Welcome to the
Sultanate of Oman
Discover the enchanting beauty of Oman, where ancient traditions meet breathtaking landscapes, from golden deserts to stunning coastlines. Immerse yourself in Omani hospitality and explore a land rich in history, adventure, and culture.
Short history
Pre-Islamic Oman: The Sultanate of Oman has a long history, dating back to more than 3000 BC. Oman witnessed great dialogues before and after Islam. It was an active center of dialogue with the dialogical centers of the ancient world. It has naval power and politics. Omani ships crossed the Indian Ocean towards the ports of Persia and the ports of the Persian Gulf to Iraq, and its trade extended to the ports of East Africa from Somalia to Mozambique. In 4000-3000 BC, the Sumerians appeared, they established a vast empire called Majan, relying on the extraction of copper and exporting it from Sohar. The Phoenicians were present in Oman and were masters of the seas, and one of their most important cities was Sur, and they transferred the name to the Sham after their migration from Oman.
Post-Islamic Oman: Oman was one of the first countries to embrace Islam voluntarily. was Mazen bin Ghaduba al-Saadi al-Ta'i, who went to Medina after hearing about the religion that forbid idolatry, and declared his Islam in 6 Hijri (628 AD). After his return, he built the Al-Mudamar Mosque in Samail, the first mosque built in Oman. The Prophet Muhammad sent Amr ibn al-'As with a letter to the kings of Oman, Jaifar and 'Abd Ibn al-Jalandi . He invited them to the Islamic religion and they declared their Islam in 8 AH.
Key info
Capital
Muscat
Religion
Islam
Time Zone
GMT +4
Gratuity
Customary
Drinking Water
Bottled recommended
Language
Arabic and English
Currency
Omani Rial
Population
5.350.000
Days of sun
360
Safety
Very safe
Sultan Qaboos
Ruled Oman for
50
years
Qaboos bin Said Al Said (November 18, 1940 – January 10, 2020) ruled Oman from July 23, 1970 until his death in 2020. He was Sultan of Oman for almost half a century. Qaboos bin Said was the only son of Said bin Taimur (Sultan of Muscat and Oman). After graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Qaboos was educated in Suffolk, England.
In 1966, he returned to Oman and assumed power in 1970 after overthrowing his father in a British-backed coup. The country's name became the Sultanate of Oman. Qaboos ended Oman's international isolation. As Sultan, Oman witnessed an increase in the standard of living and development of the country during his reign. Slavery was abolished and the Dhofar Rebellion ended. Due to poor health, Qaboos died in early 2020. Qaboos sought the help of the Omani royal court to reach consensus and reach a successor upon his death. As a precaution, his letter was hidden, and upon his death, the Omani royal court decided to review his letter and appointed his intended successor, Haitham bin Tariq (his cousin).
Sultan Haitham
Qaboos'
cousin
Haitham bin Tariq Al Said
He is the head of state, Sultan and Prime Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, born on October 11, 1955 in Muscat. The late Sultan Qaboos and Sultan Haitham are cousins. Haitham served for several years in the government of the Sultanate of Oman during the reign of Sultan Qaboos. Before Haitham was appointed as Sultan of Oman, he was Minister of Heritage and Culture in 2002 until Haitham was appointed by Sultan Qaboos, where he was announced as the new Sultan of Oman on January 11, 2020, hours after the death of Sultan Qaboos.
Safety
World rating
#5
The Sultanate of Oman has been ranked among the countries with the lowest crime rate, according to the Global Crime Index for the year 2023, which was recently issued by the global database “Numbeo”. The Sultanate of Oman is known for its wealth, legal system, and generous people. There are very few incidents of actual crime. The crime index is at 19/100, in comparison Oslos score is 34/100. Safety scale is at 81/100, whereas Stockholm is at 54/100.
Sources: Numbeo
NUMBERS
Oman in digits
106.000
years of history. Archaeological evidence has suggested an industrial presence around Aybut Al Auwal dating to around 100,000 years ago. Oman is also the location of one of the world’s earliest inhabited cities at Al Wattih, which dates back 10,000 years.
75%
of people living in Oman are Muslims.
1986
Opening of Omans first university, Sultan Qaboos University.
43.7%
of population is expatriate.
GOOD TO KNOW
Culture
Dress Codes for the locals
The Sultanate of Oman is an Islamic country and as we know Islam encourages wearing modest and loose clothing. Citizens are committed to wearing modest and not too tight clothing. As for women, they wear the abaya and hijab in public places or in the presence of men (some women differ in the way they wear the hijab or the color of the abaya, and this depends on the woman’s culture and the environment in which she lives). As for men, there is no objection to wearing any clothing, but one must ensure that it does not violate public morals. Therefore, men are not allowed to wear very short pants or pants that extend above the knee.
Importance of the family
The family has a major role in promoting authentic values and preserving Omani heritage, as the family is the building block of societies and represents the basic unit and is the basis for the strength and prosperity of society. By instilling values and principles in children. The role of the family is not limited to providing housing, clothing and food, but also to provide psychological stability and intellectual security, raise children on the right ideas and protect them from negative ideas and deviations that threaten security, stability and societal progress. Therefore, if the family is reformed, society is reformed.
Dress Codes for the tourists
Oman is one of the Muslim Gulf countries that still adheres to its customs and traditions, especially in terms of dress. So in order to respect the local culture and customs, it is important to dress modestly. Modesty rules apply to both men and women. In public places, please do not wear short shorts and sleeveless shirts unless you are at the hotel beach or pool. In general, the dress code to follow is clothing that covers the cuffs and reaches below the knees. It is not recommended to wear tight-fitting clothes and open backs in public places. To visit the mosque, you should avoid wearing transparent, short or tight fabrics. It is important to wear long clothing with sleeves that cover the entire hand. For women, the hijab should be worn and the chest area should be covered.
Swimwear at hotels, beaches, wadies
When swimming in public places such as beaches and valleys, please wear a shirt and shorts, this applies to both women and men. Do not wear completely revealing clothing, especially for women.
How to greet the locals
The Omani people, as is well known, are very kind and welcoming to all other peoples and open to foreign cultures as long as they are compatible with the Islamic religion and human nature. Therefore, dealing with the local population requires nothing but mutual respect and respect for Omani customs and traditions and, first and foremost, respect for the Islamic religion.
Information about alcohol
Tourists and visitors are allowed to drink and buy alcohol from licensed places such as hotels, restaurants and clubs. Drinking alcohol in public places is a legal crime. 21 is the legal age for drinking alcohol.
