History of the Area:
Muscat, Oman’s port capital, sits on the Gulf of Oman surrounded by mountains and desert. Today more than 800,000 people live in the Greater Muscat Area, which includes various neighbouring cities, such as Ruwi and Matrah. Visit Experience Oman to find out more.

Weather:
The Climate of Oman can be described as subtropical dry, hot desert climate with low annual rainfall, very high temperatures in summer and a big difference between maximum and minimum temperatures, especially in the inland areas. Summer (June to September) is very low rainfall. Daily maximum temperatures can reach easily 40°C or more. Winter is cooler with occasional rainfall.

Time Zone:
Oman is 4 hours ahead of GMT (+4 GMT), UTC +4 (Standard Time)

Currency:
The official currency of the Oman is the Omani Rial (OMR). Equivalent to USD 2.597 pegged. Each Rial is divided into into 1000 baisa (also written baiza). Currency exchange houses are open until late in the evening. All international credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Currency Converter

Business Hours:
Oman’s official business week is Sunday-Thursday, with the weekend being Friday and Saturday. Banks, Embassies and Consulates are generally open from 8am-12 noon.

Electricity:
220/240 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. Standard British-type 13-amp square three-pin plugs are used throughout the country. European or US-made appliances may need a plug adapter.

Dress:
As in all Middle Eastern countries, respect for the local customs and sensibilities is recommended. Short, revealing or tight clothing can be worn, but it will attract attention. Lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but something slightly warmer may be needed in the evening for the winter months.

Language:
While Arabic is the official language, English is very widely spoken, especially in business. Several other languages are also used in everyday life, headed by Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Malayalam and Tulu.