Oman is a peaceful, secure nation. Home to a friendly people who pride themselves for their unique traditions of hospitality. A vibrant economy, world-class infra structure and modern lifestyles make it a perfect place to live and work.

Location

The Sultanate of Oman is situated on the Eastern Part of the Arabian Peninsula

Area

309,500 sq. Km.

Population

Approx. (5.2 Million)

Capital

Muscat

Languages

Arabic is the official language, but English is widely spoken by Hotel staff and tour guides

Currency

Omani Rial (OMR)

Time

GMT + 4 Hours

Air Connections

Oman is one of the most strategically located countries in the region with access to the world. The Muscat International Airport is a state-of-the-art airport with world-class facilities that include Duty-Free shops, Restaurants, Airport attached hotel, lounges and more. From Oman, travellers to international destinations have a range of world-famous airline brands to choose from. Flights from Muscat, connect all major destinations across the world. Flying within the country too has a range of convenient flight options available at surprisingly affordable prices.

Dress Code

Being a Muslim country, it is important to observe a certain dress code. In public places, women should wear clothes that cover their upper arms and legs to the knee. Men should wear trousers and shirts. Shorts and sun tops are fine at the beach or by the pool.

Infrastructure

The infrastructure in Oman is one of the finest in the region. Billions of US Dollars are invested to encourage rapid development of infrastructure that in turn is resulting in impressive progress. The roads, highways and flyovers are exceptional and contribute immensely to the overall lifestyle, safety and ease of moving about. Oman has an excellent healthcare system too, with a good number of public and private hospitals and clinics offering state-of-the-art medical facilities and the highest standards of medical care. The Government has invested heavily in the health sector, and there is ready access to all forms of medical care for everyone, including visitors and expatriate workers. All types of advanced medical treatment are available. Comfortably placing Oman on the map of exhibition and business development opportunities is the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre in Muscat with multi-purpose spaces for plenary sessions, concerts, performances and gala dinners any time of the year. Impressive investment has also been made in Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Duqm and the other free zones in Salalah, Sohar and Al Mazyounh which serve as gateways for investment, contribute to enhancing the growth and diversification of the Omani economy. Blessed with a rare balance of beaches, greenery, deserts and mountains, Oman is known for its natural beauty that makes it one of the most visited destinations for rejuvenation in the region.

Transportation

Oman offers many impressive public transport options. They include:

Taxis: Taxis in Oman are relatively affordable and well maintained. Taxis like ‘Mawasalat’ and ‘Marhaba’ are metered so there is no ambiguity in paying for your trip. Drivers are courteous and speak basic English.

Bus: Oman’s network of buses is quite extensive. They are very affordable and can take you between popular places of interest like malls, multiplexes and more, both in Muscat and between cities like Salalah, Sur, Sohar and more.

Ferry Service: National Ferries Company provides transportation services between various destinations along the Omani cost, most importantly between Muscat and Khasab in the Musandam peninsula. The ferries also connect Khasab to Shinas in the North Al Batinha region and Khasab to Liwa which is also on the Musandam peninsula and is not accessible by road.

Banks

Opening and operating a bank account in Oman is similar to opening a bank account in any other country. You can withdraw or deposit cash anywhere in Oman due to the presence of easily accessible ATMs. Keeping up with times, banks also provide the convenience of remitting money at the click of a button. Money exchange centres too are present in many places to assist in remittance. In Oman once can choose from renowned banks like Bank Muscat, National Bank of Oman, Bank of Sohar, Oman Arab Bank, Ahli Bank and International Banks like Qatar National Bank, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, and more.

Schools

Oman has world-class education facilities for students right from playschools to post-graduation. Some of the top schools include:

The British School Muscat – www.britishschoolmuscat.com

The American International School Muscat (TAISM) – www.taism.com

American British Academy – abaoman.org/wp-site

A’soud Global School – www.agsmuscat.com

Al Injaz Private School – alinjazschool.com

Pakistan School Muscat

Sri Lankan School Muscat

The Indian School Ghubrah – www.indianschool.com

The Indian School Muscat – www.ismoman.com

The Indian School Wadi Kabir – www.iswkoman.com

The Indian School Seeb – www.indianschoolseeb.com

The Indian School Bousher – www.isboman.com

For more information on Indian school across Oman visit –https://www.indianschoolsoman.com/schoolsprofiles.html

These schools follow the CBSE syllabus, and the quality of education is on par with some of the best schools in India.

Please check individual school websites for updates.

Food/Restaurants

After a hard day’s work, you have some of the finest restaurants and lounges to unwind in Oman. Serving cuisines from across the world, these restaurants are filled to capacity both on weekdays and the weekends as well. Some of the renowned names include Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Hardees, McDonald’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, KFC, Burger King, Charley’s Philly Steak, Chilli’s, New York Fries, China Town, Chowking, Mughlai Zaika, Saravana Bhavan, Vasantha Bhavan, Mumbai Chennai Express and more.
Shopping

Trading in Oman has been a centuries-old activity. Today one can purchase almost anything they need with the presence of large shopping malls, hypermarkets, supermarkets and neighbourhood stores. Some of the leading names in the business include malls like City Centre, Mall of Oman, Avenue Mall, Oman Oasis Mall, Al Araimi Boulevard and more. Hypermarkets in Oman too include the world-renowned Carrefour, Lulu, K.M. Trading, The Sultan Centre, Nesto and more. Those looking for lifestyle brands can make the most of brands like MAX, Lifestyle, H&M, E-Max, Mothercare, LC Waikiki, Gap, Mango, Splash, Malabar Gold, JoyAlukkas, Fab India and many more. Due to the presence of such vast shopping centres, Oman is steadily growing as an important destination for visitors from across the world.