Oman, the second largest country in Arabia with an area of 300,000 square km, occupies the south eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula.To the North, it borders the Strait of Hormuz, and to the East the coastline stretches 1700 km along the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea to the Yemeni border. In the West, Oman borders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates along the eastern fringe the Rub Al Khali (also known as the 'Empty Quarter'). The northern region of the Musandam Peninsula is separated from the rest of the country for 70 km by the UAE. The highest point in Oman is Jebel Shams at 3010 metres.

The most notable feature of Oman is the range of imposing mountains running North West to South East across the Northern third of the country. These mountains are the result of tectonic forces which pushed them up from ocean beds some 800 million years ago. The 1700 km long coastline is a showcase of varying terrain from the deep fjords in the Musandam, long sand beaches between Sohar and Muscat, mangrove lagoons, coral reefs, rocky islets and coves from Muscat to Sur around Ra's Al Hadd, Eastern most point of the Arabian peninsula to Salalah.

Muscat, the official capital of Oman, is only a small part of a larger grouping of cities and towns strung some 40kms along the coast of the Gulf of Oman, which is known locally as the "Capital Area" or the "Muscat Municipality." Never much deeper than 3 or 4 kms, this string of towns forms a sort of necklace sandwiched between the sea to the north and a very rocky, primeval-looking range of barren mountains to the south. Despite its ceremonial position as capital, the neighboring cities of Muttruh, with its superb corniche encirling a charming bay, and Ruwi, the traditional commercial center of the area, are both much more important

History

Arabs migrated to Oman from the 9th century B.C. onward, and conversion to Islam occurred in the 7th century A.D. Muscat, the capital of the geographical area known as Oman, was occupied by the Portuguese from 1508 to 1648. Then it fell to Ottoman Turks, but in 1741 Ahmad ibn Sa'id forced them out. The descendants of Sultan Ahmad rule Oman today.

Ahmad expanded his empire to East Africa, and for a time the Omani capital was in Zanzibar. After 1861, however, Zanzibar fell from Omani control.

The sultans and imams of Oman clashed continuously throughout the 20th century until 1959, when the last Ibadi imam was evicted from the country. In a palace coup on July 23, 1970, the sultan, Sa'id bin Taimur, who had ruled since 1932, was overthrown by his son, Qabus ibn Sa'id, who promised to establish a modern government and use newfound oil wealth to aid the people of this very isolated state. Oman joined the Arab League and the United Nations in 1971.

A long border dispute with Yemen was resolved in Oct. 1992; in 1997, the countries agreed to new maps defining the border.

In 1997, Sultan Qabus granted women the right to be elected to the country's consultative body, the Shura Council (Majlis al-Shura). In 2003, the sultan extended voting rights to everyone over 21; previously, voters were selected from among the elite, and only about a quarter of the population was allowed to vote.In 2006, Oman and the U.S. signed a free-trade deal

Natural gas accounts for nearly 80% of Oman’s revenue while agriculture, including dates, limes and alfalfa and some livestock, accounts for most of the rest. There are mineral deposits of copper, chromite, marble, gypsum and limestone, manganese ore and coal. Revenues are used to develop the country’s infrastructure and to boost home industries such as tourism and construction, as outlined in the Vision 2020 economic development programme.

For the past decade, major parts of the economy have been privatised and foreign investment is being actively encouraged. The economy has grown by an impressive 38% over the past two years but with inflation increasing to 4.8%. ’Omanisation’ (the employment of indigenous as opposed to expatriate workers) is gaining momentum but unemployment among young Omanis remains high (15% according to the last official Omani census in 2003).Oman is a member of various pan-Arab political and economic organisations - but not OPEC.

Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken. Swahili is also spoken by Omani descendents from East Africa. German and French are spoken by some hotel staff while Urdu, Farsi, Hindi and Tagalog are widely spoken by Oman’s large expatriate workforce.

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, ie 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. Homosexual behaviour is illegal.

In Oman, almost everyone that lives there is of the Islamic faith. There are about 1½ million people that live there. Of the people that are Islamic 75% are Ibadi Islam, which is a very strict form of Islam. Islam is the official Religion of Oman. It is taught to children and the court system is entirely run on the Islam faith. This court system works very well since everyone is a Muslim. Judging right and wrong is based on what their religion says. Everyone is expected to live by Islamic rules and creeds. Since just about everyone that lives in Oman is a Muslim and religious Minorities are somewhat persecuted. Since the Criminal system is based on Islam the penally for many things would be more harsh for Christians.

From May to August it is very hot and humid in all parts of the country except Dhofar. The climate is best from late September to early April. Rainfall varies according to the region. During the period June to September there is light rain in the Dhofar region with heavy fog across the hills.

Required Clothing: Lightweight cottons are advisable throughout the year, with a warm wrap for cooler winter evenings, mountain excursions and overworked air-conditioning in shops and restaurants.

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

Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs
All major credit cards are accepted here, including to a lesser extent American Express. ATMs are widely available throughout the county.

Banking Hours
Sat-Wed 08:00-12:00, Thurs 08:00-11:30.

• Time: GMT+4 hours.
• Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz.
• Country code: 968

The following items may be imported per family into Oman without incurring customs duty:

• Up to 2l of alcoholic beverages (non-Muslims only).
• A reasonable quantity of tobacco products.
• 227ml perfume.
• Eight video tapes or DVDs for personal use.

Prohibited Imports : Narcotics, non-canned food products (including vegetables, fruit and non-alcoholic beverages), bees (unless clearance is given), dates (including shoots of palm date, coconut and ornamental palm trees), firearms (including toys and replicas) and obscene films/literature. Videos may be subject to censorship.

Note: The import and use of narcotics and obscene material are forbidden and can lead to imprisonment. There are severe penalties for drug offences including, in some cases, the death penalty. ‘Soft’ drugs are treated as seriously as ‘hard’ drugs. The possession of small quantities of cannabis can lead to a 12-month prison sentence and deportation.

Getting Around Oman

Getting There by Air: The national airline of Oman is Oman Air (WY).

Getting There by Water: Muscat (MCT) Seeb International 40km (25 miles) west of the city (journey time - 30 to 40 minutes).Only taxis are available to/from the city.Bank/bureau de change, duty-free shops, bookshop, bar and light refreshments, restaurants and tourist information as well as post office and car hire are also available in Muscat (MCT) Seeb International.

Getting There by Road:Travel into Oman by land is possible from the United Arab Emirates and from Yemen and visas are obtainable at any of the several land crossings including Al-Darah (for Musandam Peninsula), Khatmat Milahah, Wajaja, Buraimi (United Arab Emirates) and Sarfait (Yemen). Several international bus companies operate through these border crossings including Oman National Transport Company to and from the United Arab Emirates and Gulf Transport Company to and from Yemen. It is possible to drive a hire car over the UAE border with additional insurance.

Traffic drives on the right. Principal routes run from east to west, connecting Muscat to Sohar, and from north to south. There are good roads in Muscat and between Muscat and other major towns in Oman. Unpaved roads open up less-visited parts of Oman for those with 4-wheel drive.

Passport valid for at least six months required by all except the following:

• Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates holding national identity cards.
• holders of Macau (SAR) Travel Permit.
  

Visas Required by all except nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council States. Nationals of the following countries may apply for a visa (at a cost of 6OR for single-entry visas and 10OR for multiple-entry visas) on arrival at Oman Seeb International Airport for a maximum stay of 14 days: Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalem, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Ecuador, EU nationals (except Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta and Slovenia), French Guiana, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Korea (Rep), Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Surinam, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, USA, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Any visitor arriving in Oman without a tourist or a sponsored visa will be refused entry. Visitors are not allowed to enter Oman by road unless their visa states such validity and a designated point of entry. A sponsored visa is obtainable from the Royal Oman Police Immigration Department.Travellers who have resided in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries for at least one year and who hold a valid residence permit and labour card may obtain a tourist visa on arrival, provided they meet certain conditions regarding professional status. Contact Embassy/Consulate for further details.For minors (under 18 years) travelling unaccompanied, a consent letter is required from one of their parents.

Muscat, the capital city of Oman lies sparkling white, topped with golden minarets in the middle of a maze of brown pleated mountains reaching down to the Arabian Sea. Described as "Arabia's jewel”, this city is a blend of the old and the new. Muscat is green as green can be, and defies being classified as part of a desert country. The roads are lined with well-manicured green lawns and trees. During winter this is interspersed with a profusion of multicoloured flowers. The city has steadfastly retained its old-world character. Old Muscat has a quaint charm about it with many forts, castles, mosques and towers doting the landscape. Of particular note are Jalali and Mirani forts flanking Al Alam Palace. The Corniche, with its promenade and souqs (markets) is one of the highlights of the city. The old souq of Muttrah is an ideal spot for tourists to buy keepsakes and treasures. Greater Muscat boasts high-rise business properties (but not too high), world-class highways, upscale suburbs rooted in traditional Islamic architecture, elegant mosques, large green parks, archaeological sites, museums and world-class hotels.

Jebel Akhdar in Arabic means "Green Mountains" and this region of the most verdant outside of Salalah and the Batinah Coast. To go there requires a 4-wheel drive ( and a road permit because of military installations in the area). One of the most scenic areas in Oman, coupled with the friendly local inhabitants, this region is a natural spot for tourism. Points of interest include the towns of Wadi Bani Habib, Saiq and Al Ayn, where local farmers raise grapes, pomegranates, apricots and walnuts. The climate is moderate year round as the mean altitude is about 1800 metres.

Al Masirah Island is idyllic for those who really want to get away from it all. It is an island in the Indian Ocean, 20 kms off central Oman coast just South of the Wahiba Sands. The stark rocky landscape is rimmed with isolated beaches whose only visitors are the logger head turtles that come to nest there.

Beachcombers and tourist around the world may come across a variety of shell fish and other speciments of marine life. There is also evidence of early settlements.

The Musandam Peninsula, dubbed as the "Norway of the Middle East" because of the inlets likened to Norway's fjords, provides a spectacular bird's eye view. The stark mountains of this region rise 2000 meters out of the Arabian Gulf. The patterns and textures of the mountains are altogether striking. From November to March is particularly an ideal time to visit the Musandam. Almost 6 hrs by road, 45 minutes by flight is the average drive time and to get there, travel by car up the Batinah coast for a six-hour ride. To complete the drive to Khasab requires passing through the United Arab Emirates for which a road permit from the Oman ROP (Police) and visas (for some nationalities). Daily flights from Muscat are operated by Oman Air. No visas required.

The Great Wahiba Sands are longitudinal dunes 200 km long and 100 km wide running south from the Eastern Hajars to the Arabian Sea. The dunes are 100-150 metres high in shades of colour from orange to hues of amber. Bedouin camps can be found along the tracks and trails in this isolated desert. In sporadic areas can be found stands of single-species woodlands. Where the sands meet the ocean, outcrops of aolianite (sand compressed into rock) can be found displaying unusual and attractive abstract shapes. Here the beaches mellow into soft shades of yellows and whites.