Social ConventionsShaking 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 behavior is illegal.
Photography: Visitors should ask permission before attempting to photograph people or their property. ‘No Photography’ signs exist in certain places and must be observed.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe national airline of Oman is
Oman Air (WY) (website:
www.oman-air.com).
Departure TaxOMR5 for all departures (usually included in ticket price). Children under two years old are exempt.
Main AirportsMuscat (MCT) Seeb International (website:
www.omanairports.com) 40km (25 miles) west of the city (journey time - 30 to 40 minutes).
To/from the airport: Only taxis are available to/from the city.
Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, duty-free shops, bookshop, bar and light refreshments, restaurants and tourist information as well as post office and car hire.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: Salalah (website:
www.salalahport.com) and
Sultan Qaboos. Traffic is mainly commercial with the occasional cruise ship making a stopover.
Getting There by RoadTravel 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 and
Buraimi (United Arab Emirates) and
Sarfait (Yemen). Several international bus companies operate through these border crossings including
Oman National Transport Company (website:
www.ontcoman.com) to and from the United Arab Emirates and
Gulf Transport Company (tel: 23 293 303) to and from Yemen. It is possible to drive a hire car over the UAE border with additional insurance.
OverviewThe 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.
Restricted items: Meat products officially require an Islamic slaughter certificate.
Prohibited ImportsNarcotics, 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.
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.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirOman Air (WY) (website:
www.oman-air.com)
runs domestic flights to Salalah and Khasab from Seeb airport.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic 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.
Bus: The state-owned
Oman National Transport Company (tel: 24 708 522; website:
www.ontcoman.com) has a network of services around Oman using modern, air-conditioned vehicles. There are daily departures from Ruwi (Muscat) to Nizwa, Bahla, Ibri, Sohar, Buraimi, Sur and Salalah among other domestic destinations. It also runs international services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Taxis and minibuses run similar services.
Taxi: Prices are low compared to Western Europe. Shared taxis are also available. Metered taxis are slowly being introduced but in the meantime, fares should be agreed in advance.
Car hire: Available from international firms which have offices at the airport and at hotels in Muscat and Salalah. Local firms have limited availability in smaller towns.
Regulations: Traffic laws are strictly imposed. Heavy penalties are imposed for drinking and driving; 48-hour prison sentences are imposed if traffic offences are caused by driving under the influence of alcohol. Seat belts should be worn at all times. On-the-spot fines are imposed if caught using a mobile phone whilst driving. It is also forbidden to drive on the beaches.
Documentation: Long term residents need a local license, obtainable from the police by presenting a national driving license or International Driving Permit. Police passes are required for residents traveling to the United Arab Emirates.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from
Muscat to other major cities and towns in Oman.
| Air | Road | Rail |
| Sohar | - | 3.30 | - |
| Nizwa | - | 2.15 | - |
| Sur | - | 4.15 | - |
| Salalah | 1.15 | 10.00 | - |
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