A Guide to Oman for Expat Beginners

Oman, located on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, is a largely-overlooked travel gem. This country that is full of historic forts, rolling sand-dunes, pristine beaches, and fascinating culture should be high on your list of places to explore. Although by no means comprehensive, this guide should help you begin to plan your travels to this majestic place. 

General Information

Visitors from many countries—including the US, Canada, and the countries in the EU—won’t need to worry about Visas prior to their visit. Upon arrival, you will be able to obtain a one-month tourist visa. Oman is relatively conservative and predominantly Muslim, and as such, there are certain laws that you should be aware of. For example, foreigners—even non-Muslim foreigners—may only bring two liters of alcohol into the country, and only at Seeb International Airport in Muscat. 

Also important to note is that expressions of frustration or making certain hand gestures, such as giving someone the middle finger, could lead to a lawsuit being filed against you—and while the lawsuit is being resolved, you may be denied exit from the country! Be sensitive to and respectful of the local culture and you should have few problems.  

Dress

Oman is hot and humid, so you’ll want to wear loose clothing made of light fabrics that breathe. As this is a relatively conservative country, be sure to dress modestly. Women should wear pants or skirts that fall at or below the knee, and they should take care to keep their arms and shoulders covered. They may want to carry a shawl to cover their head in more conservative areas or when visiting mosques. The dress code is less strict for men, but they may still want to opt for pants rather than shorts. Neither men nor women should wear clothes that are too tight or fitted.  

Transportation

If you plan to travel around Oman—which you should; the countryside is beautiful, and there are tons of old forts to discover!—you have plenty of options for getting around. You can rent a car if you wish, but know that you can also use buses or taxis to get to most places. 

If you drive yourself, be careful during times of adverse weather, as Oman experiences frequent problems with landslides. Also know that if you have a map of the country, it may or may not be totally accurate. You may want to look into downloading the Tour Oman app, which should help you with finding a route between points of interest in the country. It’s always a good idea to set up a VPN to protect your personal information prior to your travels, though!

Muscat

Muscat, the seaside capital city of Oman, is a must-see. The city is actually originally three distinct towns, but over the years, as the city has expanded, these three towns have grown together. However, this means that you will find sights of similar nature in certain areas—the royal palaces are all in Muscat proper, for example.  

If you’re interested in history, you will definitely want to check out the two 16th-century forts, Al Jalali and Al Mirani. You may not be able to visit the interiors, but the exteriors are very impressive. Nearby, visit the Qasr Al Alam Royal Palace. And no trip to Muscat would be complete without a visit to the opulent Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the third-largest mosque in the world. Or you may want to take a trip out to the emerald-green pools or dried riverbeds and spectacular caves of Wadi Shab, located about 100km outside the city. 

Outdoor Adventures

The undulating sand-dunes and interesting desert life are compelling reason to travel to Ibra, the gateway to the Wahibi Sands. Stay at one of the resorts and explore via car or camel—or if you’re really feeling adventurous, look into finding a guide and camping out in the desert. When it gets too hot in the desert, head out to Oman’s miles of virtually-untouched beaches. If sand isn't your thing, you might be more interested in visiting the Hajar Mountains, which offer some excellent trekking. 

Whether your interests are history and culture, wilderness, or simply exploration at its finest, you will find no shortage of things to interest you in Oman. If you are respectful of the culture and the people, you will find a whole new world available for you. Attempt to satisfy your curiosity, but know that you will never be bored in this intriguing place. 

For hotel bookings anywhere in Oman, please check my hotel booking site, www.mycheapbookings.com.

Photo Credits: Ms. Vhie