Notes are in denominations of OMR50, 20, 10, 5, 1 and 500, 250, 200 and 100 baiza. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 10 and 5 baiza.

Credit Cards/ATM

All major credit cards are accepted here and to a lesser extent, the American Express Card.

Business Hours

Government:
Private Sector: 07:30 - 14:30.
08:00 - 13:00 then 16:00 to 19:00.

Shopping Hours

09:00 - 013:00 then 16:30 - 24:00.

Electricity

220 - 240 Volts at 50 cycles.

Dress Code

The dress code is fairly liberal in Muscat, although decency is still expected. Women should wear, for example, tops with sleeves and skirts covering the knees or trousers. Men are required to wear trousers and shirts with sleeves. Swimwear should be restricted to the beach or pools. Lightweight cottons are advisable to wear throughout the year, with a warm wrap, for cooler winter evenings, mountain excursions and overworked air-conditioning in shops and restaurants.

Travel Data

Location and Topography

Oman occupies the far south-eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, its geographical boundaries clearly defined by nature from earliest times.

The Sultanate of Oman occupies the south-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula and lies between latitudes 16° 40' and 26° 20' north, and longitudes 51° 50' and 59° 40' east. The total area is approximately 309,500 km2 and it is the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula.

Oman’s coastline extends 3,165 km from the Strait of Hormuz in the north, to the borders of the Republic of Yemen in the south and shares its coast with three seas: the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It also comprises a number of islands off the coast, among them the islands of Masirah, Halanyat and Salama.

The Sultanate borders the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the west, the United Arab Emirates in the northeast, the Republic of Yemen in the southwest, the Strait of Hormuz in the north and the Arabian Sea in the east. The Musandam Peninsula forms the country's northern tip. It is the only coast the Sultanate has on the Arabian Gulf and is just over 50 km south of the Islamic Republic of Iran across the Strait of Hormuz.

Oman possesses a rich and diverse topography that divides the country naturally into three distinct regions, each with its own identity. These regions range from rugged mountains and deep fjords in the north, through the spectacular dunes of the Sharqiyah (Wahiba) Sands and two large salt flats in the centre, to the lush green hills of the Dhofar region in the south.A rugged and varied coastline stretches from north to south.

The northern coastal strip along the Gulf of Oman is known as the Batinah Coast, a narrow fertile plain separated from the rest of the country by the Hajar Mountains. The highest peak in the Hajar is Jabal Shams (Sun Mountain) at 3,009m. The southern slopes of the range are notable for their oasis towns where date groves flourish in the dry desert air.

In the south lies the second mountain range in Oman, the Qara mountains. These attract the light monsoon rains during the mid-summer months, turning them green with vegetation whose roots help delay the effects of erosion, resulting in a soft rolling landscape more akin to Central Africa. As in the north, a narrow fertile coastal plain lies between the mountains and the sea. The city of Salalah, capital of Dhofar, is here surrounded by lush farmland and coconut groves.

Climate

The varied geography of Oman has resulted in a wide variety of climatic conditions. Although lying in the tropics, the Sultanate is subject to seasonal changes like the more temperate regions of the world.

During the winter it is cool and pleasant, but summer on the coast is hot and humid. The interior remains hot and dry, except for the mountains where temperatures can drop drastically at night.

The hottest months are June through August but on the southern coast of Dhofar the monsoons bring light but persistent rain, resulting in a cool and misty summer. Rainfall varies but in general remains sparse and irregular. In the south, most of the year's rainfall occurs during the summer monsoon months. In the north, the opposite occurs.

Here most rain comes from occasional winter storms which descend out of the eastern Mediterranean during the months of January through March, depositing an annual average of 10 cm of rain on the capital area.

Culture

If you are someone who has an understanding and appreciation of history, arts, architecture and the structure of traditional societies and government, Oman is the place for you. You can experience Oman's sense of timelessness in the ancient interior city of Nizwa, the towns along the coast, the Capital itself and the southern city of Salalah. All are steeped in history and tradition.

The Sultanate enjoys an unspoiled culture and traditional lifestyle in almost every aspect. Even in its modernity, Oman is distinctly Arab and offers the visitor a glimpse of many unique old-world wonders.

The Omani culture has its roots firmly in the Islamic religion. Oman developed its own particular form of Islam, called Ibadhism, after its founder, Abdullah ibn Ibadh who lived during the 7th century AD. Not all Omanis are Ibadhis however; there are also Sunni and Shi'a Muslims. Omanis are not only tolerant of the beliefs of different Muslim sects, they are also tolerant towards believers of other faiths, who are allowed to practise their religion in churches and temples.

Muslims are required to pray five times each day after the call to prayer by the Imam. Beautiful, ornate mosques are found throughout the Sultanate, but they are not open to non-Muslim visitors. The holy month of Ramadhan is a time of fasting and prayer. For around 29 to 30 days each Islamic year, Muslims refrain from smoking, eating and drinking during the hours of fasting (from sunrise to sunset). Ramadhan advances 10 to 11 days each year as it is governed by the lunar calendar. Out of respect, non-Muslim residents and visitors to the Sultanate are expected to observe the same principles in public.

Heritage

The legacy that has been passed from generation to generation, the art, the culture, the folklore and the craftsmanship have to be seen. But there is much more in the heart of Oman to explore: the sense of respect for time, for people, and for nature. Come and sample a part of Oman's rich heritage, kept alive and unchanged for generations. It may help you understand tomorrow a little better.

For its size, Oman boasts an unprecedented number of UNESCO-classified World Heritage Sites including Bat—with its tombs dating back 3,000 years, the Fort of Bahla, and the fascinating Frankincense Route which commences from Dhofar and includes Al-Blaid, site of the ancient city of Zafar, Khawr Rawri, Shisr and Wadi Dukah.

Oman's heritage features a great sea-faring tradition, as one would expect from a country with 3,165 km of coastline.

Many museums and galleries around the secluded and historic harbours of Muscat and Muttrah illuminate the importance of the sea and, indeed, of water generally, throughout Oman's 5,000 year-old history

Social Conventions

Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting. A small gift, either promoting your company or country, is well received. As far as dress is concerned, it is important that women dress modestly beyond the hotel grounds, such as long skirts or dresses (below the knee) with covered shoulders; men should wear trousers and shirts with sleeves. Tight-fitting clothes should be restricted to hotel restaurants to avoid giving offence although this is not strictly followed by some Westerners. Shorts should not be worn in public and beachwear is prohibited anywhere except the beach. Collecting seashells, abalone, corals, crayfish and turtle eggs is also prohibited. Dumping litter is forbidden. It is polite not to smoke in public, but generally no-smoking signs are posted where appropriate.

Visa

There is a short visit visa available to the following countries which is valid for two weeks. You will have to pay 20 Omani Rials at the airport.

Albania Argentina Australia Austria Belgium Bolivia Bosnia & Herzegovina Brazil Britain Brunei Bulgaria Canada Chile China Colombia Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Ecuador Estonia Finland France French Guyana Germany Greece Holland Hungary Iceland Indonesia Ireland Italy Japan Latvia Macedonia Malaysia Moldova Norway Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Russia Serbia Slovenia South Africa South Korea Spain Suriname Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Taiwan Thailand Ukraine Uruguay USA and Venezuela.

The joint Qatari-Omani tourist visa is issued to the citizens of the above mentioned 33 countries without any special conditions for a period of three weeks through Qatari missions abroad for a fee of 70 riyals or through the country's entries for a fee of 55 riyals. The visa is extendable for one week through the Directory of Residents' Affairs for a fee of 70 riyals.

Other nationalities will need to apply for a visa ahead of time at their nearest embassy or consulate.

Immigration- Customs requirement

Forbidden items:The Sultanate prohibits pornographic materials and firearms from entering Oman. Local law limits each traveler to two bottles of alcohol. Items subject to confiscation at the airport due to content considered culturally inappropriate include, but are not limited, to compact discs, digital video discs, and video and audiocassettes.

Email & Internet

E-mail and Internet services are available in most hotels and within Muscat. There are a growing number of Internet users in Oman. So, almost all the major hotels provide their guests with Internet facilities and the others are being equipped for the same purpose. Also, many Internet cafes are already opened to the public and many other ones are going to be opened due to the increasing need of the people and visitors alike.

Moving About

The roads in Oman can be compared to the best anywhere in the world. Driving in Oman is a pleasurable experience. The condition of the asphalt is excellent, traffic lanes are well defined, signals, driving regulations and guidelines clearly posted at regular intervals. Motorways link Muscat with all major cities and towns in Oman. There are excellent roads leading to Dubai. An international driving license is valid in Oman.

Vehicles are driven on the right side of the road.

Taxis

Taxis are orange and white. They are not metered so it is advisable to negotiate a fair before the start of a journey. Seeb International Airport to Muscat costs about RO 6. Shared taxis are considerably cheaper and practical. A short taxi ride from Ruwi to Muttrah would cost roughly 200 baizas.

Small vans (known locally as the baiza bus) following more or less fixed routes offer a cheaper alternative. Flag one down and find out his destination. If its where you want to go, get in. Short hauls are about 200 baizas (US $ 0.50).

Call Taxis
City Taxi (for 24hrs) Phone: 24602211, 24603363
Bid Bid Taxi. Phone: 24693377
A l Dar Taxi LLC. Phone: 24700555/24700777

Communication

Country code for Iran is 968.