Oman
Asia · Muscat · OM
Oman is the sultanate of the south-eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, a dry, dramatic land of the forts, the wadis, the vast desert and the honest, quiet craftsmanship of its coast, traditionally the least flashy of the Gulf states and often called the country of the region most worth taking slowly. The capital of Muscat spreads its white, low, immaculate city along the bay between the mountains and the sea, and the interior holds the great forts of Nizwa and Bahla, the green wadis of the canyons, the golden dunes of the Wahiba sands and the watchtowers of the mountain villages. The southern province of the Dhofar turns green in the summer monsoon of the region, and the eastern coast holds the nesting beaches of the turtles. Calm, safe, genuinely hospitable, Oman is an authentic Arabian country with the sea and the desert wrapped around it.
Overview
Oman is a country in Asia. Its capital is Muscat and the international dialling code is +968. Languages commonly used in everyday life here include Arabic. Local currency is the Omani Rial (OMR). Our guide covers 1 airport, including Muscat International Airport. We also list 1 city in Oman: Muscat.
The Capital of Muscat and the Bay of the White City
The capital of Muscat sits between the dark mountains and the turquoise bay, and its white, low, immaculate architecture spreads along the shore, with the great mosque of the Sultan and the opera house of the city standing among the shades of the modern quarter. The old quarters of the town, the Muttrah district with its corniche and its souq, sell the frankincense, the silver and the spices of the country in the maze of the covered lanes, and the twin forts of the Jalali and the Mirani guard the historic harbour of the old capital. The bays, the mountains and the water give the city its remarkable setting, and the beaches and the marinas of the modern era complete the picture. Muscat is one of the cleanest, best-ordered and most quietly beautiful capitals of the whole Gulf.
The Forts of the Interior and the Mountains of the Green
The interior of the country, the plateau below the Hajar mountains, holds the great forts and the palm oases of the sultanate, the crowning glories of the Omani age of the castles. The round fort of Nizwa, the famous circular fortress of the interior, dominates the town of the same name, and its Saturday livestock market is the great traditional fair of the region, while the immense fort of Bahla, a world heritage of the medieval era, spreads its walls and its towers above its oasis. The mountains of the Jebel Akhdar, the green mountain with its terraced rose gardens and its high villages, rise above the roads of the interior, and the stone-built settlements of the valleys hold the summer houses of the old families. The heritage forts are the soul of the country's long history.
The Wadis and the Pools of the Desert Canyons
The wadis of the country, the old riverbeds of the desert, cut the green ribbons of the palm groves and the pools of the clear water through the dry mountains, and the drive into their canyons is one of the great experiences of the country. The wadi of the Shab with its waterfall pools and its steep walls, the wadi of the Bani Khalid with its emerald swimming holes and the wadi of the Tiwi with its terraced villages hold the freshwater of the mountains, and the local families come to grill, to swim and to picnic beneath the palms. The canyon of the wadi Ghul, known as the Grand Canyon of the country, opens the great abyss of the Hajar range, and the abandoned mountain villages above it cling to the edges of the cliffs. The wadis are the green secret of the dry land.
The Wahiba Sands and the Camps of the Golden Dunes
The sands of the Wahiba, the sea of the golden dunes that fills the eastern interior of the country, is the desert of the classic experience, and the four-wheel drives of the region run the crests of the dunes toward the camps of the deep sands. The bedouin of the desert, the people of the tents and the camels, still live the lives of the dunes, and their camps offer the meals, the fires, the dates and the nights beneath the enormous stars of the desert. The camel treks and the sunset drives of the dunes, and the walks of the dawn across the silent crests, give the desert its beauty and its silence. The wild dune coast of the east, where the desert meets the sea, is the strangest shore of the country. A night in the sands is an essential of the Omani trip.
The Turtles of the Coast and the Green of the Southern Season
The beach of the Ras al Jinz, at the easternmost point of the country, is one of the great nesting beaches of the green turtles of the world, and the visitors of the season come for the night watches as the great reptiles crawl up the sand and dig their nests beneath the stars. The guided tours of the site, run by the turtle reserve, let the visitors observe the laying and the hatching at a careful, respectful distance. In the far south, the province of the Dhofar with its capital of Salalah turns green when the summer monsoon rolls in off the Indian Ocean, and the waterfalls and the misted mountains of the season draw the whole country for the cool of the Gulf summer. The southern coast, with its beaches and its frankincense groves, shows a completely different face of the country.
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- Capital
- Muscat
- Currency
- Omani Rial (OMR)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Calling code
- +968
- Internet TLD
- om
Entry requirements
Check who can enter →See which passports travel visa-free or need a visa to enter Oman.
Which nationalities can enter Oman?
Current visa status for tourism for the origins we cover, with links to the detailed requirements.
Airports (1)
All airports →Cities (1)
All cities →Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Oman?
For the origins we track, Oman requires a visa for tourism (Australia: e-visa, Canada: e-visa, France: e-visa, Germany: e-visa and India: e-visa). Entry rules depend on your passport, so confirm the current requirements for your own nationality with our entry requirements tool.
What is the capital of Oman?
Muscat is the capital of Oman, and the country sits in Asia.
What currency is used in Oman?
You pay with Omani Rial (OMR) in Oman. Exchange rates move day to day, so check the current rate before you change money or use your card abroad.
Which languages do people speak in Oman?
The languages we list for Oman are Arabic. A couple of greetings in the local language go a long way when you travel, even in cities where another language is widely used.
What is the international dialling code for Oman?
The dialling code for Oman is +968 — keep the plus sign when you save the number.
Which airports serve Oman?
Muscat International Airport (MCT) in Muscat is the airport we cover for Oman.
Which cities in Oman do you cover?
Our guide lists 1 city for Oman: Muscat (capital).