Oman travel guide 2023

Oman travel guide 2023 – Arooha Tours UAE

Oman, which is a neighbouring country, attracts many people from UAE. If you are planning a trip to Oman, you'll find this Oman travel guide useful.

In this Oman travel guide, you'll learn essential details about Oman, ranging from about Oman to top unique things to do in Oman.

01 Visa requirement

Oman is categorized as visa-free for UAE passport holders. You can stay in Oman for up to 180 days. However, to enter Oman from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you need; a UAE passport and other required travel documents. At the point of entry to Oman, you will get an entry stamp. Expatriate living in Dubai needed to get a visa in advance to visit Oman. Getting a Oman visa from Dubai easy process.

02 About Oman

The Sultanate of Oman, located in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, shares borders with the countries of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates.

Three bodies of water border Oman: the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Oman, to name a few.

Oman is known for its ancient aflaj deserts irrigation system, terraced orchards (Jebel Akhdar), adobe fortresses, numerous mosques, wadis (stream valleys), dhows (traditional Arabian sailing ships), meteorites, and Al Said, the Sultan's yacht, which is the world's third-largest yacht.

03 COVID Situation & COVID restrictions for travelers

When you are planning to travel to Oman, the following steps will assist you in your preparations:

  • Travellers to the Sultanate of Oman are no longer obliged to register with the Ministry of Tourism (www.travel.moh.gov.om) before their trip.
  • Vaccination certificates that have received at least two doses of the authorized COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days before departure are necessary for non-citizen tourists aged 18 and above who are travelling to the Sultanate of Oman.
  • With the exception of Omani citizens, GCC citizens, and visitors with free treatment cards, all passengers arriving in the Sultanate of Oman are obliged to obtain international health insurance to cover the cost of one month's treatment for COVID-19.

04 Currency

In Oman, Omani Rial (OMR) is used as the local currency, and it is available in values of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 50. In most cases, it is pegged to the US dollar, with one OMR often equaling $2.60 US, and one OMR is equal to 1000 Baizas (similar to cents).

Baizas are available in denominations of 25, 50, and 100 (coins) and notes of 100 and 500. When you arrive, you'll be able to purchase currency through money exchanges and bank branches in cities and at select shopping malls and the airport.

If you want to use your bank card in Oman, you'll find that many of them are readily accepted. This includes Visa and Mastercard, but not American Express, which is not always the case. Make sure to notify your bank that you will be travelling abroad to avoid any additional fees or complications.

05 Tax refund for tourists

It has been adopted in Oman with a largely identical executive regulation to that which has been enacted in the other Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

These laws released by the Tax Authority regarding the treatment of VAT in Oman provide a detailed picture of the VAT Refund process in Oman and the treatment of VAT in other countries.

According to the information in this document, visitors and tourists are entitled to a VAT Refund on their purchases when they leave the nation.

According to the executive rule, tourists and visitors are defined as those who spend no more than three months in Oman and do not have a permanent place of abode or a permanent place of business in Oman.

Crewmembers of a flight, ship, road transport service or ferry service in Oman are not entitled to a VAT Refund under certain circumstances.

In addition, it should be emphasized that departing visitors can only claim the VAT Refund on personal purchases if the total worth of the goods purchased does not equal or exceed RO 25. (Not inclusive of VAT).

The products must also be acquired three months before the passenger's departure and transported in their checked luggage.

06 Language

Arabic is the official language in Oman, but many individuals are also fluent in English, which is useful when travelling.

While you will not have difficulty communicating in towns such as Muscat, it is still a good idea to learn a few helpful phrases in Arabic before you travel there.

07 Weather

The climate in Oman is mostly tropical desert, with some summer rainfall in the northern and southern mountain areas and clouds carried in by the summer monsoon around the eastern coast.

The monsoon, which lasts from mid-June to mid-September and is caused by wet currents moving towards the Asian continent, has limited rainy impacts but can still affect the country's environment.

08 Getting to Oman from Dubai or Abu Dhabi

Here you will learn crucial details to assist you in planning your visit to India; like, do you need a visa? How long doesn't it take to get to Oman?

09 How far from Dubai & Abu Dhabi to Oman

The Shortest Time of flights from Abu Dhabi or Dubai to Muscat takes approximately 01h 05m.

10 Major airports in Oman

The Major airports in Oman are Muscat International Airport, Salalah Airport and Khasab Airport.

11 Getting around Oman

After you get to Oman, here are means you can opt to use to get around the country.

By Air

Domestic flights are the most efficient way to travel across regions and avoid spending entire days travelling between them.

Oman Air, an Oman-based low-cost airline, flies between Muscat, Duqm, Salalah, and Khasab. Muscat, Sohar, and Salalah are all served by Salam Air. Tickets are available for purchase online.

By car

Renting a car is undoubtedly the most convenient method to go around Oman, as it provides you with the most flexibility, the best value for money, and the ability to visit isolated spots that you wouldn't be able to access otherwise. You'll also be able to wild-camp on public land; all you'll need is a tent, food, and a sleeping bag.

By Bus

Mwasalat, a government-owned company, runs public buses in Muscat and Salalah and a network of intercity and interregional buses and ferries throughout Oman, including routes between Muscat and Nizwa, Duqm, Bahla, Sur, Buraimi, Masirah Island, Salalah, and Khasab.

12 Top things to do in Oman - nowhere in the world you can do

Here are the 5 things to do in Oman you cannot do anywhere else.

  • Float in the Bimmah sinkhole
  • Stroll the Mutrah Corniche in Muscat
  • Snorkel with whale sharks in the Damaniyat Islands
  • Watch turtles hatching at Ras Al Jinz