Quick Facts

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Situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman is bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the west, Yemen to the southwest and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the northwest.

Oman's coastline, which is 1,700 kilometres long, extends to the Sea of Oman, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Muscat, the capital of Oman, is host to beautiful beaches and a fascinating culture and heritage that dates back thousands of years.

Visas

Valid passports and visas are required upon entry, except for nationals of Gulf Cooperation Council member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia). Visas can be obtained from any Omani Embassy or Consulate abroad.

Visitors from most European and North American countries can obtain a visa upon arrival at Muscat International Airport, at a cost of OMR 20.

View visa information from the Omani Ministry of Information

Currency

The Omani currency is the Rial, divided into 1000 Baisa.

Here are the most recent exchange rates for some common currencies.

OMR 1.00 equals:

Exchange Rates Currency
3.32 Australian Dollar (AUD)
2.34 Euro (EUR)
1.70 British Pound (GBP)
20.08 Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
161.44 Indian Rupee (INR)
310.52 Japanese Yen (JPY)
3.44 New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
15.95 Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB)
3.54 Singapore Dollar (SGD)
2.59 US Dollar (USD)
Taxes

There is a government tax of 9%, and a service tax of 8%.

Tipping

Tipping is not expected in Oman. However, a gratuity is a welcome gesture for exceptional service.

Business Hours

Bank Hours
8am - 12.30pm, Sunday through Thursday
8am - 11.30am, Thursday
ATMs are available 24 hours and will accept most international bank cards.

Office Hours
Most offices are closed on Friday to observe jumu'ah,the Islamic friday prayer.
8am - 2pm, Saturday to Wednesday (Government)
8am - 5pm, Saturday to Wednesday (Business)

Businesses usually close between 1pm and 2.30pm for lunch

Shop Hours
9am - 1pm and 4pm - 8pm / 9pm, Saturday through Thursday
4pm - 8pm / 9pm, Friday

Public Health

No health certificates are required for visitors to Oman, except for people who have recently been in an area with an outbreak of yellow fever.

Dress

As in all Middle Eastern countries, respect for the local customs and sensibilities is recommended. Short, revealing or tight clothing should not be worn in public places.

Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but something slightly warmer may be needed in the evening for the winter months. In winter and summer, be sure to take some sort of jacket or sweater when visiting shopping malls, cinemas or hotels, as the air conditioning can be quite cold.

Weather

During summer (June to September), the area has very little rainfall. The daily maximum temperatures can easily reach 40°C or more. Winter is cooler with occasional rainfall. Spring and autumn are warm, mostly dry and pleasant, with maximum temperatures between 25°C and 35°C and cooler night temperatures between 15 and 22°C. 

Today

Mostly Cloudy

Increasing cloudiness

High: 28°C / 82°F
Low: 20°C / 68°F

Tomorrow

Intermittent Clouds

Delightful with clouds and sun

High: 25°C / 77°F
Low: 18°C / 64°F
Sunday:
Sunny High: 27°C / 80°F Low: 18°C / 64°F
Monday:
Sunny High: 28°C / 82°F Low: 20°C / 68°F

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Local Climate
Month High Low
Jan 25ºC 17ºC
Feb 26ºC 18ºC
Mar 29ºC 20ºC
Apr 34ºC 24ºC
May 39ºC 29ºC
Jun 42ºC 35ºC
Jul 42ºC 35ºC
Aug 36ºC 28ºC
Sep 35ºC 27ºC
Oct 34ºC 24ºC
Nov 30ºC 21ºC
Dec 27ºC 18ºC
Facts

Population
3 million

Language
Arabic; English is also widely spoken

Time Zone
GMT +4 hours

Measures
Metric System

Voltage
220 / 240 volts

Plug Type
 

Mobile Phones
GSM 900 / 1800