Travelling around Oman with a rental car

> Travel security, > Travel Oman individually, > Travelling as a woman in Oman,  > Travel info A-Z, > Entry, >Clothing, >Travel season, >Guidebook Oman, > Eating in Oman, > Travelling during Ramadan

The tarred road network in Oman is well developed, signposted in two languages almost everywhere and the same traffic rules apply as in Europe. Exploring the country as a self-driver in a rental car is therefore highly recommended. There are also some recommended routes for off-road driving enthusiasts. The volume of traffic has increased considerably in recent years - many young Omanis now have a driving licence, but unfortunately do not yet have much driving experience. Caution in road traffic is therefore advisable. There are speed cameras everywhere and there is very heavy speeding!

➤ Orientation: As the road signs in all major towns and villages are in Arabic and English, orientation is generally easy. Drive on the right.

➤ Speed limits: Depending on the signs, between 40 and 60 km/h are permitted within built-up areas and a maximum of 120 km/h on rural roads. As the police now use speed cameras to strictly control speed, it is advisable to take the limits seriously, even if wide roads and little traffic encourage you to drive faster.

➤ Dangers: Unknown dangers for Europeans include camels and sheep that suddenly run onto the road and wadis that suddenly flood during heavy rainfall. Before hiring a car, you should consider whether you will only be travelling on asphalt roads or whether you also want to drive on remote slopes and you should realistically assess your abilities.
Under no circumstances should you drive off-road in a normal car or with an SUV rental car contract that does not expressly permit this, as this is prohibited and there is no insurance cover in the event of an accident. Driving through wadis in the mountains or in unknown terrain in the desert can quickly become extreme and therefore requires a suitable vehicle and appropriate driving experience in different terrains.

➤ Insurances: There are various insurance policies for hire cars, but these do not relieve the driver of their duty to check the oil and water regularly. If the vehicle is damaged due to improper use, this is not covered by the insurance.

The CDW = Collision Damage Waver is a fully comprehensive insurance policy;
PAI = Person Accident Insurance is a passenger liability insurance. Make sure you take out these two insurances if they are not already included in the hire price!

We only offer rental cars that include both types of insurance (the deductible for comprehensive insurance is 130 OMR).
The usual age limit for drivers is 21 to 65 years.

➤ Exceptions to age restrictions: We also provide vehicles for drivers under the age of 21 and over the age of 65, provided they have the necessary driving experience and physical fitness.

The deductible for comprehensive insurance for these age groups increases from OMR 130 to OMR 250.

➤ International driving licence: If you have an EU driving licence in card format, this is sufficient for Oman (also check with the car rental company)

Your contacts for booking a rental car: 
Maria Popp and Karin Nowack

ARABIA FELIX Synform GmbH
Treffauerstr. 18, 81373 Munich, Germany
✉ info@oman.de