Oman Visa

Climate l Official Language l Code of Conduct l Currency and Banking l Traveller's cheques
Currency restrictions l Banking hours l Public Holidays l Health l Travel l When to Visit l
Telephone l Accommodation l Adventure Sports l Eating Out l Shopping

Climate
Climate: Muscat is hot and humid from late March until September and pleasantly warm with cool evening the rest of the year. Light cotton clothes are recommended all round the year. Salalah, the second largest city in Oman is drenched by monsoon rain from June to September.

Official Language
Arabic. Although English is widely spoken in Muscat, it can be useful to have a few Arabic phrases.

Code of Conduct
Oman is a Muslim country so it is important to observe a certain dress code. In public places, women should wear clothes that cover their upper arms and legs to the knee. Men should wear long trousers and shirts, shorts and sun tops are fine at the beach or by the pool. Swimwear, shorts and beachwear are only suitable for hotel pools or beach. If swimming near a village, loose cotton clothing will protect against the sun as well as keeping you cool.

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Currency and Banking
Currency
The unit of currency is the Omani Rial (RO) comprising 1000 baiza. Notes are in denominations of RO 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500, 250, 200 and 100 baiza. Coins are in denominations of 500, 250, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 baiza.

Cash card machines are readily available at banks and shopping centres. Major credit cards are accepted in hotels, larger shops and restaurants. Cash will be needed in small shops. Moneychangers are also open from 4pm - 7pm

Traveller's cheques
Easily exchanged. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.

Currency restrictions
There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. Israeli currency, however, is prohibited.

Banking hours
Sat-Wed 0800-1200, Thurs 0800-1130

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Note
All religious celebrations might defer by a day or two depending on moon sighting. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. 

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Health
Health care: Oman has an extensive public health service (Free for Omani Nationals), with approximately 46 hospitals, 90 health centres and 65 preventative health centres. However, costs are high for foreigners and health insurance is essential. There are number of pharmacies and all major medicines are available. There are no compulsory immunizations to enter the country.

Emergency numbers:
Emergency services: 999
Royal Hospital 24590491
Khoula Hospital 24563625

Food & drink: Precaution should be taken for drinking water. Quality Bottled water is safe and cheap, can be bought in grocery stores and supermarkets. Food bought in the main supermarkets can be regarded as safe. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.

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Travel

Air
All leading airlines operate from Seeb International Airport connecting Muscat to the rest of the world. The national airlines of Oman is Oman Air www.oman-air.com, it operates international as well as domestic flights. Many airlines fly into Muscat including Air India, British Airways, Gulf Air, KLM, Kuwait Airways and others. In the domestic sector, Oman Air flies to Salalah, Musandam & Masirah Island.

Approximate flight times
From Muscat to London is 8 hours 10 minutes, to Singapore 6 hours 30 minutes and to Sydney 16 hours.

International airports
Muscat (Mct) (Seeb International), 40km (25 miles) west of the city (travel time - 15-30 minutes). Airport facilities include bank/bureau de change, duty-free shops, bar and light refreshments, restaurants and tourist information as well as post office and car hire (Avis, Budget and Hertz). Taxis and buses to the city are available.

Departure tax
RO 5 for all departures, if tax has not already been collected at ticket issuance. Children under 2 years are exempt.

Road
Travel into Oman by land is only possible with prior government permission. Highways within Muscat and linking major towns make driving a pleasure in Oman. Traffic drives on the right. The maximum speed limit on open road is 120 km per hour. Seat belts are compulsory. Residents require a valid Omani license but visitors can use an international license. Local insurance against accidents is also compulsory.

The best route is the north-south road from Muscat to Salalah, a journey of some 10 to 12 hours. Principal routes run from east to west, connecting Muscat to Sohar, and from north to south. Bus: The state-owned Oman National Transport Company has a network of services in Muscat and north Oman using luxury vehicles. There is competition from taxis and pick-up trucks converted for passenger service. Taxi: Prices are high and fares should be agreed in advance. Shared taxis are also available. Car hire: Rent a Car companies which have offices at hotels throughout the country. Regulations: Heavy penalties are imposed for drinking and driving. It is also forbidden to drive on the beaches. Entry Permits are be required if travelling via the United Arab Emirates.
 

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When to Visit
October to April is the best time to visit when temperatures hover around 20 – 30 degrees Celsius. Muscat is hot and humid between May and September with average temperature of 41 degrees Celsius. Dhofar situated in the south of Oman experiences monsoon rains during June to September with light erratic rainfall. Temperature is moderate, rarely exceeds 30 degrees Celsius.

Telephone
Telephone cards are readily available from shops and supermarkets throughout Oman for RO 1.500, 3.000 & 5.000. International telephone calls are cheapest between 9pm - 7am, all day on Friday and public holidays.
Useful numbers: directory enquires: 198
International operator: 195
International directory: 143
Talking pages: 24600100

Accommodation
There are about a dozen modern hotels in Muscat offering high standards of hygiene and hospitality. The larger hotels have excellent sport, sea and leisure facilities and evening entertainment. Many hotels in Muscat are members of International chains and are priced according. Smaller hotels are cheaper but facilities are limited. There are very few hotels in interior areas but a large hotel-building programme has been initiated. It is possible to rent fully furnished accommodation for short-term use at reasonable rates. Tours can be booked through travel agents and tour operators. Booking well in advance is strongly recommended. All rates are subject to a 10 per cent service charge.

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Adventure Sports
Watersports
There are many beautiful beaches offering good bathing, diving and sailing facilities. Almost all hotels have swimming pools. There are also three private sports clubs with water-skiing and fishing facilities. The waters of the Gulf of Oman and the North Indian Ocean are populated by black marlin, swordfish, tuna and sailfish making them ideal for game fishing. A fishing permit is required from the Directorate General of Fisheries, and spearfishing is strictly prohibited. In the southern region, fishing is restricted to between Mughsayl and Taqah. Hunting is completely forbidden.

Camping
A night under the stars is one of pleasures of a holiday in Oman. There are no official campsites but plenty of places to camp within easy reach of Muscat. You locate a suitable spot and camp there for a night. A 4WD vehicle is usually necessary, as once off the main roads, the graded roads are unsuitable for saloon cars. One should camp away from villages as not to disturb the locals. Avoid camping if there is any hint of rain as wadis or dry riverbeds flood at the merest hint of rain.

Caving
Beneath the Hajar Mountain ranges lie hidden treasures of special natural beauty, the caves of Oman. They took hundreds of thousand of years to form. The caves of Oman are powerful attraction to cave enthusiasts, hiding secrets beyond rock opening and a challenge to negotiate. Cave adventure is a specialized sport and it demands utmost fitness and endurance.

Caves in Oman are given a set of grades or numbering from one to five, which usually apply only to the deepest or farthest point of the cave. The first grade is rated as an easy cave with no pitch, moderate caves are put into the second grade. Caves in the third grade are without any particularly hazardous difficult or strenuous sections while those in the fourth grade do pose some hazards and underground pitches. The fifth grade caves have very strenuous section or large and wet underground pitches. The caves in Oman fall into three main categories. The first includes shallow rock shelters, which are common in the walls of wadis and cliffs in all regions. The second category includes caves of moderate extent like the Moqal, Al Iraqi caves and Al Hooti caves. Majlis al-Jhinn is the world’s second-largest cave; its long passages, crystal-clear streams, canals and drip curtains extend throughout its 4 million cubic metre expanse. The Dhofar hills also have huge open pits, which lead to partially explored cave systems in the east and west of Salalah. Suhar cave lies north of Thumrayt-Salalah road along Wadi Nahiz, Ayn Homran. The Bat cave is located in north east of Salalah closed to Hyn Homran spring. Oman has numerous unexplored caves and sinkholes some as deep as 400 metres.

Al Hota cave opens for public in July 2006. This second largest cave in Oman is located in the foothills of the central Hajar mountains in Al Hamra, a few kilometres from Nizwa. The cave has been illuminated with coloured lights, a walkway with iron railings and stairs has been built for easy access. The cave’s Visitor Centre is a 2-storey RCC structure with a reception, ticket counter, restaurant, souvenir shop, geological museum & with platform for the train. The train, which will take the tourists from the Visitor’s Centre to the inside of the cave, will be installed in May 2007. The track for the train, which has a capacity to ferry 36 passengers on each trip has already been laid. The cave is estimated to be 2 million years old & has a 2.7-km tunnel with dozens of ancillary chambers and offshoots from north to south through the flanks of a large mountain. The rocks date back to the cretaceous era between 65 million and 136 million years old. Another outstanding feature is the presence of a subterranean lake, which is home to unusual species of pink-coloured blind fish which sense their way around the lake with their feelers. The main chamber has a profusion of splendid cave formations, technically known as speleothems. These include stalagmites, stalactites and flowstone, which are formed inside caves with rainwater, plant debris and carbonate bedrock (limestone). Stalactites grow from the roof downward, whereas, stalagmites grow from the floor upwards. As a rule of thumb, one cm of stalactite takes 1,000 years to form.

Diving
Oman with its 1700 Km coastline is renowned for its rich underwater beauty, with hundreds of safe and awe-inspiring dive sites to choose from. There are many superb dive sites around the capital area, including Cemetery Bay, Fahal Island and Damaniyat Islands. The other dive sites are Bandar Khairan, Ras Abu Daoud & Quriyat Wreck. The sea-life is abundant with a variety of hard and soft corals present and shoals of fish. Night dives are popular and divers are often astounded by the amount of phosphorescence found in Oman's night-time waters. There are a number of dive/tour agents who will arrange trips to coral reefs surrounding Oman.
When waters are clearest Mid May to end June; August to early October

Rock climbing
Oman is a land full of challenge and opportunity for rock-climbers and outdoor enthusiasts. Rugged mountains, rising at their highest point to 3,000 meters stretch for over 300 km. In among the peaks is amaze of spurs and wadis, deep canyons and towering cliffs. Most of them within easy reach of the capital city of Muscat, they vary in grading from easy to extremely hard.

Trekking
Oman is an amazing place for exploration and discovery of spectacular mountain scenery, especially by foot. The country has unique birds and animals, striking scenery, friendly people and year-round sunshine. The climate is almost perfect for walking.

Others
Whale and Dolphin Watching
Close encounters with whales are not unusual along Oman's shores. Together with their cousins dolphins, there may be as many as 22 species that inhabit or pass through the seas of Oman. In some areas, it is possible to encounter hundreds of spinner dolphins mixed with common dolphins. Early mornings and evenings are usually the best times to sight these creatures as the sea is calmer and the light better.

Turtle Watching
The beaches of Ras Al Hadd, Ras Al Jinz and Masirah island are locations where several species of marine turtles lay their eggs. Green turtles, loggerheads, Hawksbill and leatherbacks live for over 100 years and swim the length and breadth of the Indian Ocean to return to lay their eggs. Almost all Tour operators and hotels in offer turtle watching packages. a permit is required to visit the nesting sites as the turtles are protected as endangered species.

Horse and Camel Races
There are annual horse and Camel races at the Royal Stables, on religious and national occasions throughout the year in various parts of Oman. A Directorate-General of the Royal Stables has been established under the Diwan of Royal Court which supervises the breeding and rearing of horses in conformity with international standards. Camels are no longer bred for their milk or meat. Instead, they are groomed to be the thoroughbred versions of Arabian steed. Coveted by wealthy sheikhs of the Gulf region, these prized thoroughbreds set the racecourses ablaze. With Omani thoroughbreds in demand, good sprinters can command fabulous prices ranging from RO60,000 to RO100,000 a head.

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Eating Out

Numerous restaurants have opened in recent years with wide variety of cuisines, including Arabic, Indian, Oriental and other international dishes. There are a few nightclubs and bars in Muscat, located mostly in the hotels. Small coffee houses serving Arabic-Lebanese food are popular. Waiter service is usual.

Muslim law forbids alcohol, but most hotel bars and restaurants with permits serve alcohol. Visitors are only allowed to drink alcohol in licensed hotels and restaurants. To buy alcohol for home consumption, expatriates must obtain a license from Royal Oman Police.

Shopping
All international brands of clothes and electronics goods are available in modern showrooms at reasonable prices. The main shopping centres are Ruwi, Qurum and Al Khuwair in Muscat. You can purchase souvenirs such as khanjars (Omani daggers), sliver jewellery, frankincense, handwoven textiles, Arabic perfumes, carpets, coffeepots, baskets, camel straps, pottery, etc in local souqs or markets. The two main souqs are located in Matrah in Muscat and beautiful city Nizwa, about 170 kms from Muscat. These artifacts are also available in various souqs & galleries in Muscat. Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1300 and 1600-2000. Souqs open 0800-1100 and 1600-1900. Many shops close on Friday. Opening hours are 1 hour later during Ramadan.

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