Oman is located in the eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west across a nearly trackless desert, and Yemen to the southwest. Oman is a geographically diverse region composed of its long coast with picturesque beaches, oases, salt flats, deserts and mountains.
The capital, Muscat, maintains a balance between old and new. The old city retains a traditional Arabian city with its narrow streets and open-air markets. Greater Oman, largely built during the past thirty years, is typified by wide boulevards, well maintained grass and modern buildings. Oman long maintained a strong navy that enabled it to become a colonial power and control parts of Arabian Peninsula, Africa and the Indian subcontinent. During the past 30 years Oman has developed rapidly under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos and while its economy is largely dependent on the production and export of oil Oman has quickly developed a reputation as a great tourism destination and an entrepreneurial business climate.
Arabic is the official language of Oman, though English is widely spoken in business circles. Oman has made many modern advances but maintains strong loyalty to traditions. Omanis are intent on preserving the country's traditional arts, dance and music. Most Omanis are Ibadi Muslims, belonging to one of Islam's earliest fundamentalist movements. In the countryside hamlets and coastal villages, day-to-day life has changed little in centuries.
Oman's main attractions include its ancient forts and Muslim architecture. The variety of terrain in Oman makes mountain and desert motoring particularly worthwhile. Beaches and water sports are the recreational mainstay of many of the five-star hotels. Tourists from throughout the Persian Gulf flock to Oman's beaches on a regular basis to avoid the hot summers in their home countries. Costs and services in Oman are generally either budget or luxury; there is little in the middle. Major credit cards are accepted in Oman, and traveler's checks and foreign currency are easily exchanged at banks, exchange bureaus and hotels.
Telephone services are reliable. Local, long-distance, pay phones and mobile phone services are available. Fax and Internet services are provided in most hotels and business centers in major cities. Internet cafes are located in Muscat and Nizwa.
The weather in Oman is most temperate from September to April. The months between May and August are particularly hot. Rainfall varies according to the region. During the period from June to September, there is a light monsoon season in the southern coastal region, which receives a large amount of rainfall by Middle Eastern standards. As many desert countries, even light rains causes flooding in Oman that may make roads impassable after rains.
The international airport in Muscat serves flights from European capitals and other major cities. Popular airlines include Oman Air, Kuwait Airways, Middle East Airlines, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Gulf Air and KLM Royal Dutch Airways.
The road network in Oman connects all the major urban areas; traffic laws are strictly enforced. Roads are normally in good condition, but wandering livestock may pose a danger. Drive on the right. The public transportation system with buses and service taxis is an efficient and normally inexpensive method of transportation in and between the cities. There are no train services available in Oman.
The incidence of petty crime is low in Oman, and violent crimes are rare. Travelers to Oman should take common sense security precautions, such as avoiding travel in deserted areas and walking alone after dark. Though domestic terrorist groups are virtually non-existent, Anti-Western sentiment throughout the Middle East calls for Western citizens to be aware of surroundings. Travelers should take precautions to protect their personal property from theft. In particular, valuables and currency should not be left unsecured in hotel rooms.
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