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The Sultanate of Oman
Welcome to Oman - a stunning contrast of deserts, mountains, beaches
with all the comforts of a bustling, modern metropolis.
Oman
offers an array of opportunities for exploration and discovery due to
its diverse natural beauty and its colorful cultural heritage.
Musandam in the north offers majestic Fjords while the south offers
virgin sandy beaches, magnificent desert and rugged mountains and
lush.
Oman takes pride in
its rich cultural and archaeological heritage dating back to hundreds
of years of trade and foreign influence which is depicted in Oman’s
more than 500 forts & castles.
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Location |
Oman is
situated on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula. Oman
coastline extends 1,700 Km from the straits of Hormuz in the
north, to the borders of Yemen in the south and overlooks three
seas: The Arabian Gulf, The Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Oman borders Saudi Arabia in the west; the United Arab Emirates
in the northeast, Yemen in the south; straits of Hormuz in the
north and Arabian Sea in the east.
The Total land
area of
Oman is around 309,500 sq. km which makes it the third largest
country in the Arabian
Peninsula.
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Topography |
Oman possesses
a rich & diverse topography ranging from rugged mountains and
rocky deepwater fjords in the North, to the spectacular dunes of
Sharqiyah (Wahiba) Sands
and two large salt flats in the centre, to the lush green hills of
Dhofar region in the South, with rugged coasts and placid beaches
stretching along the 1,700 Km coastline.
The northern
coastal strip along the Gulf of Oman is known as the
Batinah Coast; a
narrow fertile plain separated from the rest of the country by the
Hajar Mountains.
The highest peak is Jabal
Shams (Sun Mountain) at 3,075 m. The southern slopes
of the range are notable for their oasis towns where date groves
flourish in the dry desert air.
In the south
lies the second mountain range in Oman; the
Qara Mountains, which
attracts the light monsoon rains during the mid-summer months,
turning them green with vegetation whose roots help delay the
effects of erosion resulting in a soft rolling landscape more akin
to central Africa.
As in the north, a narrow fertile coast
plain lies between the mountains and the sea at whose centre
Salalah
lies, surrounded by lush vegetable farms and coconut groves.
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Climate |
The varied
geography of the Sultanate resulted in a wide variety of climatic
conditions. Although lying in the tropics, the Sultanate is
subject to seasonal changes like the more temperate regions of the
world.
The hottest
months are June through August. The summer monsoon just touches
the southern coast of Dhofar during
these months bringing regular light rain to Salalah and reducing
the average daytime highs to 30° C.
The most
pleasant months to visit Oman are mid October through May when
daytime temperatures fall into the lower 30s and below.
Rainfall varies
but in general remains sparse and irregular. In the south most of
the year's rainfall occurs during the summer monsoon months. In
the north the opposite occurs. Here most rain comes from
occasional winter storms which descend out of the eastern
Mediterranean during the months of January through March,
depositing an annual average of 10 cm of rain on the capital area.
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Population |
Approximately 2
million. Around of 1.5 million are Omani Nationals. The remaining
are expatriates from India.
Asia, Other Arab countries, Europe & USA.
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Religion |
Islam,
Predominantly Ibadhi sect.
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Language |
Official
Language is Arabic. Other languages spoken include Urdu, Swahili &
Baluchi. English is widely spoken and along with Arabic is the
common business language. Most hotel staff speak German and French
as well.
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Culture |
Like all Arab countries, The Arabic Islamic
culture dominates the life style in Oman. However, being an
international market, people of various nationalities are also
present.
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National Dress |
Men – Dishdasha
(Robe), Kimah (Cap), Mussaar (Turban)
Women – Jallabia (dress), Sirwal (trousers), Thobe (overdress
cloak), Lahaf (head shawl), Abaya (black cloak).
Women generally leave their face & hands exposed while in the
desert, women of Bedouin tribes wear a mask, called (Birqa)
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Other
useful links:
Oman facts part II
Currency|
Time Zone |
Electricity |
Alcohol Beverages
Photography |
Environment |
Dining Out
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Tipping |
Airports
Visa |
Shopping
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