Oman is perhaps the most accessible, beautiful and fascinating country on the Arabian peninsula. The dunes of the Wahiba Sands, a stunning coastline with deserted, white beaches and rugged mountains with spectacular gorges (or wadis) make this a country of considerable natural beauty. The culture and history of Oman are also evident in numerous ancient forts dotted throughout the country, traditional oases and villages and the splendour of beautiful cities such as Muscat and Nizwa. Whether trekking through the mountains, exploring the souks or taking a traditional dhow cruise along the coast, Oman will prove to be a memorable destination. Explore in depth highlights of Oman.
| Tours | Unesco WHS | Guidebooks |
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| groups tours with set departures |
World Heritage Sites | country, regions and cities |
| Time zone: | GMT +4 (Oman standard time) | Daylight savings: None |
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| Main languages: | Arabic |
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| Other languages: | Balochi, English, Urdu |
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| Currency: |
Omani rials (OMR) €1 = OMR0.00, $1 = OMR0.00, £1 = OMR0.51 (rates as of Sep 2016) |
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| Internet Domain: | .om | International Dialling Code: 968 |
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For help planning your trip to Oman including visas, vaccinations, currency exchange, flights, accomodation and insurance, see our Oman trip planning page.
Further information on Oman
Discover more about Oman - the country's geogrpahy and natural features, an assessment of its status on freedom and rights and data on the country's population and economy.
Geography & Natural Features
Total area: 212,460 sq km (0 sq km under water)
Coastline: 2,092 km (Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman)
Neighbours (border lengths): Saudi Arabia (676km), United Arab Emirates (410km), Yemen (288km)
Climate: Hot and humid climate along the coast, hot and dry in the desert interior. There is a strong southwest summer monsoon (from May to September) in the far south.
Highest mountain: Jabal Shams (2,980m)
Freedom & Rights
Summary status and rankings for Oman from classifications of different organisations measuring political and economic freedom, democracy and civil rights. See more details of these rankings.
| Index | Status | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Freedom in the World | Not Free | - |
 | Democracy Index | Authoritarian regime | 139/167 |
 | Economic Freedom | Moderately Free | 56/179 |
 | Press Freedom | Difficult situation | 125/179 |
 | ILGA LGBT rights | No rights | - |
 | Corruption Perceptions | Medium corruption | 64/174 |
| Overall Ranking: | 148/195 | ||
Other Data & Links
Full name: Sultanate of Oman Status: Independent Country
Population: 3,219,775 (rank: 133/196) Density: 15.1 people/sq km (rank: 173/196)
Ethnic groups: Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Religions: Ibadhi Muslim 75%, other (includes Sunni Muslim, Shia Muslim, Hindu) 25%
GDP (PPP): $94.86 billion GDP per capita: $29,800 (rank: 36/195)
Information derived from the CIA World Factbook. Other country profiles: BBC News.