About Sultanate of Oman

The Sultanate of Oman is situated on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula. The coastline extends 1.700 Km from the Strait of Hormuz in the north to the borders of the Republic of Yemen in the South and overlooks three seas: The Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The Sultanate of Oman has one of the oldest civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula, dating back thousands of years with notable periods of greatness in the ancient world and in medieval times.

Oman is a country which showcases the true authentic Arabia. Country has beautiful landscape from third highest Grand Canyon of the world to 1700 kms of coastal line to 15000 Sq km of desert and some interesting and adventurous off road tracks. Local People are well involved in day to day activity of life including tourism business and visitor get lot of opportunity to interact with them.

Oman has beautiful and fascinating forts / castles and some of them has been recognized by UNESCO / World Heritage Archeology. Oman is destination, which can cater to all segments of market, be a Study tour, be a cultural tour, and be a round tour or just some days at leisure at beach or MICE activities. In short, Oman is a destination which has beautiful landscape and culture to showcase to visitors.

Most importantly, Oman is a very safe country and recently Oman has been rated as 04th safest destination in the world. Country has developed under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. Country has developed a lot in last 45 years and people has a special respect and love for His Majesty. The Country is very clean and many times, the capital of Oman, Muscat has been rated among the cleanest cities of the World.

Like other great civilizations, Oman faded from prominence - until the recent resurgence under the wise and able leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. All along, the country was active in many ways and has an interesting history that is still relevant today and has left many tangible traces in prominent landmarks and a highly developed culture.

 Culture and Lifestyle

The Omani culture is firmly rooted in the Islamic traditions of Arabia. Courtesy and hospitality are among the most prized virtues and the visitor is sure to be charmed by the genuine warmth and friendliness of the people.

Foreigners are free to practice their own religion, alcohol is served in hotels and provided reasonable discretion is shown, the dress code is liberal. Women face no discrimination and may drive and move around unescorted. Local citizens dress in ‘disdashsa’ (Robe) with a Furakha and’Muzzar’ or ‘Kumma’ (head dress). Arab culture and folklore find expression in poetry, dancing songs and traditional art.

Weddings and other celebrations are colorful occasions of feasting and music. Traditional sports such as bull fighting and camel racing continue to thrive.

 Religion

Islam is the official religion of the Sultanate of Oman and there are a large number of mosques throughout the city. Other religions are respected.

 Currency

The unit of currency is Omani Rial (RO 1 = US$ 2.58), which is divided into 1000 Baizas. Notes are available in denominations of RO 50, 20, 10, 5, 1, 1/2 Rial, 250, 200 and 100 Baizas. Coins are also in use for units under one (1) Rial.

 ATM Machines

Can be found at convenient locations throughout the country including the arrival hall at the Airport.

 Local Time

The Sultanate of Oman is +4 hours ahead of GMT in the winter and is +3 hours ahead of GMT in the summer.

 Alcohol

Non-Muslims are permitted to bring in two liters of alcohol by air only. Care must be taken not to cause offence through the use of alcohol. In particular, alcohol should not be consumed in public places apart from licensed premises, such as hotels & restaurants. It is illegal to carry liquor in your car. In addition, the police take a serious view of traffic offences in which alcohol is involved and fines may be imposed.

 Greetings

The people of Oman offer a very warm welcome to guests. You will find that traditional Arab greetings are still widely observed and it is good manners to exchange greetings and handshakes when meeting Omanis. These courtesies should be observed in commercial dealings (e.g. shopping in the souq) and on a personal level.

 Average Weather

October to March the weather is cool. May through August is usually hot and humid with September & April being warm. Temperatures in the interior regions are both higher and lower than the averages reported for the coastal areas. Average monthly temperatures are roughly as follows:

Note: Muscat gets minimum 9-10 hrs of sunshine per day throughout the year.

 Clothing

Light wear summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but pullovers or jackets may be needed for the winter months especially in the evenings or in desert or on Mountains. A Conservative dress sense is an advantage in Muscat, especially for women, who should avoid wearing overly revealing clothing. Men should always wear a shirt or top in public. At the poolside or beaches, trunks, swim suits and bikinis are quite acceptable. Good quality sunglasses are advised and photo chrome lenses for those who wear spectacles. Hats or some sort of protection for the head are advisable when in direct sunlight

 Language

The official language is Arabic but English is widely spoken and understood. Both languages are commonly used in business and commerce.

Electricity

Is 220-240 Volts at 50 cycles AC.

 Business Hours & Working Week

-  The weekend is on Friday and Saturday.

-  Shop hours are generally 10.00 am till 1.00 pm and again from 4.00 pm till 10.00 pm. Many shops and the souks also open on Friday Morning –   09:00 am till 11am and again in evening.

-  Banking hours are Sunday to Thursday 07:30 am to 2.00 pm.

 Shopping

Various traditional Souq are in different cities selling souvenirs and some of popular Souqs of Oman, are Muttrah Souq in Muscat, Nizwa Souq in Nizwa, and Haffa Souq in Salalah. In addition to traditional Souqs, there are different shopping malls in different cities and hypermarkets like Lulu, Carrefour, Al Fair, Spinnys etc are found in different parts of cities.

 Cultural Considerations

Oman is primarily an Islamic country. Moslem women often cover their arms, legs and hair. Western women, however, are not subject to these customs but very revealing clothing is not appropriate in public.

 Internet Email

This facility is available in most hotels and Cyber Café’s are located all over the city of Muscat & Salalah.

 Litter

Remove all your litter when leaving a picnic or campsite.

 Photography

Do not take photographs of individuals without their permission. Women in particular, do not like being photographed. It is forbidden to take pictures of military facilities, borders and airports. Observe ‘NO PHOTOGRAPHY’ signs.

 Ramadan (12th April to 12th May-2021, 1st April-2022 to 30th April-2022 & 22nd March to 20th April-2023)

During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims fast from sunrise until sunset daily. The fixed hours of prayer are observed and during daylight no Muslims will eat, drink or smoke. All tourists are requested to avoid eating, drinking or smoking in the presence or sight of a Muslim. Eating, drinking or smoking in public places during daylight is forbidden. Hotel’s coffee shops remain open. Bars / Mini bars do not serve alcohol, though it can be ordered through room service after sunset only.

 Telephone

There are local and international direct dialing facilities available from public call booths, hotels and from the General Telecommunications Organization (GTO). Telephone cards are easily available in Supermarkets and Hotel outlets.

 Village Etiquette

Drive slowly through villages to avoid raising too much dust. Watch out for children & animals. Be courteous to villagers - a few words of greetings or a smile is only polite. Do not go into a home without being invited. Remember certain areas of the village may be restricted to women only. This must be strictly observed.

 Water/Swimming

The falaj is usually a vital source of water for nearby villages. Do not foul, block or damage falaj walls or dams. Do not swim or allow your children to play in water immediately above a village, as it may be the village’s drinking water. One can take the opportunity to swim at the beaches. Driving on beaches is prohibited.

 Immigration

-    Visitors with valid passports of many countries, may obtain a visa directly online by logging into http://www.rop.gov.om/english/index.html.
-    There are two different kind of visas - One of 10 days for USD 13.5 and One of 30 days for USD 53 net person

 Emergency Numbers

FIRE	9999
Royal Oman Police	24701099/ 24736611
Khoula Hospital	24560455
Royal Hospital	24599000

 USP’s: Why choose Oman

•  Easy access from Europe:Very well connected with daily flight from Europe.
•  The world’s emerging tourist destination: The Capital City of Sultanate of Oman, Muscat has been selected as Capital of Arab Tourism and is been declare the emerging tourist destination in the world.
•  The Great Civilization: The Civilization of Oman is thousands of year old. Oman has a vast wealth of historical information’s and facts. There are more than 500 forts and towers in Oman today which bear witness to the glorious past that this country had.
•  A cultural paradise:Oman is the ultimate destination for cultural tourism. This is where you will find hundreds of castles, forts and museums dating back to various historic epochs.
•  The Cleanest & Safest Destination: Oman is believed among the cleanest & safest cities of the World.
•  Omani Hospitality: Omani people are well known for their hospitality and their etiquettes.
•  Natural Wonders:unspoiled beaches, countless wadis (valley), lagoons & shimmering golden sand dunes surrounding refreshing oasis always attract the nature lovers. This natural diversity provides a variety of adventures and options available to tourists, from desert activities to water sports and the other natural activities.
•  Haven for Adventure Lover: Oman's diverse terrain of mountains, deserts and seascapes, are an outdoor enthusiast's dream come true. From diving to photography to rock climbing to ice skating (!) Oman offers a variety of activities to suit the taste of any traveler.

 Destination Highlights:

•  Great Civilization
•  Rich in Heritage, tradition & Culture
•  Warm , Friendly people
•  Stunning natural Landscape
•  Unspoiled beaches
•  Rugged Deserts
•  Majestic Mountains
•  Natural Caves
•  Historical Castles, Forts and Fortress
•  Trekking & Rock Climbing
•  Eco Tourism
•  World Heritage Sites
•  Modern & Ancient Arabian Architecture
•  Clean and Safe Country
•  3 State of Art 18 Hole Golf Club