Oman

SAFETY: excellent.
There have been no reports of hostility towards Western communities or tourists. The country has a low crime rate; theft is rare and robbery almost non-existent. The usual common-sense precautions are nevertheless advised.

TRANSPORT SYSTEM: excellent
Transport is provided by an efficient road network, especially between the main centres, and by air links. Some stretches of road are not fully surfaced and require a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Road signs are in Arabic and English. There is no railway network. Urban transport is provided by taxis and small buses. Hire cars (the major international rental companies operate in Oman) are relatively inexpensive.

Main airports: Seeb (Muscat) and Salalah.
Main ports: Mina Sultan Qaboos and Mina Al Fahal in the Governorate of Muscat, Sohar in the north and Salalah in the south.

HOSPITALITY: excellent
Within the tourist circuit and in the main centres there are excellent hotels of various standards.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Sultanate of Oman,– Location: Arabian Peninsula. Borders: bordered by Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. It faces the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman - Time zone: +3 hours ahead of Italy; +2 hours when daylight saving time is in force in Italy –  Area: 309,500 km² – Capital: Muscat – Population: 4,177,125 –  Religion: Ibadi Islam, followed by Sunnis and a Shia minority. There are also Hindu and Catholic minorities. –  Languages: the official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in the main urban centres. - Measurements: metric system.

CURRENCY: Omani rial (OMR) – Credit cards: The major credit cards are accepted, mainly in the principal centres - Exchange: Straightforward in the main centres. - Tipping: A 10% tip is customary only in high-end hotels and restaurants, unless a service charge is already included. Tips are always appreciated, however, including for drivers and guides.

ELECTRICITY: 220-240 V and 50 Hz (as in Italy) – Electrical sockets: A universal adapter is recommended.

DOCUMENTS: Passport: required, valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in the country; it is advisable to check for any changes to the validity requirements in advance with the Omani Embassy in Rome or the Sultanate’s consular network in Italy. - Driving: an Italian driving licence is sufficient for holders of a tourist or business visa staying for up to 3 months; beyond that, an international driving permit is required. Both the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention models are recognised. – Car: Insurance is compulsory and foreign policies are not accepted. A temporary policy can be obtained on arrival from an Omani insurance company.

ITALIAN citizens may enter OMAN with a passport (valid for six months from the date of arrival in the country) They are exempt from a visa if travelling: for tourism, provided they hold a confirmed hotel booking, health insurance and a return ticket. Maximum stay of 14 days.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: Int. dialling code: 00968 – mobile telephony operates throughout the country. The mobile network is based on the European GSM 900 system, so mobile phones can be used provided roaming agreements are in place. Omantel is the main telephone operator.-  Internet: excellent coverage in the main centres and easy to access –Web domain: .om – Emergency numbers: 9999 (single emergency number, with operators who connect callers directly to the relevant Omani authorities and departments for the various types of emergency).

RULES, LAWS AND CONDUCT:
Penalties for drug use and/or dealing: extremely severe prison sentences apply to drug use and dealing.
Local penalties for sexual abuse of or violence against minors: extremely severe prison sentences apply to sexual abuse of or violence against minors.
Islamic rules must be respected in the country, so it is important to behave appropriately and to dress modestly. During Ramadan, visitors must comply with the rules of the Islamic religion. There are no high-risk areas in the country; the urban centres and the coastal strip are the safest areas, but great care should be taken in isolated areas.
HEALTH: Medical and hospital facilities are concentrated in the main urban centres; elsewhere in the country there are small health centres, attached to the hospitals, equipped for basic treatment. Oman also has many private clinics, largely staffed by foreign medical personnel. For specialist treatment it is advisable to go to facilities in Western countries. The availability of medicines is adequate.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:
Secular holidays 1 January, New Year’s Day; 18 November, National Day; 19 November, the Sultan’s Birthday; the latter two do not always fall on the same date and may be celebrated twice in the same year. National Day is marked by official celebrations of every kind, and all offices and shops are closed on this occasion.
Religious holidays The Islamic festivals of Eid Al-Fitr (marking the end of Ramadan), Eid Al-Adha (the pilgrimage to Mecca), the Islamic New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday are all celebrated according to the Muslim calendar. Eid Al-Adha is marked by traditional festivities and dancing in the streets.

OPENING HOURS: Banks: Sat-Wed 8.00-13.00, Thursday 8.30-12.00, closed on Fridays. Many banks have ATMs for cash withdrawals. Post offices: Sat-Wed 7.30-14.30.  Shops: Sat-Wed 8.00-13.00, 16.30-19.00, Thursday 8.00-13.00. Closing day: Friday.

CLIMATE: Oman has a subtropical climate: hot and humid along the coast in summer, dry and scorching in the mountainous and desert regions of the interior, with wide temperature swings. Extremely hot and humid from mid-April to the end of September; hot from October to March; temperate in December, January and February. Rain is rare. The climate has two main seasons: summer and winter.

Monthly min/max temperatures in °C

Rainy days (at least 1 mm of rain)/monthly mm

USEFUL ADDRESSES
Italian Embassy in Muscat:
Address: Way 3034 - House n. 2697 - Shatti Al Qurum
Office telephones: 00968 24 693727; 00968 24 695131
Office fax: 00968 24 24695161
Office on-call mobile: 00968 99332655  
E-mail:  ambasciata.mascate@esteri.it
Home page: ambmascate.esteri.it
In Italy
Tourist Office of the Sultanate of Oman
c/o AIGO – Milan
Tel. +39 02 89952633 Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00
info@oman-turismo.com
www.omantourism.gov.om