Welcome to Oman - a stunning contrast of deserts, mountains, beaches with all the comforts of a bustling, modern metropolis.

Oman offers an array of opportunities for exploration and discovery due to its diverse natural beauty and its colorful cultural heritage. Musandam in the north offers majestic Fjords while the south offers virgin sandy beaches, magnificent desert and rugged mountains and lush.

Oman takes pride in its rich cultural and archaeological heritage dating back to hundreds of years of trade and foreign influence which is depicted in Oman’s more than 500 forts & castles.

Oman is situated on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula. Oman coastline extends 1,700 Km from the straits of Hormuz in the north, to the borders of Yemen in the south and overlooks three seas: The Arabian Gulf, The Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Oman borders Saudi Arabia in the west; the United Arab Emirates in the northeast, Yemen in the south; straits of Hormuz in the north and Arabian Sea in the east.

The Total land area of Oman is around 309,500 sq. km which makes it the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula.

Oman possesses a rich & diverse topography ranging from rugged mountains and rocky deepwater fjords in the North, to the spectacular dunes of Sharqiyah (Wahiba) Sands and two large salt flats in the centre, to the lush green hills of Dhofar region in the South, with rugged coasts and placid beaches stretching along the 1,700 Km coastline.

The northern coastal strip along the Gulf of Oman is known as the Batinah Coast; a narrow fertile plain separated from the rest of the country by the Hajar Mountains. The highest peak is Jabal Shams (Sun Mountain) at 3,075 m. The southern slopes of the range are notable for their oasis towns where date groves flourish in the dry desert air.

In the south lies the second mountain range in Oman; the Qara Mountains, which attracts the light monsoon rains during the mid-summer months, turning them green with vegetation whose roots help delay the effects of erosion resulting in a soft rolling landscape more akin to central Africa.

As in the north, a narrow fertile coast plain lies between the mountains and the sea at whose centre Salalah lies, surrounded by lush vegetable farms and coconut groves.

The varied geography of the Sultanate resulted in a wide variety of climatic conditions. Although lying in the tropics, the Sultanate is subject to seasonal changes like the more temperate regions of the world.

The hottest months are June through August. The summer monsoon just touches the southern coast of Dhofar during these months bringing regular light rain to Salalah and reducing the average daytime highs to 30° C.

The most pleasant months to visit Oman are mid October through May when daytime temperatures fall into the lower 30s and below.

Rainfall varies but in general remains sparse and irregular. In the south most of the year's rainfall occurs during the summer monsoon months. In the north the opposite occurs. Here most rain comes from occasional winter storms which descend out of the eastern Mediterranean during the months of January through March, depositing an annual average of 10 cm of rain on the capital area.

Approximately 2 million. Around of 1.5 million are Omani Nationals. The remaining are expatriates from India. Asia, Other Arab countries, Europe & USA.

Islam

Approximately 2 million. Around of 1.5 million are Omani Nationals. The remaining are expatriates from India. Asia, Other Arab countries, Europe & USA.

Official Language is Arabic. Other languages spoken include Urdu, Swahili & Baluchi. English is widely spoken and along with Arabic is the common business language. Most hotel staff speak German and French as well.

Like all Arab countries, The Arabic Islamic culture dominates the life style in Oman. However, being an international market, people of various nationalities are also present.

Men – Dishdasha (Robe), Kimah (Cap), Mussaar (Turban)
Women – Jallabia (dress), Sirwal (trousers), Thobe (overdress cloak), Lahaf (head shawl), Abaya (black cloak).
Women generally leave their face & hands exposed while in the desert, women of Bedouin tribes wear a mask, called (Birqa)