General
Visitor Information
1.
Visitors can drive around the country freely as long as they have valid
international driving licenses. Most car hire agencies have offices
at Seeb international Airport, in Muscat and in Salalah.
2.
Nightclubs and discotheques are found in the larger hotels, and alcoholic
beverages are served in licensed hotels and restaurants only.
3.
A permit from the Department of Castles and Forts at the ministry of
National Heritage and Culture is needed to visit archeological sites
and old forts. ( Tel 602555)
4.
For most of the year, light, loose-fitting clothes, preferably cotton,
are best suited to Oman's climate. To comply with Omani traditions,
it is advised not to wear revealing dresses or swimming costumes in
residential areas. From December to March a light wrap may be required
in the evening.
5.
The official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken in the
capital area.
6.
The official religion of Oman is Islam. Mosques are found almost everywhere
for Muslims with the accompanied facilities. Other worshippers can perform
their religions in several churches and temples mainly in Muscat. look
to reference above for addresses.
7.
Oman time is Greenwhich Mean Time plus four hours all year through.
No daylight savings is observed in summer.
8.
The unit of currency is the
Rial Omani (R. O.) comprising 1,000 Baizas. One R.O. is equal to
about U.S. $ 2.58. (info)
Official
Hours
1.
Ministries and government establishments:
-
7:30
am to 2:30 pm (Sat-Wed, week-end is Thr. and Fri )
2.
Private sector companies:
-
8:00am
to 1:00pm; 4:00pm to 7:00pm (SAt-Wed)
-
8:00am
to 1:00pm on Thursdays.
3.
Markets:
-
8:00am
to 1:00pm; 4:00pm to 9:00pm except Mutrah souq which closes at 7:30pm.
4.
Banks: 8:00 am to 12 noon.
5.
Museums: 7:30 am to 2:00pm except Thr/Fr and official holidays.
Visa
Procedure
-
Tourists
visas can be obtained through travel agencies as well as hotels
as long as you stay at the hotel. Three passport size photos and
a photocopy of the passport are required. It can take three to ten
days to obtain a tourist visa with a validity period of three months,
and actual period of stay of one month. Citizens of the Arab Gulf
countries do not need visa to enter Oman.
Hotel
Accommodations
Detailed
hotel addresses and contacts are provided by the following links:
Car
Hire (more
details)
Avis
-
Offices
at Al Falaj Hotel (tel 702311); Al Bustan Palace Hotel (799666 ext
487); Muscat InterContenetal Hotel (600500 ext 8399); Salalah (291145);
Seeb International Airport (519176); Sheraton Oman Hotel (799899)
Budget
Rent-A-Car
-
Offices
at Ruwi Novotel (794721); Salalah Holiday Inn (235160); Seeb International
Airport (510816 - 24hrs)
Europcar
-
Offices
at mutrah Buisiness District (700190); Muscat Holiday inn (697123
ext 563)
Toyota
Rant-A-Car
-
Offices
at Gulf Hotel (560100 ext 820); Seeb International Airport (510224)
-
Tour
Operators
(Note to Operators: Some phone numbers have recently been changed, please let us know if your numbers needed to be updated here, thank you.)
AL
HADITHA TOURS
PO Box 198, Postal Code 114.
Tel: (968) 604902
Fax: (968) 692681
E.mail: alhadtrs@omantel.net.om
AL
HASHAR TOURS
PO Box 1503, Muttrah Postal Code 114
Tel: (968) 7736338 / 568428
Fax: (968) 7730938 / 568428
E.mail: ahtours@omantel.net.om
AL
TAMAYIM TOURISM
PO Box 244, Postal Code 119.
Tel: (968) 601061 / 600961
Fax: (968) 601082
E.mail: altatour@omantel.net.om
AL
GHADEER TOURS
PO Box 83, Postal Code 122, Marbellah.
Tel: (968) 9323399 / 9325441
Fax: (968) 590558
E.mail: riyadhgm@omantel.net.om
ARABESQUE TOURS
PO Box 1244, Postal Code 131, Muscat.
E.mail: ArabesqueTours@omanholiday.co.uk
ARABIAN
SEA SAFARIS
PO Box 2785, CPO Seeb Airport, Postal Code 111.
Tel: (968) 693224
Fax: (968) 693223
E.mail: arabseas@omantel.net.om
BAHWAN
TRAVEL AGENCIES
PO Box 282, Muscat, Postal Code 113.
Tel: (968) 704455.
Fax: (968) 700483
Location: Central Business District
E.mail: topclass@omantel.net.om
BRAEMA
TOURS
PO Box 2789, CPO 111, Muscat.
Tel: (968) 9375243
Fax: (968) 555591
DARRAN
TOURS
PO Box 2540, Postal Code 111, Seeb.
Tel: (968) 607311, 607312
Fax: (968) 607552
E.mail: darran@omantel.net.om
EIHAB TRAVELS
PO Box 889, Muscat, Postal Code 113.
Tel: (968) 796387
Fax: (968) 793849
E.mail: eihabtra@omantel.net.om
EMPTY
QUARTER TOURS
PO Box 9, Postal Code 115, Medinat Qaboos.
Tel: (968) 957093
Fax: (968) 698292
GULF VENTURES
PO Box 985, Ruwi, Postal Code 112.
Tel: (968) 700326, 751357
Fax: 795237
E.mail: sunilp@inchcape.com
GLOBAL
TOURS
PO Box 133 Al Khuwair Postal Code 494
Tel: (968) 695959
Fax: (968) 695969
E.mail: globtour@omantel.net.om
KHASAB
TRAVEL & TOURS
PO Box 50, Khasab, Postal Code 811
Tel: (968) 830464, 830905
Fax: (968) 830364
E.mail: khastour@omantel.net.om
MEZOON
TRAVEL
PO Box 629, Muscat, Postal Code 113.
Tel: (968) 796680 - 85
Fax: (968) 795721
E-mail: mzt@omzest.com
MIDLAND TOURISM
PO Box 426, Postal Code 113, Muscat.
Tel: (968) 566524
Fax: (968) 566524
E.mail: alwosta@omantel.net.om
NATIONAL
TRAVEL & TOURISM (NTT)
PO Box 962, Muscat, Postal Code 113.
Tel: (968) 566046
Fax: (968) 566125
OMAN DISCOVERY
PO Box 3932, Ruwi, Postal Code 112,
Tel: (968) 706424
Fax: (968) 706463
OMAN
GEO TOURS
PO Box 122, Mina Al Fahal, Postal Code 116.
Tel: (968) 536629
Fax: (968) 536460
OMAN
ORIENT TOURS
PO Box 409, Postal Code 113, Muscat.
Tel: (968) 685066
Fax: (968) 683491
SEA
TOURISM Co. LLC.
PO Box 6, Postal Code 117
Tel: (968) 736700
Fax: (968) 739700
E.mail: rachidbentalib@hotmail.com
OMANI
TRAVEL & TOURISM BUREAU (OTTB)
PO Box 532, Al Wadi Al Kabir, Postal Code 117, Muscat.
Tel: (968) 789845, 789846, 789847
Fax: 789843, 789836
E.mail: niche@omantel.net.om
TOUR
OMAN
PO Box 1694, Muttrah, Postal Code 114.
Tel: 799966, 708154, 751844
Fax: 796716
AL
NAHTHA
(agent for tours by Heide Beal)
PO Box 2031, Postal Code 112, Ruwi.
Tel: (968) 799928, 795206
Fax: (968) 799928
NOMADIC
ADVENTURES & TOURS
P.O. Box 517, Postal Code 133, Al Khuwair
Tel.: (968) 9316507 / 9336273
Fax: (968) 685507
E-Mail: mail@nomadic-adventures.com
UNITED
TOURS
PO Box 599, Muttrah, Postal Code 114.
Tel: (968) 787448/49
Fax: (968) 784226
E.mail: utours@omantel.net.om
ZUBAIR
TOURS
PO Box 833, Ruwi, Postal Code 112.
Tel: (968) 708081, 708071
Fax: (968) 787564, 782236
-
Additional
Resources: Shanfri Tours,
OmanAccess
Info
Other
things you may need to know:
Oman
code number is 968, there is no city or province codes. Calls can be
made direct to any phone number from outside Oman, e.g. from US; 011-968-123456.
Please be advised that any of the numbers mentioned here may change
at anytime.
