Oman (official name is the Sultanate of Oman) is a small Arab state in the Southwest Asia. It borders with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.
The area of the state is 330 thousand square kilometers. The coastline is 1700-km long and is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman. It is the second largest state on the Arabian Peninsula, whose territory consists of 8 regions. The population is 2.5 mln people.
The capital and the largest city is Muscat.
The political system is a monarchy: the state is ruled by a Sultan, power is passed on by inheritance.
The official language is Arabic. English is also used here.
Muslims make about 95% of the population.
Time zone is UTC+4.
The climate is tropical, with hot summers and mild winters.
It is an interesting country for tourism, where You can swim in the clean sea and run barefoot on the warm sand, see mountains and waterfalls, experience the treachery of deserts and enjoy the coolness of oases. The cultural and historical heritage is carefully preserved here, customs and traditions are honored, skillfully combining them with innovations. A comfortable urban environment, developed tourist infrastructure and untouched nature, this is all of which Oman can boast.
The country occupies the second place in the world after Egypt in terms of attractiveness for diving and sea fishing. Compared to its neighbor, the UAE, Oman is much less crowded, there are no crowds of tourists here, and the authentic Arabic coloring has been perfectly preserved up no now. Nightlife and dance clubs are not available in Oman.
The most comfortable time for a holiday in Oman is from the beginning of September up to the end of April. The country is too hot in May and summer months: the thermometer reaches +40-50°C during the day, and it decreases to more comfortable +30°C only at night. The heat is accompanied by high humidity, which makes it quite difficult to bear. Despite the high humidity, precipitation in Oman is rare.
Travelling to Oman You should take close summer clothes of light thin fabrics, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and comfortable shoes. Outerwear may be needed only in the mountains and late in the evening: even in January, which is considered as the coldest month here, the air temperature usually does not decrease below +17°C.
The currency is the Omani Rial (OMR), which is equal to 1,000 beyaz. In some places You can also pay with other currencies: as a rule, the US dollar and UAE dirham are readily accepted. But during such calculations, the rate is rounded in favor of the seller. Currency is exchanged at local bank branches and specialized exchange points. There are many ATMs, but some of them accept only cards of local banks. It is most convenient to travel to Oman with dollars.
Banking cards of international payment systems are accepted almost everywhere, but in small catering establishments and markets You should still pay in cash. It is worth having a small amount of cash with You.
