Oman Country & Tourist Information

Location
Middle East, southeastern tip of Arabian Peninsula.

Area
309,500 sq km (119,500 sq miles).

Population
3 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density
9.69 per sq km.

Capital
Muscat.
Population: 1.65 million (including the Batinah coastal plain, northwest of Muscat).

Government
Sultanate since 1744. 

Language
Arabic is the official language. English is widely spoken. Swahili is also spoken by the population from East Africa. German and French are spoken by some hotel staff.

Religion
Predominantly Ibadi Muslim, with Shi’ite Muslim, Sunni Muslim and Hindu minorities.

Time
GMT + 4.

Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of State
Sultan Qaboos bin Sa’id since 1970.

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 968.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is variable.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in the cities of Nizwa and Muscat.

Media
The government operates Oman’s TV and radio stations. However, private, Omani-owned radio and TV stations are now emerging. The use of satellite dishes is permitted. A press act allows the government to censor publications for political or cultural reasons.


Post
Airmail to Western Europe takes three to four days.

Press
• English-language newspapers include The Oman Daily Observer (website: www.omanobserver.com) and The Times of Oman (website: www.timesofoman.com).
• There are more than 20 publications, including dailies and weeklies.

Radio
• Radio Oman is a state-run network in Arabic and English.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day. 
20 Jan Muharram (Islamic New Year). 
31 Mar Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet). 
10/11 Aug Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet). 
13 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
18 Nov National Day and birthday of HM Sultan Qaboos.
20 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
10 Jan Muharram (Islamic New Year).
20 Mar Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet).
30 Jul Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet). 
2 Oct Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan).
18 Nov National Day and birthday of HM Sultan Qaboos. 
9 Dec Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice). 
29 Dec Islamic New Year.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the UK
167 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5HE, UK
Tel: (020) 7225 0001.
E-mail: omanembassy@btconnect.com
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1530; 0930-1230 (visa section).

Oman Tourism in the UK
c/o Representation Plus, 11 Blades Court, 121 Deodar Road, London, SW15 2NU, UK
Tel: (020) 8877 4524.
Website: www.omantourism.gov.om

Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the USA
2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 387 1980.


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