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Introduction
Oman (in Arabic: عمان ʻUmān), officially the Sultanate of Oman (in Arabic: سلطنة عُمان Salṭanat ʻUmān) is a country of middle East, located on the east coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It limits with United Arab Emirates to the northwest, with Saudi Arabia to the west and with Yemen to the southwest.
Regions
- Az Zahirah or Ad Dhahirah
Cities
- Muscat(Arabic: مسقط) is the largest city and capital of the Sultanate of Oman. Its souk is the largest in the world of cutlery. In ancient times it was the most important in the entire Arab world. Oman is the country of incense and in its souk you can smell the true essence of the garden of one thousand and one nights. It is essential to visit the souk if one is in this city.
- Salalah - Second largest city in the country, located in the south, near the border with Yemen. Great possibilities of small daily tours to see curiosities of the region. Lakes, villages with history, Job's tomb, routes through the desert, fishing villages, coves with crystal clear waters and access after pleasant walks, ..... good roads.
Talk
The official language is Arabic and English, but minorities speak in their own languages. A non-Arabic Semitic language is spoken in Dhofar. Arabic is the national language, but most Omanis speak good to excellent English, and especially in major cities and tourist areas. In the southern region of Dhofar, a Semitic language called "Jibbali" is spoken. Swahili, Urdu, and Baluchi are languages spoken by ethnic minorities in Oman, especially in the capital, Muscat. The presence of large numbers of Malaysian expatriates from the Indian state of Kerala has made Malayalam a prominent language. The historical presence of Indian merchants has meant that Hindi is understood in some urban areas. An English-speaking traveler should have no difficulties with the language unless he is truly traveling "off the beaten path".
Other destinations
Oman is a paradise yet to be discovered, it has idyllic beaches as well as places where you can practice speology, dolphin watching, diving, windsurfing, routes through the desert.In the south, the most important city is Salalah, hit by the Indian monsoon. It enjoys good temperatures, desert landscapes combined with green mountains, exotic places ............ and very hospitable people.
Understand
Until Sultan Qaboos bin Said exiled his father, the previous sultan, in 1970, Oman was an underdeveloped nation, almost completely closed to visitors and poorly manipulated by the British, though never annexed. After Qaboos joined, education, public works and tourism took off across Oman.
Omanis are friendly people and very helpful to visitors. In turn, tourists must respect the customs and traditions of the Omani people.
Omanis are proud of their country's rapid progress and its heritage as one of the great seafaring nations. Excellent schools and hospitals, good governance, and continuous infrastructure improvements are important characteristics of this once introverted and closed nation.
History
Before Islam
The oldest known human settlement in Oman dates back to the Stone Age.
The Sumerian tablets refer to a country called Magan, a name believed to refer to the ancient copper mines of Oman. The current name of the country is believed to come from the Arab tribes who migrated to its territory from the Uman region of Yemen. Many tribes settled in Oman to earn a living from fishing, herding, or raising cattle, and some present-day Omani families can trace their ancestral roots to other parts of Arabia.
From the 6th century BC. Until the arrival of Islam in the 7th century AD. C., Oman was controlled or influenced by three Persian dynasties: the Achaemenids, the Parthians and the Sassanids. Approximately in the year 250 a. C., the Parthian dynasty controlled the Persian Gulf and extended its influence to Oman and established garrisons in Oman. In the 3rd century AD, the Sassanids succeeded the Parthians and held the area until the rise of Islam four centuries later.
Weather
The weather in general is very hot, with temperatures reaching 54 ° C (129 ° F) in the summer, from May to October.
Annual rainfall in Muscat averages 100mm (3.9 inches), falling mostly in the winter. Dhofar is subject to the southwest monsoon and rainfall of up to 640 mm (25.2 inches) has been recorded in the rainy season from June to September.
While mountainous areas receive more abundant rainfall, some parts of the coast, particularly near Masirah Island, sometimes receive little or no rainfall over the course of a year.
Read
- Explorer Publishing, Oman Off-road: 26 adventure routes . Given the paucity of road and topographic maps available for the country, this book is a must-have for visitors looking to explore Oman's highlights, many of which are off the beaten track. The routes and points of interest are described in detail, with satellite images and GPS coordinates. Outside of the Gulf region, the book can be difficult to find, but it is generally available at the Muscat Airport Arrivals Terminal Bookstore, as well as select bookstores in the city and in the United Arab Emirates, where it is published. .
Religion
Ibadi is the official denominational religion of Islam in Oman. It is one of the most tolerant branches, which makes Oman a more liberal society.
To get
It is necessary to apply in advance for the visa, although certain countries can obtain it upon entry into Muscat at the Seeb International airport. [1].
The eliberation of the visa usually takes about 15 days, but as we mentioned, certain countries can obtain the visa on arrival in Muscat, for 6 Omani Rials OMR, countries such as: Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Italy, Poland, USA, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey, Australia, or New Zealand
Visas
Citizens of the following countries can obtain a single entry visa upon arrival at any air, land or sea terminal:
- EU citizens and other Europeans, including nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and Vatican City, but do not Cyprus and Malta.
- Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, Moldova, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela Omani visa and entry and exit stamps
The 30-day visa costs 20 riyals, 10 days one - 5 riyals. You can pay online before you get to the Royal Oman Police e-Visa website or MCT airport, where you need to get the visa from the money changers who add a commission of 1 rial. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival. Any visa fee can be paid using UAE dirhams at the rate of ten dirhams for one Omani rial. At airports, visa fees can be paid in any Gulf Cooperation Council currency, euros and US dollars.
Oman has a common visa mechanism with the Emirate of Dubai. If you go through Dubai immigration and are granted a visa for Dubai for at least 3 weeks, then you will be entitled to a free visa for 3 weeks for Oman. You will need to show your Dubai passport stamp to Omani immigration officers. Visas are sold by private companies at some ports of entry and these people may not be familiar with this and will try to convince you that you need to buy a visa from them. If it's your first visit to that particular port of entry, it can be difficult to know how to navigate past these folks. If you reach an immigration officer, they will be familiar with the visa fee waiver and allow you to enter without paying. The countries that benefit from this type of visa are: Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, Sweden, Greece, Austria, Ireland, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Belgium, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Korea South, Japan, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Vatican, Monaco, Andorra, San Marino.
This scheme is only with the Emirate of Dubai and not with other UAE emirates, therefore if you enter the UAE through Abu Dhabi or elsewhere, your UAE visa will be granted by some other emirate and while this allows you to travel within the UAE and Dubai, the Oman visa fee will not be waived.
Citizens of Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia can apply for a one-month visit visa only at the air terminals.
The visa can be extended one more month by sending your passport to the Royal Oman Police in Muscat, however there is a line and the wait can be up to 2 hours. The concept of personal distance is different in the Middle East than in Europe. Tail jumping can be a problem for Europeans unless you put that concept of personal distance aside. If you are on a budget and need to extend your visa, consider taking a trip to the United Arab Emirates. Buses cost 10-12 riyals round trip. A roundtrip flight on the same day to Sharjah on Air Arabia costs around 50 riyals. Even a taxi would be an option. No visa is required for citizens of the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and a short-term visa will be granted on arrival to residents of the GCC member states and regardless of their nationality.
GCC expatriate residents receive a visit visa valid for up to 4 weeks (extendable for 1 week) for a fee of 5 riyals.
Customs
Bringing firearms, narcotics or pornographic publications into Oman is prohibited. Non-Muslims can bring two liters of alcohol into the country only at Muscat International Airport. You are not allowed to bring alcohol into the country in private vehicles at land border crossings.
By plane
From Spain there are no direct flights to Oman but through Paris, Frankfurt, London or Zurich. Virtually all international flights arrive at Muscat International Airport (Seeb) (MCT) in Muscat. There are also international regional flights to Salalah (SLL). Buying a visa on arrival in Salalah can be quite difficult, as the airport is small and immigration officials tend to have no change for larger tickets.
There are scheduled services from many airlines, including Oman Air, Emirates, Gulf Air, Etihad, British Airways, Pakistan international Airline, Kuwait Airways, Saudi Arabian Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Swiss International, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Air India, Air France and Thai Airways International. The most frequent connections are via Dubai (DXB).
There are also direct flights from Pakistan and India by the Pakistani international airline and Air India.
Boat
From time to time, cruise ships dock in Muscat and Salalah. Otherwise, there are no regular boat connections or ferries. The port of Muscat is used by cruise ships, however there are no regular passenger services to Oman. This is slowly changing, with more (usually smaller) cruise ships calling at ports.
By car
All major and national car rental companies offer rental cars. Right-hand traffic applies. European drivers will find their way quickly without major problems. A liter of unleaded gasoline costs around 0.31 euros (as of December 2012). Maximum speed 120 km / h. You must drive 80-100 times on the Muscat city highway, as shared taxis sometimes brake sharply or enter the highway from the shoulder. The most up-to-date roadmap is Reise Know How Verlag, January 3, 2011 edition. You can navigate Oman with navigation systems. Street names are rarely given. The road network has expanded considerably in recent years. Many traffic routes that were recently pending are now paved and in very good condition. There are highways between the northern border in Sohar via Muscat to the South and from the border in Al Ain from the Emirates through Nizwa to the capital area. The construction of unpaved roads in remote mountain areas was also promoted.
There are several border crossings from the United Arab Emirates into Oman, some of which are listed below:
- Hatta border in Wadi Hatta and Al-Wajajah (this crossing can only be used by GCC nationals)
- Wadi Jizzi between Sohar and Buraimi,
- Jebel Hafret that leads to Ibri and Nizwa,
- Khatmat Milahah from Fujairah
- from Ras al Khaimah emirate to Bukha / Musadam
- from the emirate of Fujeirah to Dibba / Musadam.
Al Ain (Abu Dhabi) 3 border posts, Positionstreet border Khatam Al Shukla (Khattm Al Shiklah) (serving expatriates)
Driving directions and border crossing from Abu Dhabi to Muscat : For Abu Dhabi residents crossing into Oman, there are 3 border posts at Al Ain - Buraimi border post (reserved exclusively for GCC nationals), Hilli border post (also exclusively for GCC nationals) and the border post on Khatam Al Shukla road (for expats, you will not find any traffic lights in the city indicating the direction of the border).
The roads are excellent and the border crossing is quite easy. Don't forget to bring some cash as you have to pay for the visa to enter Oman, and also, as of 2019, many gas stations, especially in southern Oman, only accept cash. If you are taking a car from the UAE to Oman, you will need to present proof at the border that the car is insured in Oman. There is a UAE Dh35 departure tax when leaving the UAE by car and a Rial 2 tax when leaving Oman by road.
Weekends and holidays are very busy at the various borders that the UAE shares with Oman, as residents and visitors cross into Oman for tourism purposes and to process visas. Crossing during the work week (Sunday through Thursday) will avoid much of the crowds.
Also, make sure your passport is stamped with the appropriate entry and exit stamps. This should go without saying, but some border officials will forget part of the procedure and cause administrative problems later on. Furthermore, crossing from Oman to the United Arab Emirates is often a chaotic business, making it easier to miss the all-important seal than you might expect.
Crossing from Oman to Yemen is significantly more challenging, and those with an adventurous bent should be very careful to familiarize themselves with the regulations regarding that border. In previous years, there has been a law stating that no woman traveling alone can leave Oman for Yemen. Also, keep in mind that the easternmost parts of Yemen are exceptionally remote.
While there is an (unmarked) border between Oman and Saudi Arabia, this is a highly inadvisable crossing as it involves traversing most (if not all) of the Empty Quarter and there are no permanent roads.
By bus
There is a regular bus service between Muscat and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. There are private operators, as well as the state-owned Mwasalat (formerly the Omani National Transport Company) and the journey (which usually lasts between 4 and 5 hours) is quite comfortable thanks to the excellent roads.
Mwasalat operates the routes from Dubai to Muscat and from Dubai to Salalah. The bus to Muscat departs from Al rigga road in Deira, Dubai at 07:15 and in the afternoon. The bus to Salalah leaves at 15:00 from the same bus station. Tickets are purchased at the Al Manhal stationery next to the bus stop and cost UAE 55 dirhams one way to Muscat (December 2010). The bus stop is hard to find, it is close to the Caravan restaurant and close to the Dnata building, the taxi drivers know where the bus stop is. To go to Nizwa you need to go with the Salalah bus. Dress warmly for the bus trip and prepare for border control, including baggage check If you enter the UAE through Dubai, you do not need to pay for the visa for Oman, please show your stamp at border control.
Travel
By plane
Oman Air is the national airline and flies regularly between the country's two airports (Muscat / Seeb and Salalah). Air Arabia offers flights to Salalah and Muscat from the United Arab Emirates.
Boat
There is a fast ferry between Musandam and Masirah, but only once a week to Musandam. In addition to the fast ferry, the traditional car ferry from Sannah to Hilf runs several times a day to Masirah Island.
By car
| Believe it or not, but in Oman it is illegal drive a dirty car. You may be stopped by the police who can give you 15 riyals (April 2017), although they are more likely to tell you to wash your vehicle. |
Renting a car is not going to be a difficult task, but do not expect prices to be better than in Spain. It may be a bit cheaper but around 15-20%. Getting around Oman with your rental car is quite simple. A four-lane highway connects Muscat to Nizwa and another four-lane highway runs from Muscat to South (however, between Muscat and Quriyat there is still one lane in each direction through the mountains).
Much of the South-Muscat route still does not have mobile phone coverage. In the event of a breakdown, be prepared to wait, look for a shuttle to the next city to find a mechanic who can repair your vehicle.
A nice coastal campground can be found between Muscat and South. It is better to take the paved road towards South, then continue towards Wadi Shab to find the coastal road safely. If you plan to drive on wadis (i.e. unpaved valley tracks following riverbeds), a 4x4 is highly recommended. You can never be sure what the path will be like and if it starts to rain the wadi will quickly turn into a river.
If possible, rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle. In Oman, there are off-road tracks so spectacular that you will never want to drive on asphalt again.
Since about 2001, Oman has experienced severe flash floods every year. The force of the waters flowing down the treeless Rocky Mountains can even capsize a Landcruiser off road. Be careful: If you see dark clouds or raindrops, find a high shelter and stay there. You can call your local authorities for better advice. The problem is that floods move quickly from one city to another, it is easy to get caught in flooded streets. Many wadi crossings have red and white posts to indicate when it is safe to cross the stream in the event of a flood. These are white on the bottom and red on the top. If the water level reaches the part painted red, do not try to cross, even with a 4x4.
The typical rental car is limited to 200/250 km per day. Be prepared to pay and negotiate additional miles. Monthly rates sometimes include unlimited mileage.
Gasoline in Oman is very cheap by European and North American standards. In January 2020, the price of regular gasoline was around 0.21 rial / liter, even cheaper than the neighboring UAE.
To try to limit the rather alarming number of road fatalities, motorways / highways are littered with speed cameras. In the center of Muscat they are present every 2 km, not all of them are active, but it is good not to underestimate them. According to the inhabitants, the tolerance of the speed cameras is 19 km / h.
On secondary roads and in smaller towns there are frequent potholes due to slowing down of vehicle speed. However, vertical signs when present are placed only 50m away, or are completely absent. This can lead to sudden braking or the risk of damaging the car. Pay the utmost attention because often in police stations or towns they suddenly appear on the road.
Main communication routes
The main road artery in the country is made up of the Sultan Qaboos Highway , which serves as the central hub for the capital, Muscat, and the R1 national highway, which continues along the entire north coast. Departing from the old city, Matrah, it passes through almost all the major districts of the capital reaching the Muscat International Airport near Seeb and then continues on the R1 highway to the northwest to reach the cities of Barka ', al-Suwayq, Saham. , Sohar, Shinas and the border with the United Arab Emirates. The R5 motorway used to reach Dubai and the R7 motorway connecting to the centers of al-Buraymi and al-'Ayn and the E22 motorway to Abu Dhabi deviates from the 1 motorway. Minor state highways are also derived from the R1 motorway, such as the R3 for the United Arab Emirates, the R8 for Ibri, the R11 for Rustaq, and the R13 for Nakhal.
Highway 15 also starts from SQH / R1 near Muscat Airport and, passing through Bidbid, Izki and Nizwa, ends in Bahla, where it joins Highway R21 to Ibra, which reaches the UAE border, Highway 17 it follows the east coast that connects the capital with the South through Amrat and Qurayyat.
The R31 highway originates south of the city of Nizwa and is the main north-south connection of Oman, reaching Salalah in the south of the country. Apart from the initial section and the final section, where it presents the characteristics of a motorway, the main section has a single carriageway with long straights. It traverses vast desert territories through Adam, Haima and Thumrait ending in the capital of the Dhofar governorate. It covers more than 850 km and is the longest road artery in Oman.
The national road R2 is the only paved road connecting Khasab, on the Musandam Peninsula, with the United Arab Emirates. The R47 national road originates from Salalah and is the main link between Oman and Yemen. The R51 national road serves the island of Maṣīra completing the circumnavigation along the coast.
| Name / No. | Typology | Start | end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sultan Qaboos Highway | Highway | Muscatel | Barka |
| R1 | Highway / Highway | Barka | United Arab Emirates |
| Muscat Expressway | Highway | Muscatel | Seeb |
| South Batinah Highway | Highway | Muscat Exp. In Seeb | Sohar |
| Batinah Coastal Highway | Highway | Barka | Sohar |
| R2 | National road | Khasab | United Arab Emirates |
| R5 | Highway | 1 in Shinas | United Arab Emirates |
| R7 | Highway | 1 in Sohar | Buraimi |
| R9 | Highway / National Highway | 1 in Chabura | Ibri |
| R10 | National road | Rustaq | Ibri |
| R11 | Highway | 1 in Tharmad | Rustaq |
| R13 | Highway | 1 in Barka | Rustaq |
| R15 | Highway | 1 in Seeb | Bahla |
| R17 | Highway | 1 in Muscat | South |
| R21 | Highway | Bahla | United Arab Emirates |
| R23 | National road | 15 for Bidbid | South |
| R31 | Highway / National Highway | Nizwa | Salalah |
| R37 | Highway / National Highway | 31 in Haima | Duqm |
| R45 | National road | 31 in Thumrait | Yemen |
| R47 | National road | Salalah | Yemen |
| R51 | National road | Mashira | Mashira |
By bus
There are regular daily bus services connecting the largest cities in Oman (Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, Sur and Nizwa). There are several daily bus services from Muscat to Dubai. There is one bus a day from Muscat to Abu Dhabi. For more information, see the website of the Oman National Transportation Company (ONTC).
In taxi
All taxi drivers in Oman have Omani citizenship as it is a protected profession. In Muscat there is a telephone call taxi service. Although it is safe and generally fast, the cost of taxi service is relatively high. Among the various companies refer to "Hello Taxi" and "Muscat Taxi".
Orange taxis are usually operated by the same owners and are not metered with rates: negotiated before departure. If you get a very affordable price, don't be surprised if the taxi stops to add more passengers unless a private service is requested. You can ask the driver for a hired taxi and you will pay for all seats (4) to convert the shared taxi into a private taxi. Women should always sit alone in the back for their safety and comfort.
There are also minibuses ( Baisa bus ) to share with others paying a lower price. This is the most popular means of public transport for women living in Oman. Women, if present inside, should sit next to other women and men should move to other seats. If they don't move quickly, watch them while you wait at the door. In that moment, they must understand the invitation to move. While this may seem strange to foreigners, it is normal and expected behavior for Omanis.
By train
Railways are still unknown in Oman, but there are plans (in the meantime seriously) a connection with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Do
- Drive off-road to explore Oman's highlights.
- Go snorkeling off the coast of Oman at places like Masirah.
- Visit the Bedouin tribal villages at Musandam Exclave.
- Take a cruise on a dhow, a traditional Omani / Emirati fishing boat.
- Haggle in the souks and markets of cities like Muscat.
To buy
The official currency is the Omani Rial OMR, It is subdivided into 1000 baiza. Coins and bills typically come in the following denominations: 100 baiza, 200 baiza, 250 baiza, 500 baiza, 1 rial, 5 rial, and 10 rial.
Major credit cards and American Express are accepted by most major businesses. Check with your credit card company the degree of acceptance it has in Oman and what other additional services they offer you.
You can withdraw money from an ATM with your credit or debit card. There are approximately 70 of these ATMs in Oman.
To eat
Be careful with food because it tends to be very spicy and spicy - really spicy. When they say it stings a bit, with a smile on their face, taste it carefully.
Eating in restaurants is not expensive. Lobster, particularly in the southern part of the country, is very cheap for what we are used to in Spain.
Even so, there is a wide variety of places where for very little money they prepare us some great kebaps.
The food is mainly Arabic, Lebanese, Turkish, Pakistani and Indian. Many Omanis make a distinction between "Arabic" food and "Omani" food, the former being the description of the standard dishes found throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Omani food tends to be less spicy and is served in fairly large portions; whole fish is not uncommon for lunch in some local restaurants (if you limit yourself to local food, it's easy enough to eat a substantial meal for less than OR2). As a benefit to a country with a long coastline, seafood is a fairly common dish, particularly shark, which is surprisingly tasty. True traditional Omani food is hard to find in restaurants. If you have Omani friends, being invited home for a meal is generally your best option for sampling the local cuisine.
Omani sweets are well known throughout the region, the most popular being the "halwa". It is a hot, semi-solid substance that behaves a bit like honey and is eaten with a spoon. The taste is similar to Turkish delight. Omani dates are among the best in the world and can be found in all social venues and offices.
Plenty of Pakistani Restaurants Serving Delicious Mugal, Baloch, Afghani and Pakistani Food Karak Chai is famous in Oman, especially Meerath Famous, Bar.BQ Tonigh and the Little Pakistani.
American fast food chains, especially KFC, McDonald's, and Burger King, are not hard to find in the larger cities, especially Muscat and Salalah.
In Khaboora you can get Pakistani Porotta. They are twice the size of Indian beans and look like pappadams. But they taste like beans and are much finer and more delicious. There are three porottas available for the equivalent of ₹ 11. Traditional Omani Khubz (bread) is hard to find outside of an Omani home, but for an experience one should strive not to miss out. This traditional bread is made of flour, salt and water cooked over a fire (or gas stove) on a large metal plate. The bread is paper thin and crisp. It is eaten with almost any Omani food, including hot milk or chai (tea) for breakfast: "Omani cornflakes."
In Sohar you can enjoy an excellent lunch with Ayla curry, Ayla fry and Payarupperi. Expect to pay just 0.4 rials (₹ 44), which is considered a very low lunch price here.
Drink and go out
Alcohol is only available in some restaurants and large hotels and is often very expensive (from 1.5 riyals for a 500ml Carlsberg to 4 riyals). It is forbidden to drink alcohol in public, but you can get your own drinks and enjoy them in public areas but in private, such as camping on beaches, sands, mountains, or indeed in remote areas. Only foreign residents can buy alcohol in alcohol shops and with certain limits. But a black market for alcohol is widespread in cities and alcohol can be found easily.
Foreign travelers are allowed 2 liters of alcoholic beverages as a duty free baggage allowance. Los visitantes pueden comprar licores en la tienda libre de impuestos en la sala de llegadas.
Durante el Ramadán, está prohibido beber cualquier cosa en público, incluso para los extranjeros. Tenga cuidado de beber en la privacidad de su habitación.
Llamativa la oferta de zumos naturales recién exprimidos en gran cantidad de puestos. Gran variedad de sabores, muy baratos y natural cien por cien.
El alcohol esta prohibido en bares y cafeterías, pero en los hoteles si podrás tomar una cerveza o una copa. Eso si, la copa de medida estándar europea-no española. Una copa no llega a ser un chupito casi.
Sleep
Omán tiene todo el espectro de alojamiento, desde hoteles ultra lujosos hasta cabañas extremadamente rústicas en el desierto construidas con hojas de palmera datilera.
Omán ha intentado convertirse en una especie de destino de cinco estrellas para el viajero adinerado, hay cinco hoteles de cinco estrellas en la capital. Esto no representa un problema para los que se preocupan por el presupuesto en Mascate, e incluso fuera de la capital todavía hay una variedad de opciones presupuestarias. En algunas partes del país, sin embargo, el alojamiento puede estar limitado a hoteles y complejos turísticos de alta gama.
Learn
Work
Trabajar en Omán requiere tener un permiso de residencia. Al igual que en otros países del Golfo, debe estar patrocinado por un empleador para obtener un permiso de residencia. No es raro que las personas ingresen con una visa de turista y luego busquen trabajo; esto está bien. Las sanciones para el empleador son sustanciales si se les descubre empleando a ilegales, aunque esto naturalmente varía dependiendo de qué tan buenas sean sus conexiones.
La mayoría de los puestos están ocupados por expatriados del subcontinente. Los puestos para los europeos tienden a estar restringidos a niveles gerenciales superiores u ocupaciones especializadas, así que no espere recoger un puesto a medida que pasa, a menos que esté preparado para trabajar por muy poco.
Security
Omán es un país seguro para visitar, aparte de las amenazas terroristas. La incidencia de crímenes en la calle es baja. Los crímenes violentos son muy poco frecuentes, pero pueden ocurrir. La mejor manera de prevenirlos es con precaución y teniendo sentido común. Toma precauciones normales como no caminar en áreas solitarias en la noche, y ser cuidadoso de tus pertenencias en lugares concurridos. No dejes tus bienes de valor o dinero fuera de la caja de seguridad en la habitación de tu hotel. Ten cuidado en lugares públicos.
Artículos prohibidos: narcóticos, armas de fuego (incluyendo de juguete y réplicas), cintas y literatura pornográfica y alimentos que no vengan enlatados (carne, vegetales, frutas, dátiles y bebidas sin alcohol). Los videos están sujetos a la censura.
Health
El agua potable embotellada (mineral) está fácilmente disponible en la mayoría de las tiendas. Tap water es generalmente segura; sin embargo, la mayoría de los omaníes beben agua embotellada y, para estar seguros, usted también debería hacerlo. Las botellas de agua de 500 ml costarán generalmente 100 bz en la mayoría de las tiendas y una botella de 1,5 l cuesta solo 200 bz.Arenas de WahibaOmán es cálido todo el año y los veranos pueden ser extremadamente calurosos. Lleve siempre consigo agua potable y tenga cuidado con la deshidratación a altas temperaturas. Si no está acostumbrado al calor, puede acercarse sigilosamente y causarle graves problemas de salud.
Varias personas han intentado cruzar tramos del desierto de Omán por su cuenta en un 4x4 alquilado. Algunas de estas personas murieron o fueron rescatadas justo a tiempo.
Viajar por un desierto requiere una preparación adecuada. Parece fácil desde un 4WD moderno con aire acondicionado, pero si eso falla, de repente vuelve a lo básico.
Nunca salga de la carretera solo. Un mínimo de dos o tres coches (de la misma marca) es la regla. Deje su itinerario con un amigo con instrucciones claras si no regresa a tiempo. Toma al menos:
- herramientas de recuperación: palas, cuerdas (y accesorios), esterillas de arena o escaleras
- dos neumáticos de repuesto y todo el equipo necesario
- una buena bomba de aire (alta capacidad)
- agua suficiente (al menos 25 litros más de lo que cree que necesitará para beber)
- gasolina suficiente: no hay gasolineras en medio de la nada.
Si tiene, o puede conseguir, un teléfono satelital, llévelo. (Los teléfonos móviles funcionan solo en áreas limitadas). Revise su automóvil antes de emprender un viaje de este tipo.
Respect
Fechas
La mayoría de los musulmanes insisten en el avistamiento local de la luna creciente para marcar el inicio del Ramadán, pero otros insisten en calcular la luna nueva o la declaración saudí para determinar el inicio del mes. Dado que la primera media luna después de la luna nueva no es visible en todas partes al mismo tiempo, las fechas de inicio y finalización del mes dependen de lo que sea visible en cada ubicación. Por lo tanto, las fechas varían de un país a otro, pero generalmente solo un día. |
Respete la cultura islámica, las fechas claves, las oraciones y el Ramadán, e intente no hablar sobre los rumores que hay en los países occidentales de la sexualidad del sultán de Omán, los omaníes no mencionan este hecho y es mejor no entrar en conflictos.
Recoger conchas del mar, cigalas, abulones y huevos de tortuga está prohibido. Arrojar basura a las calles está prohibido también. Es cortés no fumar en público, pero generalmente hay signos de “No Fumar” donde es conveniente. El comportamiento homosexual es ilegal.
La forma usual de saludar es con un apretón de manos. Algunos musulmanes tradicionales prefieren no saludar a las mujeres de mano, por lo que es mejor esperar a que alguien te ofrezca su mano. Si estás en un viaje de negocios, trae un regalo pequeño para promover a tu empresa o tu país.
Antes de morir en 2020, el sultán Qaboos hizo más para desarrollar la nación que cualquier líder árabe, o la mayoría de los líderes mundiales en la historia reciente. Qaboos goza de la más alta consideración, incluso venerado, por la gran mayoría de los omaníes. Los visitantes deben abstenerse de hacer comentarios o declaraciones que puedan interpretarse como una falta de respeto.
Los omaníes son en general gente humilde y con los pies en la tierra. En Omán se deben seguir las reglas habituales de respeto cuando se viaja por un país musulmán, incluso cuando los lugareños parecen ser un poco menos "tensos" que sus vecinos. La homosexualidad es ilegal debido a la ley islámica pero se practica con discreción; sin embargo, como en otras partes del Golfo, es tabú discutir tales temas.
Si bien los omaníes pueden no decir nada a los extranjeros que se visten con ropa ajustada o reveladora, se considera muy irrespetuoso. Sí, algunos visitantes impulsan la buena voluntad de los omaníes al elegir su atuendo, pero un poco de sensibilidad ayuda mucho. Una regla general es que las mujeres siempre deben mantener los hombros, las rodillas y el abdomen cubiertos, y evitar la ropa ajustada o reveladora. Para los hombres, los pantalones cortos deben usarse solo para actividades al aire libre; pantalones cortos más largos (es decir, a la altura o por debajo de la rodilla) están bien en la ciudad.
Mirar fijamente es bastante común en Omán; Es probable que los niños, los hombres y las mujeres lo miren simplemente por ser un extranjero, especialmente si viaja fuera de temporada y en lugares apartados. Esto no pretende ser un insulto, más bien muestra un interés, y una sonrisa amistosa dejará a los niños riendo y presumiendo, y a los adultos felices probando sus pocas frases en inglés. Dependiendo de la zona de Omán en la que se encuentre, sonreír, sin embargo, puede no ser una buena idea. En áreas más grandes en las que los lugareños han tenido una cantidad excesiva de experiencia individual con extranjeros, sonríe. Fuera de Muscat y Salalah, no se recomienda sonreír a nadie del sexo opuesto, independientemente de lo amigables que sean (a excepción de los guías turísticos), ya que casi cualquier interacción con el sexo opuesto (incluso manteniendo las puertas abiertas, recoger algo que se ha caído y entregárselo al propietario, el contacto visual, etc.) se considera coqueteo. Es especialmente importante para las mujeres occidentales tener en cuenta que una sonrisa inocente que dice: "Veo que me estás viendo, ¿necesitas algo?" Significa "Estoy interesada, acércate" a la mayoría de los hombres omaníes. Viven en una sociedad fuertemente segregada por género y, por lo tanto, cualquier oportunidad que tengan de hablar con el género opuesto generalmente se considera que tiene al menos matices semisexuales.
Según la ley omaní, un omaní puede ser llevado a los tribunales por insultar a otra persona, ya sea por insultarlo (uno de los insultos árabes más comunes de "burro", "perro", "cerdo", "oveja", etc. .) o peor. Los omaníes, aunque "humildes", son extremadamente sensibles a cualquier cosa que perciban como crítica, ya sea personal, nacional o cualquier cosa que perciban como dirigida al Golfo. Aunque Arabia Saudita suele ser un blanco justo para las bromas en el mundo árabe (especialmente en el Levante), los omaníes no se lo toman bien. Lo que los occidentales normalmente considerarían hipersensible es bastante normal en Omán y se debe en gran parte al hecho de que los omaníes han crecido en un entorno en el que las críticas y los insultos están más o menos prohibidos. Esto es especialmente importante para aquellos que vienen a enseñar a los omaníes,
Como Omán es miembro de la Liga Árabe, su postura sobre Israel es muy parecida a la de los demás miembros, incluido el boicot. Sin embargo, el gobierno de Omán fue uno de los primeros en reconocer la existencia de Israel, y esencialmente ha sido un enlace entre la Liga Árabe e Israel en múltiples ocasiones, incluida la organización de una reunión entre el gobierno israelí y los líderes de la OLP a mediados de la década de 2000. . Omán permite que los extranjeros que viajan a Israel ingresen por razones similares, pero aún participa en el boicot y no se permite la entrada a los titulares de pasaportes israelíes (ciudadanos de Israel y con doble ciudadanía de Israel y otro país). Debido a esto, es mejor dejar sin discutir el tema de Israel.
Si bien Omán es social y políticamente muy liberal en comparación con sus vecinos de la región, sigue siendo una monarquía absoluta donde las críticas al sultán son raras y los ciudadanos no pueden elegir líderes directos (pueden elegir representantes para ciertos cargos, pero el verdadero poder permanece con el sultán). Por otro lado, la mayoría de los omaníes amaban y / o respetaban al sultán Qaboos, por lo que muy pocos omaníes presentan alguna queja. Es mejor para el viajero evitar hablar del sultán de manera negativa y de la política omaní en general.
La religión estatal "oficial", la rama Ibadi del Islam, es una de las ramas más tolerantes del Islam, en cruda comparación con la Arabia Saudita wahabista. Ergo, la mayoría de los omaníes estarán abiertos y aceptarán a los viajeros de otras religiones y credos. Sin embargo, el Islam todavía se toma muy en serio en Omán (aunque no tanto como en otros estados), por lo que el viajero debe abstenerse de hacer comentarios antiislámicos o de degradar el Islam.
Fotografía
Deberás pedir permiso antes de fotografiar gente o sus propiedades. En algunos sitios existen signos de “Prohibido Fotografiar”, y deberá ser cumplido. Se recomienda no tomar fotos de mujeres sin su consentimiento. Esto puede ser hecho preguntando "Mumkin sura, min fadlak?" (¿Puedo hacerle una foto, por favor?). Está estrictamente prohibido fotografiar instalaciones militares o del gobierno.
Keep in touch
El código de país para Omán es 968.
Para marcar desde Omán, deberá marcar 00 Código internacional Número
Para llamar a Omán, las personas que llaman usan 968 seguido de un número de 8 dígitos ...
Estos números de 8 dígitos generalmente comienzan con un 9 si es un número de teléfono móvil y con un 2 para las líneas fijas, aunque otros números eventualmente comenzarán a usarse.
Las tarjetas SIM móviles prepagas están disponibles en varios mostradores en el área de llegadas del aeropuerto. Se requieren los datos de su pasaporte para registrar la SIM. A menudo, el personal será útil para activar la tarjeta SIM para usarla cuando compre.