Welcome to Oman
The Sultanate of Oman occupies an area of about 309,500 square kilometers in the south-eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. More than three thousand kilometers of coastline, two vast sandy deserts and high rocky mountains: Oman offers a variety of landscapes able to satisfy all those travelers looking for pristine nature and outdoor activities.
The country has also a rich cultural heritage: forts, castles, archaeological sites, villages and traditional markets witness a long history that takes you back to the ancient times of caravans and ships exporting frankincense and copper to Mesopotamia, Mediterranean Sea and India.
Thanks to the enlightened guide of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, ruler from 1970 to 2020, Oman is nowadays one of the most advanced nations of the Middle East and provides residents and foreign visitors with efficient health care system, modern infrastructures and high quality tourist services.
Moderate and tolerant, the Sultanate is a peaceful and safe country, not involved in any act of terrorism or war, and its crime rate is close to zero. Omanis are famous for their kindness and their great sense of hospitality.
What are your waiting for? Pack your luggage and come to discover Oman with a wonderful journey!
Fact Sheet
Tourists from 103 countries can enter Oman without visa for holidays up to 14 days, but must have a passport valid at least six months from the date of entry. If you intend to stay more than 14 days or if your country is not included in the 103 visa-free nationalities, then you need a tourist visa: please apply online about two weeks before departure on Royal Oman Police official website (https://evisa.rop.gov.om/en/home).
In Oman there are no endemic diseases or mandatory required vaccinations for incoming tourists. The level of public and private health care facilities across the country is good and common medications are available in the main pharmacies.
Oman is a safe country, with a very low crime rate. In case of emergency you can rely on the local authorities and contact your embassy in Muscat.
The official currency is the Omani Rial (OMR), divided into 1000 Baisas. There are banknotes of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Rials, 1/2 Rial and 100 Baisas. Visa and Mastercard are accepted in all the hotels and most of the restaurants and shops. ATMs for cash withdrawal are widespread. Cash can be changed at any currency exchange office. We suggest you not to change money at the airport or at the hotel because of high exchange rates and fees.
International code to call Oman from abroad: +968. The mobile network is widespread throughout the country and works with GSM 900/1800 and 4G/5G data connection. You will find wi-fi internet connection in almost all hotels, except for desert camps and lodges located in remote areas.
Electricity: 220-240 volts, electrical outlets: type G.
The best time to visit Oman is winter, from October to April, with average daytime temperatures around 25-30°C, blue sky, dry and sunny weather. In December, January and February the nights in the desert and on the mountains could get quite cold with temperatures below 5°C. In summer the climate conditions are extreme: temperatures around 45°C and very high humidity make outdoor life and activities very unpleasant. Traveling during summer unfortunately means grey sky, landscapes without brilliant colours, and spending most of the day indoor or inside the car with air conditioning on.
We recommend practical and comfortable clothes, in linen or cotton. In order to respect local culture we strongly advise not to wear shorts, miniskirts, tank tops and low-cut dresses, particularly when visiting towns and villages. Standard t-shirts, trousers and skirts below the knee are more advisable. Inside Grand Mosque in Muscat it’s compulsory wearing long trousers or long skirts, for both men and women; ladies must also wear long sleeves until the wrists and cover their head with a non-transparent scarf. It’s useful to bring: a sweater and a windbreaker for cooler nights in the desert and on the mountains, a beach towel and a swim suit. You should wear comfortable sandals or sneakers, suitable to walk outdoor.