Oman one of few Sultanates in the world. It is located on the southeastern tip of the Arabian peninsula. Oman is famous for many things and most notably for breeding Arabian horses. Historically it has been famous for its purebred Arabian horses. Omani people believe that the horse is an image of its master and a reflection of his courage, stamina, and ability. Oman is the oldest independent state in the Arab world. It has been ruled by the Al-Said family since 1744.

Traveling info

All visitors traveling to Oman are required to have a valid passport. Entry requirements vary depending on one’s nationality. Citizens of the Arabian peninsula states with the exception of Yemen enjoy visa-free access. The vast majority of Asian, European and the countries in Americas can enjoy the luxury of obtaining a visa online whilst the citizens of remaining countries, mostly made up of African states must obtain a visa from Omani consulate, embassy or mission and have it approved before their departure. Visitors who wish to drive in Oman must have their national driving permit and an international driving permit. Holders of British issued driving permits may drive in Oman for up to 90 days without the need of an IDP. The limit of 90 days of validity also applies to IDP holders. IDP holders must beware that an IDP does not substitute for the original driving permit and is only a translation of it. Both documents must be with the driver at all times.

Traveling hazards

Road conditions, lighting, and traffic safety in cities and on major highways are good. The condition of rural roads varies from good to poor. Travel between cities, especially at night, may be dangerous due to poor or no lighting, wandering livestock, and speeding drivers. The safety of public transportation is generally good. Taxis, minivans, and small buses may swerve to the side of the road to pick up passengers with little notice or regard for other vehicles. Traffic laws in Oman are strictly enforced and the consequences for violating them may be severe. For example, running red light results in a mandatory, non-bailable detention period of 48 hours, followed by confiscation of one’s driver’s license, vehicle registration, and car registration plate until the Omani judicial process is concluded, which may take as long as several months. Other common traffic violations that carry strict penalties, up to and including jail sentences, fines, deportation, include: driving without a license, driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to wear a seat belt, talking on cellular telephones while driving, speeding excessively, overtaking another vehicle, screeching a car’s tires or failing to keep one’s car clean. In the event of a traffic violation and fine, drivers should cooperate with police officers and should not attempt to pay or negotiate payment at the time of the traffic stop.

Environmental hazards

Oman has a rather harsh climate when it comes to habitability. This, however, does not stop many lethally venomous snakes and other creepy crawlies to live in Oman. Among the most dangerous creatures are the Egyptian Cobra, the puff adder or the fat-tailed scorpion. All of these can deliver a deadly bite or a sting. The puff adder alone is responsible for over 30 thousand deaths in the Arab peninsula and Africa. Survival often depends on the proximity of the nearest hospital or on the response of the emergency services. Bites in Oman are usually not life-threatening due to the quick response of the emergency services. Although there are no reports of shark attacks in Oman, many attacks go unreported. Such attacks are possible and those who swim far off the coast are especially vulnerable.
While Oman’s climate is generally dry, heavy rains do fall, usually in the winter. Flash floods can cause injuries and deaths. Cyclones from the Indian Ocean do occasionally make landfall in Oman in the summer months.

Health hazards

There is no risk of yellow fever in Oman. The government of Oman requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. Apart from the yellow fever vaccines requirement, there are no other required vaccines. There are however several vaccines which are recommended to ensure safe travel. These are the routine vaccines aka MMR vaccines, hepatitis A and B, typhoid and rabies vaccines. Malaria is present in Oman however there is no approved vaccine against it. There are alternative ways to protect against malaria. Since the disease is transmitted through mosquito bites, the use of mosquito repellents and mosquito nets is advised. There is also medicine on prescription against malaria which should be available to anyone after consulting their local general practitioner. Public healthcare in Oman delivers free and modern quality healthcare to its citizens. Expats are expected to pay for their services. Expats generally use private healthcare facilities in Oman. There are a number of excellent private hospitals in Oman, with many of them being compared to five-star hotels in terms of services and facilities. The costs are comparable to this as well. Muscat Private Hospital is the largest private hospital in the city and is staffed by Western and Asian trained physicians. Starcare Hospital and Atlas Hospital are two other popular private hospitals in Muscat.
In case of an emergency dial 9999.

Crime

In general, crime in Oman is limited to crimes of opportunity and petty theft. High-value items that can be easily transported remain the most commonly stolen items. Violent crimes, including assaults, rapes, and murder, are rare but a few incidents did occur in 2017. There were other reports in Omani media outlets of occasional violent crimes; the victims and alleged suspects usually knew each other. However, such incidents did not demonstrate a pattern of targeting tourists. Oman is an important regional counterterrorism partner and works actively to prevent terrorists from conducting attacks within Oman and from using the country for safe haven or transport of weapons and material. There are no indigenous terrorist groups known to be operating in Oman. There have been no instances in which tourists or facilities in Oman have been subject to terrorist attacks. The penalties for drug trafficking, smuggling, and possession, or even residual amounts, of drugs are severe. In some cases, the death penalty could apply. There is no distinction in Omani law between soft and hard drugs, both are treated with equal severity.

Summary

Oman is one of the Arabian states where the Bedouin culture is still strong in smaller towns. Despite Muscat being a full or tourist-oriented modern city, the countryside of Oman still kept to the old ways. In Oman, tourists may feel safe unlike in Oman’s western neighbor. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://evisa.rop.gov.om/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/oman