Except for the largest streets, no street has a name in the city plans. Street names (ways) and numbers are only of administrative significance. The best way to orientate yourself is with a mobile phone and apps such as Google Maps or Organic Maps with offline maps. This allows you to see where you are and where you want to go.
The electrical system is based on 220/240 volt alternating current with a British 3-pin plug. An adapter is therefore required.
An important note for travellers in advance: The Sultanate of Oman has strict hygiene regulations and successfully endeavours to protect its inhabitants and guests from illness. However, tourists should bear in mind that adjusting to the unfamiliar climate can initially put a strain on the body.
The culinary offerings, on the other hand, are boundless. In Muscat in particular, you can dine on European, Asian, African and, of course, Arabic cuisine. Some of the bars and restaurants also have an alcohol licence.
Away from the capital region, there are many small and simple restaurants that offer good and plentiful meals. People normally eat with their right hand, but tourists are usually automatically offered cutlery. Standard side dishes are water, soup and a raw vegetable salad, which are served unordered and can be eaten without hesitation.
Menus in restaurants with menus from EUR 10, in simple restaurants from EUR 5, in hotel restaurants menus from EUR 20, beer from EUR 8, soft drinks from EUR 1. See also > food
Always ask permission in advance for people. Basically, no photos of airports and people praying in the mosques. When taking photos of locals, you should bear in mind that this is not always desired, especially women do not like it. The men are usually happy to pose for a nice photo.
If you get the mobile number of your "model" and send him an mms or whats app, the joy is twice as greatß.
The Islamic holidays are celebrated according to the Islamic calendar and therefore change their Gregorian date every year. 18 November is the bank holidays, the birthday of Sultan Qaboos is celebrated as at least a second festival, sometimes not directly on 18 November.
The equivalent value of 1 Omani Rial (OMR) is around 2.6 - 2.7 euros (as of Feb. 25) and can only be obtained outside the country at extreme cost and effort. The rial is divided into 1000 baizas. The currency is freely convertible, the exchange rate is linked to the US dollar and therefore subject to the same fluctuations.
The local currency can be withdrawn from the numerous ATMs located throughout the country using a credit card (don't forget your PIN number!). ATMs of the Oman National Bank also accept the EC card. Alternatively, you can take cash (euros) with you and change it in the bureaux de change.
Visa and Mastercard are the most widely used credit cards.Traveller cheques are only accepted by the major banks in Muscat after a thorough and lengthy authenticity check and are therefore not recommended. 100 dollar notes are also problematic throughout the country due to the many counterfeits.
The healthcare system in Oman meets the most modern standards. So if you fall ill on site, don't hesitate to see a doctor if necessary.
We recommend always covering your head, using sun cream with a high sun protection factor and taking a good pair of sunglasses with you due to the high level of sunlight.
No special travel vaccinations (apart from Covid 19) are required. However, we generally recommend that you make sure that your immunisation against tetanus and polio is still effective. As a precaution, you should carry a sufficient quantity of any medication that you take regularly. If you need to consult a doctor in the country, you will have to pay for the treatment locally. You should therefore take out international health insurance. On presentation of the invoice, you will be reimbursed for the treatment costs on your return.
Remember to pack a light jumper and a scarf. They protect you from catching a cold in overly air-conditioned hotel rooms and restaurants.
Light summer clothing is sufficient all year round in Oman.
At the turn of the year it can cool down to 0 degrees at night in the high mountains (Jebel Shams, Jebel Akhdar), so a warm jumper/fleece jacket should be in your luggage. The sun warms during the day. For excursions into the mountains, you should think about sturdy, ankle-high shoes - for the wadis, water-suitable shoes are recommended.
If you are sensitive to air conditioning, it is advisable to always have a light cardigan and a light scarf with you.
A light jumper is sufficient for cooler days on the coast. Clothing should respect local Muslim customs, i.e. shoulders, upper arms and knees should be completely covered and women's legs should not be tight-fitting.
The correct swimwear for men and women in the natural water pools of the mountain wadis and on public beaches are sports or functional shirts for the upper body and leggings up to the knee for the legs. On private hotel beaches, the usual European swimwear is sufficient see also "Clothing for your holiday in Oman"
Visitors should respect the traditions of the country. If not everything runs at a European pace, please bear with us.
We like to greet strangers with an open hand, and the guest is expected to return this greeting. A handshake, especially between husband and wife, outside of kinship, is not customary. This is to be understood as respect for privacy.
If you are bathing in wadis or on public beaches, exercise discretion when changing and wear functional shirts and leggings. Cover up again immediately after bathing.
Walking in a bikini, for example, is taboo. Swimming shorts for men are perceived as underwear.
Friday is Muslim Sunday and most museums, fortresses and shops are closed on Fridays. Exceptions are food shops and markets. They are usually open Saturday to Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 7 pm, some large shopping centres are also open on Fridays and until 8 pm.
The Islamic year is around ten days shorter than the Gregorian year. The beginning of the month of fasting is therefore moved forward by this period every year. It lasts four weeks. In Oman it can be one day earlier. The exact start of Ramadan depends on the local moon observation and is therefore announced at short notice.
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. They neither drink nor eat. Alcohol is taboo for devout Muslims anyway, and during Ramadan the serving of alcohol is also restricted in hotels for tourists. All upscale hotels have all-day dining areas that are open to non-Muslims during the day. Shops and grocery stores are open as normal. Some museums have restricted opening hours.
At the end of Ramadan, the Eid Al Fitr holidays follow, during which public authorities and most museums are closed for several days.
Are you unsure whether you want to travel during Ramdan? - Here are our tips for Ramadan
Haggling over the price is not customary in Oman. Sales negotiations are correspondingly calm. Any discounts are usually no more than around 10% of the value of the goods. A souvenir industry is only just beginning to develop, but there are now magnets and cheap junk made in China on the most frequented corners - fortunately rather sporadically.
The beautiful souqs are always worth a visit. If you buy a little something, the visit from tourists is also fun for the traders and it creates a win-win situation. Because among the - often very inexpensive - goods on offer, you will also find things that make great souvenirs: spices, teas, coffee, incense and other incense and aromatic essences, as well as embroidered fabric caps, cotton or cashmere shirts and silver jewellery.
Some shops stock goods on commission from weavers and potters from remote parts of the country. When you buy handicrafts, you are not only doing something good for yourself, but also supporting the preservation of old craftsmanship.
One of the favourite leisure activities of Omanis is to meet in the evening in the cafés of the shopping centres and then stroll through the shopping arcades. In recent years, young Omanis have discovered the old towns and meet up in the beautifully decorated ambience of the old houses for a coffee or a lemon-mint lemonade.
Alcohol is served in hotel restaurants, hotel bars and private clubs. Drinking in public is prohibited. eCigarettes are generally prohibited.
The national language is Arabic, English is widely spoken, other languages are Hindi and Swahili.
Code for Oman +968. Most mobile phone network operators have roaming agreements with Oman. Please contact your personal provider for more information. Omani SIM cards are available at the airport, for example
Restaurant and hotel bills usually include 15% service charge and tax. An additional tip of a few hundred baiza is subject to satisfaction with the service
MEZ plus three, summer time plus two hours.
Your contacts for travelling with Arabia Felix:
Maria Popp and Karin Nowack
Phone: +49 (0)89 / 30 77 92 00
info@oman.de
ARABIA FELIX Synform GmbH
Treffauerstraße 18
81373 München
Germany
Tel: +49 89/30779200
E-Mail: info@oman.de
VAT-ID: DE201885274
