Oman

Arabic is the official language, and street signs, menus, and government offices commonly show English alongside it, especially in Muscat and other tourist areas. English is widely spoken in hotels, tour operations, and shops, so you can travel comfortably without Arabic. Arabic script differs from Latin, so a translation app is useful for reading addresses and hand-written signs.

Local prepaid SIM and eSIM plans from Omantel or Ooredoo are sold at Muscat International Airport and in shops across the country. Buying one requires showing your passport, since registration is mandatory. Coverage is strong along the coast and in the main towns but drops in the remote desert and mountain interior, worth planning for if self-driving.

Tap water is treated but not generally considered drinkable by visitors; bottled water is cheap and sold everywhere. Pharmacies are common in cities and larger towns, many open late, and can handle minor ailments without a prescription. No vaccinations are mandatory for entry, though routine vaccinations and, depending on your itinerary, hepatitis A and typhoid protection are commonly recommended — check with a travel clinic before you go.

Most nationalities, including the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, can apply for an Oman e-visa online before arrival, typically issued within a few days and valid for a single or multiple entries. Citizens of GCC countries can enter with just a national ID. Travelers arriving from or connecting through certain other countries should check current requirements carefully, as they can differ by nationality and travel route.

Visa and entry requirements change frequently. Verify current requirements with the official immigration authority or your country's embassy before travel.

Oman is a conservative, Muslim country, and dressing modestly is expected, especially away from resorts: shoulders and knees covered for both men and women. Grand mosques that welcome non-Muslim visitors, such as Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, require an ankle-length dress and a headscarf for women, and are closed to visitors during Friday prayers.

Always ask before photographing local people, particularly women. Handshakes are common between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand first. Fridays are the main day of rest and prayer, so many businesses close or shorten their hours around midday.

Oman follows the Islamic calendar for religious holidays, so dates like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha shift each year and can close shops, offices, and some restaurants for several days. During Ramadan, many restaurants stay closed during daylight hours, and eating or drinking in public is discouraged for everyone until sunset. The weekend is Friday-Saturday, with Friday the main day of rest.

Most shops and malls open late morning and stay open into the evening, often with a midafternoon lull; some smaller family-run shops close for a couple of hours around midday prayer.

• By car: the easiest way to see the country. Roads between major towns are well paved; a 4x4 is worth renting for desert tracks like the Wahiba Sands and mountain roads such as Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams, which are unpaved or require low range in places.
• By bus: Mwasalat runs intercity coaches connecting Muscat with Nizwa, Sur, Sohar, and Salalah — a budget-friendly option, though departures are limited. Mwasalat
• By taxi and ride-hailing: metered taxis are uncommon; agree on a fare before you set off. Ride-hailing apps work well in Muscat but have thinner coverage elsewhere.
• By air: domestic flights connect Muscat with Salalah in about 90 minutes, useful given the roughly 1,000 km drive between them.

Omani meals center on rice, meat, and fragrant spices, usually eaten with family or guests — hospitality is a strong tradition, and visitors are often served more food than they can finish. Shuwa, meat marinated in spices and slow-cooked overnight in an underground pit, is the country's best-known dish, traditionally served on Eid and other special occasions. Everyday meals lean on grilled or stewed chicken, lamb, and fish with spiced rice, shaped in part by Oman's long trading links to India and East Africa.

Dates and Omani halwa, a dense sweet flavored with rosewater, cardamom, or saffron, are the classic way to welcome a guest, usually served alongside kahwa, cardamom-spiced Arabic coffee poured into small handleless cups. Street food is modest compared to some neighboring countries, but shawarma stands and simple grilled-fish spots are easy to find in coastal towns. Restaurants range from inexpensive local canteens serving rice-and-curry plates to hotel restaurants with more formal Omani or international menus; alcohol is served only in licensed hotel bars and restaurants.

Muscat mixes government buildings, souqs, and beaches along a scenic corniche. Highlights include Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, one of the few grand mosques in the Gulf open to non-Muslim visitors, the winding alleys of Muttrah Souq, and the modern Royal Opera House Muscat.

Inland, Nizwa was once Oman's capital and is built around its circular Nizwa Fort and a lively Friday livestock market. Nearby, the walled town of Bahla holds Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with mud-brick fortifications.

On the coast, Sur is known for traditional dhow-building and the watchtower at Al-Sunaysilah Castle, while Sohar, an old trading port, makes a quieter base in the north. In the far south, Salalah turns green each summer during the khareef monsoon, with waterfalls, banana plantations, and frankincense trees found nowhere else in the Gulf.

For dramatic landscapes, head to the Hajar Mountains, where View to Jebel Shams looks out over Jebel Shams, Oman's highest peak, and a deep canyon nicknamed the Grand Canyon of Arabia; the golden dunes of the Wahiba Sands, reachable through Wahiba Sands Entrance; and the fjord-like coastline of the Musandam Peninsula around Khasab, best seen by traditional dhow cruise.