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Oman
General Information
Area: 309,500 sq km (119,500 sq miles).
Population: 2,325,438 (1999).
Population Density: 7.5 per sq km.
Capital: Muscat. Population: 635,279 (1999).
GEOGRAPHY: The Sultanate of Oman occupies the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula with almost 1700km (1062 miles) of coastline stretching along the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf. It is bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the west and the Republic of Yemen to the south. The United Arab Emirates lies to the northwest of Oman and to the east lies the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman.
Government: Sultanate since 1744. Head of State and Government: Sultan Qaboos bin Said since 1970.
Language: Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken. Swahili is also spoken by the population from East Africa. German and French are spoken by hotel staff.
Religion: Predominantly Ibadi Muslim, with Shi’ite Muslim, Sunni Muslim and Hindu minorities.
Time: GMT + 4.
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz.
Communications:
Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 968. Outgoing international code: 00.
Mobile telephone
GSM 900 network. The Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel) is the local operator (website: www.gto.net.om).
Fax
Services are available from Omantel. There are fax facilities in most hotels and in the major cities.
Telegram
Services are available at the counter in the Central Telegraph Office, Muscat. In case of difficulty, visitors may book calls through the international operator.
Internet
There are Internet cafes in the cities of Nizwa and Muscat. ISPs include Omantel (website: www.gto.net.om) and Oman Online (website: www.omanonline.com).
Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes three to four days.
Press
English-language newspapers include The Times of Oman and The Oman Daily Observer.
BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change.
BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice):
Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov):
Passport/Visa
| | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? | | British | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes | | Australian | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes | | Canadian | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes | | USA | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes | | OtherEU | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes | | Japanese | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes |
PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least six months required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE holding national identity cards;
(b) holders of Macau (SAR) Travel Permit.
VISAS: Required by all except nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council States and Brunei Darussalem.
(a) 1. Nationals of the following countries may apply for a visa, at a cost of 7OR, on arrival at Oman Seeb International Airport for a maximum stay of 14 days: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalem, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea (Rep), Latvia, Malaysia, Maldives, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, Ukraine, USA, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Note: (a) Any visitor arriving in Oman without a visa or ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) will be refused entry. Visitors are not allowed to enter Oman by road unless their visa or NOC states such validity and a designated point of entry. An NOC is obtainable from the Royal Oman Police Immigration Department. (b) Travellers who have resided in one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries for at least one year and who hold a valid residence permit and labour card may obtain a tourist visa on arrival, provided they meet certain conditions regarding professional status. Contact Embassy/Consulate for further details. (c) For minors travelling unaccompanied, a consent letter is required from their parents with a letter of invitation from the host in Oman.
Types of visa and cost: Cost may vary according to nationality. Generally costs are as follows: Tourist: Single-entry: £10. Business: Single-entry: £20. Multiple-entry: £20 (for 12 months). Visitors are advised to contact the embassy. Fees may be paid by cheque if application is made in person.
Validity: Tourist/Business visas: one month from date of issue for stays of up to three weeks, and multiple-entry for two years from date of issue.
Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section for details. Applications are referred to Muscat.
Application requirements: (a) One application form, clearly completed (preferably typed) and signed. (b) A full passport, valid for at least six months, must be presented so that visas can be stamped into them. (c) Fee (payable by postal order if applying by post). (d) Details of travel plans. (e) Evidence of employment or proof of sufficient funds for period of stay. (f) Self-addressed envelope with stamp sufficient to cover cost of posting passport and other documents if applying by post. Business: (a)-(f) and, (g) Business letter or employer’s certificate.
Note: Passengers who have a new passport, but whose visa is entered in a previous passport, should also carry their previous passport. Passports must have spare pages.
Working days required: Approximately one week. Postal applications take longer.
Money
Currency: Omani Rial (OR) = 1000 baiza. Notes are in denominations of OR50, 20, 10, 5 and 1, and 500, 250, 200 and 100 baiza. Coins are in denominations of 500, 250, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5 baiza.
Credit & debit cards: American Express is accepted, as are other major credit cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.
Travellers cheques: Easily exchanged. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.
Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. Israeli currency, however, is prohibited.
Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Omani Rial against Sterling and the US Dollar:
| Date | May ’02 | Aug ’02 | Nov ’02 | Feb ’03 | | £1.00= | 0.56 | 0.59 | 0.61 | 0.61 | | $1.00= | 0.39 | 0.38 | 0.39 | 0.38 |
Banking hours: Sat-Wed 0800-1200, Thurs 0800-1130.
Duty Free
The following items may be imported into Oman without incurring customs duty:
Up to 2l of alcoholic beverages (non-Muslims only); a reasonable quantity of tobacco products; 227ml perfume.
Prohibited items: Narcotics, non-canned food products (including vegetables, fruit and non-alcoholic beverages), firearms (including toys and replicas) and obscene films/literature. Videos are subject to censorship.
Public Holidays
Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 12 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Mar 5 Muharram (Islamic New Year). May 14 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). Sep 24 Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet). Nov 18 National Day. Nov 19 Birthday of HM Sultan Qaboos. Nov 26-28 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 2 Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). Feb 22 Muharram (Islamic New Year). May 2 Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). Sep 12 Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet). Nov 14-16 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan). Nov 18 National Day. Nov 19 Birthday of HM Sultan Qaboos.
Note: Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to ten days, depending on the region. For more information, see the World of Islam appendix.
Health
| | Special Precautions | Certificate Required | | Yellow Fever | No | 1 | | Cholera | No | No | | Typhoid and Polio | 2 | N/A | | Malaria | 3 | N/A |
1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers arriving from infected areas.
2: Typhoid may occur in rural areas.
3: A limited malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists throughout the year in the whole country except at altitudes above 2000m and in desert areas. Chloroquine resistance has been reported.
Food & drink: All water outside the capital area should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Bottled water is available and is advised throughout Oman. Food bought in the main supermarkets can be regarded as safe. Outside the capital area, milk may be unpasteurised and if so, should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks: Hepatitis A and B occur. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix.
Health care: Oman has an extensive public health service (free to Omani nationals), with approximately 46 hospitals, 86 health centres and 65 preventative health centres. However, costs are high for foreigners and health insurance is essential.
Travel - International
AIR: The national airlines of Oman are Gulf Air (GF) (website: www.gulfairco.com), which it jointly owns with the governments of Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and Qatar; and Oman Air (WY) (website: www.oman-air.com). Other airlines serving Oman include British Airways, Emirates, KLM and Lufthansa.
Approximate flight times: From Muscat to London is 8 hours 10 minutes, to Singapore 6 hours 30 minutes and to Sydney 16 hours.
International airports: Muscat (MCT) (Seeb International), 40km (25 miles) west of the city (travel time – 15-30 minutes). Airport facilities include 24-hour bank/bureau de change, duty-free shops, bar and light refreshments, restaurants and tourist information as well as post office and car hire (Avis, Budget and Hertz). Taxis and buses to the city are available.
Departure tax: OR5 for all departures, if tax has not already been collected at ticket issuance. Children under 12 years old are exempt.
SEA: The main ports are Mina Raysut and Sultan Qaboos. Traffic is mainly commercial.
ROAD: Travel into Oman by land is only possible with prior government permission. The best route is the north–south road from Muscat to Salalah, a journey of some ten to 12 hours. Road travel through Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is extremely limited. There is no access from Yemen.
Travel - Internal
AIR: Oman Air (WY) runs domestic flights to Salalah and Khasab from Seeb airport; the approximate flight time to Salalah is 90 minutes.
ROAD: Traffic drives on the right. Principal routes run from east to west, connecting Muscat to Sohor, and from north to south. Bus: The state-owned Oman National Transport Company has been developing a network of services in Muscat and north Oman using modern vehicles. There is competition from taxis and pick-up trucks converted for passenger service. Taxi: Prices are high and fares should be agreed in advance. Shared taxis are also available. Car hire: Available from Budget and Avis which have offices at hotels throughout the country. Regulations: Heavy penalties are imposed for drinking and driving. It is also forbidden to drive on the beaches. Documentation: A local licence must be obtained from the police by presenting a national driving licence or International Driving Permit. Police passes may be required if travelling via the United Arab Emirates.
Accommodation
There are about a dozen modern hotels. Smaller hotels are cheaper but facilities are limited. There are very few hotels in provincial areas but a large hotel-building programme has been initiated. The Hilton hotel in Salalah is one of these. Booking well in advance is strongly recommended. All rates are subject to a ten per cent service charge.
Introduction
Note: Entry into mosques is forbidden to non-Muslims.
MUSCAT: Oman’s capital is divided into three main districts: Muscat, Mutrah and Ruwi. Muscat, the old walled port town, is dominated by the Sultan’s palace, buildings of the Royal Court and government offices. Two well preserved 16th-century Portuguese forts, Al Jalali and Mirani, guard the entrance to Muscat, and the city walls contain three beautifully carved original gates. The town’s old houses and narrow streets are overlooked by the hillside Mutrah Fort. The Ali Mosque and the New Mosque beside the sea add to the district’s charm. Mutrah port is the capital’s commercial centre and its fish market, souk and many bazaars are well worth visiting. Ruwi is the capital’s business district and has excellent streets for shopping. The National Museum, featuring fine displays of Omani silverwork, and the Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum, which outlines Omani history, are located here.
SALALAH: The capital of the southern region is a city set amongst coconut groves and banana plantations, sprawled along sandy beaches that run the length of its plain. The lush vegetation makes Salalah seem almost tropical, particularly as it is one of the only places in the Arabian peninsular that catches the monsoon. The Al-Balid ruins, site of the ancient city of Zafar, are a major tourist attraction.
SUR: Situated in the northeastern province of Sharqiya, Sur is a seafaring town, a fishing village and a trading port all rolled into one. Famous for its traditional shipbuilding, Sur started trading along the African coast as early as the sixth century. It is an old town with winding streets, carved wooden doors and old Arabesque buildings. The nearby village of Tiwi is also worth a visit.
SOHAR: There is a very large and functional souk (market) here, full of tailors, fruit-sellers and fishermen. An imposing four-storey fort with six towers overlooks the bay.
MATRAH-MUSCAT: Archaeological excavation of the tumuli at the site of Souks Bausharios is fascinating.
NIZWA: Now the main town in the interior province, with an immense palm oasis stretching for 13km (8 miles) along the course of two wadis, Nizwa was once the country’s capital during the sixth and seventh centuries. Famous for its gold and silver handicrafts, the centre of the town is dominated by the huge circular tower of one of Oman’s oldest and largest forts.
JABRIN: The 17th-century fortified palace situated here is notable for its painted wooden ceilings and the splendid view across the desert to the mountains.
BAHLA: Dating back to the third millennium BC, this ancient town has seven miles of ancient defensive walls and is a World Heritage Site. There is a good souk here and the town is known for its pottery. The picturesque village of Al Hamra can be found nearby.
JEBEL AKHDAR: Literally ‘The Green Mountain’, and rising to nearly 3000m (10,000ft), Jebel Akhdar is noted for its date palm groves, valleys and terraced villages, including Bani Habib and Sharijah.
On the northern slopes of the Jebel Akhdar are the fortress of Al Hazm, built in 1708, and the oasis town of Rostaq, containing the tombs of Oman’s early rulers. On the side of a deep wadi on the south slope of the Jebel Akhdar, sits Misfah, one of the most picturesque villages in Oman.
QURUM: Encapsulates Oman’s archaeology, history and culture. The National Museum has a collection of silver, jewellery, weapons and ancient stone artefacts. From here dhows cruise along the palm-fringed coast and there are excellent fishing grounds and beaches.
Sport & Activities
Watersports: There are many sandy beaches offering good bathing, diving and sailing facilities. Many hotels have pools. There are also three private sports clubs with water-skiing and fishing facilities. The Bander al-Rowdha Marina has a purpose-built watersports complex, with landscaped beach area, swimming pool and restaurants. The Dubai to Muscat President’s Cup Regatta takes place annually. The waters of the Gulf of Oman and the North Indian Ocean are populated by black marlin, swordfish, tuna and sailfish making them ideal for game fishing. A fishing permit is required from the Directorate General of Fisheries, and spearfishing is strictly prohibited. In the southern region, fishing is restricted to between Mughsayl and Taqah. Hunting is completely forbidden.
Caving: This is also popular in Oman. Majlis al-Jhinn is the world’s second-largest cave; its long passages, crystal-clear streams, canals and drip curtains extend throughout its four million cubic metre expanse.
Other: There are many sports clubs based in Muscat offering facilities for tennis, squash and karting. Hockey, football, volleyball and basketball are popular spectator sports and matches are staged at the Wattayah Stadium. Owing to the nature of the terrain and climate, golf is not a prominent sport in Oman, although there is a number of sand courses operated by local clubs, as well as plans to build a course at A’Suwadi. Horseraces and the more popular camel races are held on Fridays and public holidays at a variety of locations.
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Numerous restaurants have opened in recent years, but many people retain the habit of dining at hotels. There is a wide variety of cuisine on offer, including Arabic, Indian, Oriental, European and other international dishes. Coffee houses are popular. Waiter service is usual.
Muslim law forbids alcohol, but most hotel bars and restaurants serve alcohol. Visitors are only allowed to drink alcohol in licensed hotels and restaurants. To buy alcohol for home consumption, Western nationals must obtain a licence from their embassy.
Nightlife: There are a few nightclubs and bars in Muscat, mostly in the hotels. There are three air-conditioned cinemas in Ruwi and an open-air cinema at the al-Falaj Hotel showing Arab, Indian and English films.
Shopping: The modern shops are mostly in Ruwi and Qurum. The two main souks (markets) are located in Matrah and Nizwa. Traditional crafts include silver and gold jewellery, khanjars (Omani daggers), coffeepots, saddles, frankincense, handwoven textiles, carpets, baskets and camel straps. Antique khanjars (over 50 years old) may not be exported. It is wise to check with the Ministry of National Heritage and Culture for the necessary documentation before purchasing. Shopping hours: Sat-Thurs 0800-1300 and 1600-2000. Souks open 0800-1100 and 1600-1900. Many shops close on Friday. Opening hours are one hour later during Ramadan.
Social Conventions: Shaking 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, ie long skirts or dresses (below the knee) with long sleeves. Tight-fitting clothes must be avoided and although this is not strictly followed by Westerners, it is far better to adopt this practice and avoid causing offence. Shorts should never be worn in public and beachwear is prohibited anywhere except the beach. Collecting sea shells, 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. Photography: Visitors should ask permission before attempting to photograph people or their property. ‘No Photography’ signs exist in certain places and must be observed. Tipping: Becoming more common and ten per cent should be given.
Business Profile
Economy: Oman was acutely underdeveloped until the discovery in the early 1970s of oil and natural gas, which now account for over 40 per cent of GDP and 80 per cent of the country’s export earnings. Agriculture, owing to Oman’s desert land, is confined to the coastal plain and a few irrigated areas in the interior. Dates, limes and alfalfa are the main products; some livestock is also bred. There are mineral deposits of copper, chromite, marble, gypsum and limestone, manganese ore and coal. The Government has used some of its oil revenues to develop indigenous industries such as construction, agriculture and tourism and to build up the country’s infrastructure: these projects are incorporated in the Vision 2020 economic development programme. In the late 1990s, Oman started to privatise major government-owned parts of the economy and introduce a legislative framework to encourage foreign investment. In the last two years, the economy has recorded steady growth of around four per cent and enjoys negligible inflation and unemployment. Oman is a member of various pan-Arab political and economic organisations. However, it is not a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – although its pricing policy tends to follow that of OPEC fairly closely. Oman’s principal trading partners are the UK, Japan, Korea (Rep) and the United Arab Emirates.
Business: Men should wear suits and ties for business and formal occasions. English is usually spoken in business circles, but a few words or phrases of Arabic will be useful and welcome. Appointments are essential and punctuality is gradually becoming more important in business circles. Visiting cards are widely used. Office hours: Sat-Wed 0800-1300 and 1600-1900, Thurs 0800-1300. Government office hours: Sat-Wed 0730-1430, and sometimes half-day Thursday. All offices are closed Friday. Office hours are shorter during Ramadan.
Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 550, Postal Code 113, Muscat (tel: 771 4230; fax: 771 2030; e-mail: public@mocioman.gov.om; website: www.mocioman.gov.om); or
Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PO Box 1400, 112 Ruwi (tel: 707 684 or 707 674; fax: 708 497; e-mail: pubrel@omanchamber.org; website: www.omanchamber.org).
Climate
The months between May and August are particularly hot. The climate is best from September through to April. Rainfall varies according to the region. During the period June to September there is a light monsoon rain in Salalah.
Required clothing: Lightweights are worn throughout the year, with a warm wrap for cooler winter evenings. Light rainwear is advisable.
History and Government
History: Archaeological excavations have recently shown that much of the civilisation in Oman predates the Arab period. The region embraced Islam during the lifetime of the Prophet. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the sultans of Muscat were often powerful figures in Arabia and East Africa, who often came into conflict with the colonial powers in the region, particularly the Portuguese, who first settled in the 16th century, in an attempt to protect their eastern trade routes. Close ties have been maintained with Britain since 1798, when a treaty of friendship was concluded. The country was known as Muscat and Oman until 1970.
British influence remains strong but the number of British advisers occupying key positions in Omani government departments – substantial during the early days of the present regime, headed by the hereditary ruler, Sultan Qaboos – has steadily declined and is now limited to a handful of advisers in key posts. During the early years of his reign, which began in 1970, Sultan Qaboos’ overriding priority was to deal with an insurgency in the western part of his kingdom, conducted by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO) with the backing of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen; since unified with North Yemen).
The defeat of the insurgents served to increase both domestic and foreign pressure on Qaboos to introduce democratic reforms, although Oman’s principal neighbour, Saudi Arabia, is strongly opposed to any such moves. During the last ten years, a series of incremental measures have been introduced to modernise and liberalise this autocratic regime. Two consultative assemblies, the Majlis as-Shura (which evolved from the old Consultative Assembly) and the more recently formed Majlis al-Dawlah, were originally groomed to assume the functions of a bicameral parliament at the turn of the millennium. This has not happened, nor is it likely to do so for the foreseeable future. The two Majlis have some influence over domestic affairs – and the franchise that elects them has been steadily expanded to include all men and women over the age of 21 – but no say in foreign and defence matters.
Relations with Oman’s immediate neighbours have been cordial, especially with Yemen, since the end of the PFLO insurgency and the unification of Yemen itself. In recent years, Omani concerns have been focused further afield. In 1981, Oman was a founder member of the Gulf Co-operation Council and has played a leading role in promoting its increasing involvement in regional security issues. The country’s strategic importance to the West was underlined by both the Gulf War between Iran and Iraq and by the war following the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in late 1990. Oman was used as a staging post for US and UK ships and aircraft arriving in the area as part of the multi-national force confronting the Iraqis. It repeated this role in the 2001 Afghanistan campaign and is doing so again in the 2003 build-up to a possible second Iraq war.
Ironically, in diplomatic circles, Oman has consistently opposed the use of force against Iraq in the matter of its remaining weapons of mass destruction and the government maintains discreet contacts with the Iraqi regime. In 1994, Oman was the first Gulf state to establish official relations with Israel. Since 1998, it has also developed good relations with Iran, now extending as far as mutual security co-operation in the Gulf.
Government: Legislative power is held by the Sultan who is Head of State and wields executive power as Prime Minister with the aid of a Council of Ministers. There is no legislature. The Council of Oman functions as an advisory body and is comprised of the 82-member Majlis as-Shura (Consultative Council) and the 41-member Majlis al-Dawlah (Council of State). Members of both are appointed by the Sultan. in the case of the Majlis as-Shura, the selection is made from 700-odd candidates elected from each vilayat (district).
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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