Click to enlarge

Country: Oman
Capital: Muscat
Area: 309,500 sq km, with 3,165km of coastline
Population: 2.33 million

Geography: Plains, wadis, mountains, sandy and stony deserts. A diverse landscape ranges from the barren fjords of Musandam in the extreme north to the lush, green hills of Dhofar in the far south.

Climate: Muscat is hot and humid from late-March until September and pleasantly warm with cool evenings the rest of the year. Around Salalah, the second largest city, humid weather with temperatures of 30°C is common even in December, and the area is drenched by the monsoon rains from June to September.

Business hours:
Private sector businesses: 8:30-5:30 or 8am-1pm, 4-7pm, except Friday.
Shopping centres: usually 9am-1pm, 4.30-9.30pm.
Government offices: Saturday to Wednesday, 7am-2.30pm.

Currency & banking:
The unit of currency is the Omani Rial (RO) comprising 1,000 baizas. In general, banking hours are Saturday to Wednesday from 8am to noon, and Thursday from 8am to 11am. Moneychangers are also open from 4pm to 7pm.

Public telephones:
Accept coins and phonecards. Cards available from supermarkets and some smaller shops in units up to RO5.

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

travel

Airlines
Flight Information (24 hrs) 1101 or 24519223.
Aeroflot 24704455; Air Arabia 24700828; Air France 24704318; Air India 24799801; Air Maldives 24566046; Airlanka 24784545; Air New Zealand 24700326; Balkan Airlines 24566046; Bangladesh Airlines 24701128; British Airways 24568777; Cathay Pacific 24789818; Egypt Air 24794113; Emirates Air 24786700; Ethiopian Airlines 24566046; Gulf Air 247032222; Indian Airlines 24791914; Iran Air 24787423; Japan Airlines 24704455; Kenya Airways 24788324; Kuwait Airways 24701262; LOT Polish Airlines 24796387; Lufthansa 24796692; Malaysian Airlines 24560796; Middle East Airlines 24796680; Olympic Airways 24796387; Oman Aviation 24707222; Pakistan International Airlines 24792471; Qatar Airways 24787070; Qantas 24604258; Royal Brunei 24784933; Royal Jordanian 24796693; Saudi Arabian Airlines 24789485; Singapore Airlines 24791233; Swiss International Airlines 24787416; Syrian Airlines 24797567; Thai Airways 24704455

Tour operators
Amazing Arabia 24701454/ 99310005; Shanfari Travel 24700268; Al Daleel Tours 23296503; Al Ghadeer 99325441; Al Ghubayra Travel and Tourism 24812874; Al Haditha Tours 24603587; Al Hashar Tourism and Travels 24836338; Al Naheem Tourism and Services 24478192; Al Sawson Tours 24485637; Al Sharqiya Gardens 99332264; Arabian Sands Tour Services 24785027; Arabian Sea Safaris 24693223; Bahwan Travel Agencies 24704455; Choice Holidays 24566046; Desert Discovery 24593232; Eihab Travels 24796282; Empty Quarter Tours 99387654; Ena Tourism 23298500; Global Tours 24484156; Khasab Travel & Tours 26730464; Mark Tours 24562444; Majan Travel 24785728; Mezoon Travel 24796680; Midland Tourism 24566524; Moon Travels 24793551; Nomadic Adventures and Tours 99336273; Salalah Tourism 23292289; OTTB 24789845; Oasis Tours 24797973; Oman Discovery 24706424; Oman Geo Tours 600914; Oman National Transport 24490046; Orient Tours 24605066; OUA Travel Centre 24700326; Premier Tours 99222620; Rusayl Travel 24510012; Salalah City Services 23299663; Shanfari Travel and Tours 24787271; Sun and Sand Tours 99373928; Tour Oman 24799966; United Tours 24787448; Zubair Tours 24692940; Al Ahlam Tours 244892612; Al Areesh Wahiba Camp 99317107; Al Raha Tourism Camp 99343851; Al Wasil Camp 9332264; Nahar Tourism Oasis 9387654; Al Noor 99318822; Nomadic Desert Camp 99336273; Remal al Sharqiya Tourism 24544525

Car breakdown services
AAA 24605555

Car hire
Al Ibtisama Trading 24703404; Avis 24607235; Budget 24794721/ 24510816 (24hrs); Europcar 24700190; Global Car Rental 24697140; Hertz 24566208; Mark 24562444; Payless Car Rental 24792875; Salalah City Services 23299663; Sixt 24799899/ 24561427; Suwatco 24707840; Thrifty Car Rental 24489248; Toyota 24561427; Value Plus 24597264

Taxis
Al Dar Taxi 24700555/ 24700777; Comfort Line 24702191; Hello Taxi 24607011/ 24607012

Coaches
Comfort Line (Muscat-Dubai) 24702191; Oman National Transport Company 24590046

Maps and charts
Nautical charts are available from the National Hydrographic Office, Bait al Falaj, 24312281

Guides and Scouts
British Guides in Foreign Countries Norma Malcom 24677333; British Scouts Groups Abroad Sonia Carr, 24591324

accommodation

hotels
Al Bustan Palace Hotel 24799666; Al Khuwayr Hotel Apts 24697171; Al Madina Holiday Inn 24596400; Al Fanar Hotel 24712385; Beach Hotel 24697686; Bausher Hotel 24491105; Crowne Plaza Muscat 24560100; Grand Hyatt Muscat 24641234; Haffa House Hotel 24707207; Hotel InterContinental Muscat 24680000; Laith Howard Johnson Hotel 24692121; Majan Hotel 24592900; Marina Hotel 24711711; Al Falaj 24702311; Mina Hotel 24711828; Muscat Holiday Inn 24487123; Muttrah Hotel 24798401; Nuzha Hotel Apts 24789199; Qurm Beach House 24564070; Radisson SAS 24487777; Ramada Qurm Beach 24603555; Ruwi Hotel 24704244; Safeer Hotel Suites 24691200; Golden Tulip 24510300; Sheraton Oman Hotel 24799899; Sheraton Qurm Resort 24605945; The Chedi 24524400 Interior: Al Ghaftain Motel, Ghaba Motel, Wadi Qatbeet Motel 99485881; Al Jabal al Akhdhar Hotel 25429009; Al Qabil Hotel 25581243; Bahla Hotel 25420211; Falaj Daris Hotel Nizwa 25410500; Majan Guest House 25431910; Nahar Tourism Oasis 99387654; Nizwa Hotel 25431616; Sur Plaza Hotel 25543777; Sur Beach Hotel 25542031 Southern region: Dhofar Park Inn International 23292300; Haffa House 23294755; Hamilton Plaza 23211025; Crowne Plaza Salalah 23235333; Hilton Salalah 23211234 Musandam: Khasab Hotel 26730267 Northern Oman: Al Buraimi Hotel 25652010; Al Sawadi Resort 26795545; Al Wadi Hotel Sohar 26840058; Green Oasis Hotel 26846077; The Sohar Beach Hotel 26843701

Real estate agents
Abdulla al Harthy Trading 24565766; Al Alawi Real Estate 24700983; Al Habib and Company 24702666; Al Noorah Gardens Guest Houses and Tourism Company 24697203; Al Wadi Commercial Centre 24564782; Bin Omeir Group of Companies 24701495; Cluttons and Partners 24564250; Dima Trading and Contracting 24831480; Emaar Real Estate 24699733 Fayadh Mohamed Musa Establishment 24707652; Hamed Abdulla Enterprises 24484260; Hamptons International and Partners 24563557; Hatat House 24564250; Hay al Rahbah Trading and Contracting 24696266; Hilal Properties 24600688; Kifah Real Estate Services 24706558; Mohamed and Ahmed Alkhonji 24704231; Nasser Bin Abdullatif Alserkal 24703193; Renaissance Holdings 24796636; Roxy Enterprises 24611189; Talal al Zawawi Enterprises 24811554; Zubair Corporation 24707147

urban resources

Electricity (24-hr service for power cuts):
Muscat, Muttrah 24714300, Ruwi 24701821, Salalah 23290211

Water
Muttrah 24795775, Ruwi 24702732, Salalah 23290222

Post offices
Al Harthy Complex (7:30am-2:30pm, 7-9pm) 24563534; Hamriya (8am-2pm, 4-8pm; Thurs 8-11am) 24789311; Madinat as Sultan Qaboos (8am-2pm) 24697083; Mina al Fahal (8am-2pm) 24565465; Muscat (7:30am-2:30pm; Thurs 8-11am) 24738547; Ruwi (7:30am-2.30pm, 4-6pm) 24701651; Seeb (8am-3pm, 5pm to midnight; Thurs 8-11am, 8-11pm) 24519922; Sultan Qaboos University Campus (8am-2pm) 24413333 ext 3161; Al Wadi al Kabir (7:30am-1.30pm) 24816275.

Telephone Services
Directory Enquiries Direct 24706488; National 198; International Operator 195; Information 24600100

government

Embassies
Algeria 24481698; Austria 24793135; Bahrain 24605075; Bangladesh 24567379; Belgium 24562033; Brunei 24603533; China 24696698; Cyprus 24490200; Denmark 24703289; Egypt 24600411; Finland 24701454; France 24681800; Germany 24832482/24832164; India 24810536; Iran 24696944; Iraq 24604178; Ireland 24797083; Italy 24695223; Japan 24601028; Jordan 24692760; Korea 24691490; Kuwait 24699627; Lebanon 24695844; Malaysia 24698329; Mexico 24561977; Morocco 24696152; Mozambique 24594207; Netherlands 24603719; Norway 24703289; Pakistan 24603439; Philippines 24605140; Portugal 24561400; Qatar 24691152; Russian Federation 24602894; Saudi Arabia 24601744; Somalia 24564412; South Africa 24694793; Spain 24680000 Ext 162; Sri Lanka 24697841; Sudan 24697875; Syria 24697904; Sweden 24708693; Swiss Consulate 24568202; Taiwan 24605695; Tanzania 24607065; Thailand 24602684; Tunisia 24603486; Turkey 24697050; United Arab Emirates 24600988; United Kingdom 24609000, Commercial Section 24609002; USA 24698989, Commerce Dept 24699094; Yemen 24600815;

international non-profit
UNICEF 24602624; World Health Organisation 24600989

ministries
Diwan of Royal Court 24738711; Agriculture and Fisheries 24696300; Awqaf and Religious Affairs 24696870; Civil Services 24603072; Commerce and Industry 24813500; Defence 243120605; Education 24775209; Finance 24738201; Foreign Affairs 24699500; Health 24602177; Heritage and Culture 24641325; Higher Education 24783444; Housing, Electricity and Water 24693333; Information 24603888; Interior 24602244; Justice 24697699; Legal Affairs 24489802; National Economy 24698900; Oil and Gas 24603333; Regional Municipalities, Environment and Water Resources 24692550; Social Development 24602444; Manpower 24816591; Tourism 24817238; Transport and Communication 24603800, 24697888

education

Kindergartens
Abu Adnan Nursery 24605704; Al Shumus Nursery 24561871; American British Academy 24603646; American International School of Muscat 24595180; Bright Beginnings Nursery 24699387; British Council Kindergarten 24691348; British School 24600842; Gulf Nursery 24787127; Indian Nursery Al Khuwayr 24486412; Darsait 24707978, Al Hail 24539862; Al Ghubra 24495224; Indian School Jibroo 24711117; Little Flower Nurseries 24703317; Madinat al Atfaal Nursery 24601609; Muscat Private School 24565550; National Nursery (Montessori) 24560096; Sunnyside Nursery 24483528; Tender Buds 24691055

Schools
American British Academy 24603646; American International School of Muscat 24595180; British School 24600842; Ecole Francaise 24601007; Indian School Muscat Darsait 24702567; Indian School Al Wadi al Kabir 24811521; Indian School al Ghubrah 24491605; Muscat Private School 24560953; Pakistan School 24702489; The Sultan’s School 24536777

RECREATION

Cinemas
Al Nasr Cinema 24831358 Al Shatti Plaza 24692656; Markaz al Bahja Cinema 24540855; Ruwi Cinema 24701564; Stars Cinema 24791641

Health clubs
Adam’s Fitness Centre 24694989; Al Bustan Palace Hotel 24799666; Al Falaj Health Club 24702311; Al Majan Hotel 24592900; Crowne Plaza Muscat 24560100; Al Safa Health Club 24603555; Al Sawadi Beach Resort 26795545; Future Health Club 24600030; Grand Hyatt Club Olympus 24641234 ext 1155; Golden Tulip 24510300; Gymnasia 24560100; Horizon Fitness Centre 24571337; Hotel InterContinental Muscat 24680000;Muscat Holiday Inn 24487123; The Fontana Club Radisson SAS Hotel 2447777; Hilton Salalah 23211234; Crowne Plaza Salalah 23235333; Sheraton Oman Hotel 24799899; Sheraton Qurm Resort 24605945; Sohar Beach Hotel 26841111

art and culture

Libraries
Bibliotheque Francaise 24681874; British Council Knowledge and Learning Centre 24681000; Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Accounting 24707674 ext 314; Public Technical Library Science 24673111; United States Information Service 24698989 ext 201

Museums
Bait Adam 99356676; Bait al Zubair 24736688; Children’s Museum 24605368; National Museum 24701289; Oman Museum 24600946; Omani French Museum 24736613; Salalah Museum 23294549; Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum 312648

art galleries
Al Madina Art Gallery 24691380; Bait al Muzna Gallery 24739204; Omani Heritage Gallery 24696974; Raj Relics 99329842; Yitti Art Gallery 24564297

Music and Theatre Associations
Board of the Royal Schools of Music Philip Stallwood 99440441; Liturgical Choir Malcolm Bury 24677241; Muscat Amateur Theatre Judith Razek 24562511, Su Pattison 24497502; Muscat Singers Kate Clarke 99473709; RAH Chamber Music Ensemble Anton Sluijterman 24677287

special interest groups
Indian Club Muscat Freddy Printer 99322713 American Women’s Group Marilyn Searle 24594751; Omani Women’s Association 24602800; Women’s Guild in Oman Karen Casemore 24510784 Historical Association of Oman Kamal Abdulredha Sultan 24708494; Horticultural Association Clive Winbow 24605493; Oman Bird Group Ian Harrison 24695498; Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society Abdul Razak al Shahwarzi 24600407

finance

money exchange
Abu Mehad Money Exhange 24566123; Faiq Money Changers 24562841; Gulf Overseas Exchange 24834182; Hamdan Exhange 23211258; Hamdan Trading 23210000; Laxmidas Thariya Ved Exchange 24700065; Modern Exchange 24832133; Mustafa Sultan Exhange 24706519; Naraindas Jamnadas 24712279; National Exhange Company 26882038; Oman and UAE Exhange 24750830; Oman United Exhange 24794305; Purshottam Kanji Exhange 24712323; Sabco Commercial Centre 24563943

banks
Alliance Housing Bank 24568568; Bank Dhofar 24790466; Bank Melli Iran 24815160; Bank of Baroda 24714549; BankMuscat 24768888; Bank Saderat Iran 24833923; Central Bank of Oman 24702222; Habib Bank Limited 24817139; HSBC 24799920; National Bank of Abu Dhabi 24761000; National Bank of Oman 24778000; Oman Arab Bank 24702536; Oman Development Bank 24812507; Oman Housing Bank 24704444; Oman International Bank 24682500; Standard Chartered Bank 24703999; State Bank of India 24704232

medical

Medical and dental centres
1st Chiropractic Centre 24698847; Al Hayat Polyclinic 24565941; Al Massaraat 24566435; Al Muthana Physiotherapy Centre 24484046; Al Shatti Hospital 24604263; Capital Polyclinic 24707549; Dental Technology Centre 24571800; El Magrabi Eye and Ear Centre 24568870; Elixir Health Centre 24565802; Emerald Dental Clinic 24561641; Emirates Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Centre 24604540; Gulf Medical Centre 24564639; Hatat Polyclinic 24563641; Harub Dental Surgery 24563814; Lama Polyclinic 24799077; Medident 24600668; Precision Dental Clinic 24696247; Qurm Medical Centre 24692898; Central Blood Bank 24591255

Vets
Austrian Veterinary Centre Dr. Malleczek 24566311/ 99238231; Dr Khaled 24562263/ 99310035; The Private Veterinarian Hospital 24 562263

shopping

shopping malls
Al Araimi Complex 24566180; Al Asfoor Plaza 24564686; Al Harthy Complex 24564481; Al Khamis Plaza 24562791; Al Wadi Commercial Centre 24364782; Capital Commercial Complex 24563672; City Centre 24558888; Markaz al Bahja 24540200; Sabco Centre 24562761;