One of the most
attractive travel destinations
in the Middle East located on
the southeast corner of the
Arabian Peninsula with a
coastline of 1,700km from the
Strait of Hormuz in the north,
to the borders of the Republic
of Yemen in the South.
Three seas border it: The
Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and
the Arabian Sea. It has a total
area of approximately
309,500km2, which makes her the
third largest country in the
Arabian Peninsula after Saudi
Arabia from the west and Yemen
from the South.
Known for its traditional
hospitality, Oman makes you feel
right at home from the time you
arrive, until the moment you
leave. The local Omanis are very
friendly and always willing to
help. English is widely spoken
although sometimes on a very
basic form.
Oman’s topography attracts a
large number of tourists; the
Sultanate has a diversity of
topographical features
consisting of:
The costal plain: the most
important area representing
about 3% of the total land area.
The mountains: covers
approximately 15% and the main
mountain range is the 10,000
foot Al Hajar which runs from
Musandam in the North to the
extreme limit of the Arabian
Peninsula, RAs Al Had. |
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| Sands & Deserts: occupies the
remaining area and includes two large
sand deserts the Wahiba Sands known as (Rimalat
Al Wahiba) and part of the Empty Quarter
(Rub Al Khali) |
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Oman is known for its tropical
climate but its still subject to
seasonal changes. The climate differs
from one area to another. In the costal
areas summer is hot and humid while in
the Interior it’s hot and dry. The
higher mountains such as Al Jabal Al
Akhdar (Green Mountains) and Jabal Shams
(Sun Mountain) enjoy a moderate climate
throughout the year. The monsoons bring
rain to the southern coast of Oman
especially around the area of Salalah.
While regions in the Arabian Gulf try
and beat the heat during peak summer
times, the Dhofar region enjoys a
moderate climate with heavy monsoon
rains between May and September
Winter falls between December and March
with an average temperature of 25-30ºC
with light occasional rainfalls, though
heavy rains can be expected. This is
referred to as the High Season, when
most visitors to Oman choose to travel.
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FACTS ABOUT THE SULTANATE OF
OMAN:
Capital: Muscat
Population:2.33 million
Main Language: Arabic, English is widely
used
Currency: Omani Riyal (OMR)
Local time: GMT +4 hours during winter
and GMT+3 hours during summer
Electricity:220/240 volts AC requiring
three-pin wall plugs
Shopping: Souks (Arabian Markets) along
with shopping malls and centers with
international brands and stores.
Cuisine: International and Traditional
Transport: Local taxis and bus services
(for taxis: agree a price before
starting the journey although metered
taxis will be introduced before the end
of 2007) |
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rights reserved 2008