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Oman |
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Situated on the eastern edge
of the Arabian Peninsula,
the Sultanate of Oman is
bordered by the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia in the west and
the Republic of Yemen in the
south. The United Arab
Emirates lay to the
north-west and to the east
lays the Arabian Sea and the
Gulf of Oman. The land area
is 309,500 sq. kms.
The natural attributes of
the country are unrivalled
in the region and while
other destinations are
building attractions, Oman
has had them all along –
from mountains and wadis, to
lush greenery and some of
the most beautiful beaches
in the world, in monsoon
blessed Salalah.
Despite development in the
country’s capital, Muscat,
the country remains firmly
rooted in tradition and
culture. A trip to Oman
gives the chance to
experience the true Arabian
way of life and to enjoy the
natural beauty of a country
that only recently began to
attract tourism.
A proud and gentle people,
the Omanis are amongst the
friendliest and open people
in the Gulf region. A source
of pride for the Omanis is
their rich culture, creative
achievements and friendly
relations with other
countries. Wherever you
travel in Oman, you will be
touched by the generosity
and the dignity which all
Omanis display, and the
warmth of their welcome for
visitors. It is, indeed,
hard to be a stranger for
long.
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Fact File |
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Capital: |
Muscat |
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Climate: |
Summer is between April and
September, when average
temperatures are in the mid
40s, with some peaks at
around 50 degrees Celsius.
Mild weather is experienced
in the mountains and the
Dhofar region all year
round, which also enjoys a
regular monsoon between June
and October every year.
The most pleasant months to
visit Oman are between
October and March, when
daytime temperatures are
below 30s. |
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Clothing: |
Lightweight summer clothing
in cottons or blends is
ideal for most of the year.
Sweaters, a light jacket or
a scarf may be needed in
cold evenings. Even though
Oman is a very tolerant
country, it is advisable to
avoid wearing more revealing
outfits in public places. |
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Credit Cards: |
All major credit cards are
accepted in main hotels,
stores and larger shops, but
only cash is accepted in
traditional souqs. |
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Culture: |
Like all the Arab countries,
Arab Islamic culture
dominates the lifestyle in
the Sultanate. |
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Currency: |
The currency is the Omani
Rial (RO), divided into 1000
Baizas. Currency notes are
available in denominations
of RO 50, 20, 10, 5, 1 and
100, 200, 500 Baizas.
The Omani Rial has a fixed
exchange rate which is
linked to the US Dollar (1
RO ~ 0.385 USD approx). |
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Electricity: |
The electrical system is
based on 220 / 240 AC volts
with 3 pin British type
plugs. |
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Getting around: |
Oman has a modern network of
roads and motorways. Taxis
are the best way of getting
around though it is
essential to agree on the
fare beforehand, as most
taxis are not metered. Taxi
fares from the airport to
hotels are regulated and the
rates are displayed. |
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Government: |
Monarchy with a provisional
legislature. His Majesty
Sultan Qaboos Bin Said is
Head of State and rules by
decree. He is assisted by a
cabinet of ministers, Diwan
of the Royal Court (the
central body of bureaucratic
affairs), and the Majlis Ash
Shura, a body of
representatives elected by
the populace. |
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Health: |
While tap water is safe for
drinking, a variety of
locally bottled mineral
water is widely available.
This is generally offered at
restaurants and
supermarkets. Most hotels
have medical help available
and there is a modern
infrastructure in terms of
private and government
medical facilities. |
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Language: |
Arabic is the official
language. English is widely
spoken and along with Arabic
is the common business
language. Most hotel staff
speak German and French as
well. |
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Mobile phones: |
Oman has an extensive GSM
network. Visitors can avoid
roaming charges by
purchasing a prepaid SIM
card in various outlets. |
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Population: |
3.10 million (2006
estimation). Around 2.0
million are Omani nationals.
The remaining are
expatriates from India,
Pakistan, Asia, other Arab
countries, Europe and USA. |
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Ramadan: |
Ramadan, the holy month of
fasting, is the ninth month
on the Islamic calendar,
which is a lunar calendar.
For the period of the holy
month of Ramadan, Muslims
abstain from eating,
drinking and smoking during
day light hours. As a sign
of respect, visitors are
also required to refrain
from these activities in
public between sunrise and
sunset. |
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Religion: |
Islam is the official
religion, predominantly the
Ibadhi sect, while other
faiths are also exercised.
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Time: |
GMT +4 Hours |
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Visas: |
Visit visas valid for a one
month stay may be obtained
on arrival by citizens of
over 60 countries including
European Union, USA, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand,
Singapore, Japan...
GCC Nationals do not require
a visa.
It is important that your
passport is valid for the
duration of your stay and
have blank pages for the
visa stamp. |
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Working Hours: |
Ministries and government
establishments - 7:30am to
2:30pm (Sat-Wed, week-end is
Thursday and Friday)
Private sector companies -
8:00am to 1:00pm; 4:00pm to
7:00pm (Saturday-Wednesday)
8:00am to 1:00pm on
Thursdays.
Markets: 8:00am to 1:00pm,
4:00pm to 9:00pm.
Banks: 8:00am to 12 noon. |
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