Business contacts
Mobile phones The mobile phone industry is one that is opening up in the country. Omantel, until recently sole provider of mobile services, nowcompetes with a new GSM provider— Nawras. Thanks to the extensive GSM network, visitors can avoid roaming charges by purchasing a pre-paid Hayyak SIM card from most shops or Omantel offices. GSM handsets are also widely available at a reasonable price.
Car hire All the major hire companies and reputable local companies can be found 24-hours a day at the airport. Cars can be hired with or without a driver, with rates anywhere between RO 15-30 per day depending on the size of the vehicle. Most international and foreign licences are accepted. Abaqira Rent-a-Car & Limousine Service (Tel: 931 8259/510294), Avis (Tel: 601224), Budget Rent-a-Car (Tel: 794721/510816), Europcar (Tel: 700190), Hertz (Tel: 566208/566046) Mark Rent-a-Car (Tel: 562444), Payless Car Rental (Tel: 792875), Salalah City Services (Tel: 299663), Suwatco (Tel: 707840), Thrifty Car Rental (Tel: 604248/603648), Toyota Rent-a-Car (Tel: 561427), U-Save Auto Rental (Tel: 697140), Value Plus (Tel: 597264)
Office and secretarial rentals Most big hotels (the ones mentioned in the Accommodation section) provide both these services. They are not available independently.
Business hours The harsh climate means business is strictly limited to eight hours, and the capital goes to sleep between 1pm and 2pm. Government offices are open from 07.30-14.30 Saturday-Wednesday, while most private sector companies will close between 13.00-16.00, before re-opening until 19.00. The weekend is generally Thursday afternoon and all day Friday.
Local press
The city isn’t exactly spoilt for choice when it comes to local media. There are just a handful of publications, including three English dailies, The Oman Daily Observer, Times of Oman and the Oman Tribune. Two other publications are must-haves for tourists: the bi-monthly Oman Today and The Week, a widely distributed free publication that contains everything you need to know about the city, places to see, current events as well as other useful general information. The Arabic newspapers are Al Watan, Al Shabiba, and Oman. International dailies are usually available from the major hotels but will cost much more than they would in their country of origin.
Internet
The internet is slowly catching on in Oman with about 5% of the population now subscribing. That said you will not have to go far in Muscat to find a café with internet facilities. You’ll find them in all the commercial areas and shopping centres with the most centred around the Ruwi district. Head to Rex Road, Al Khuwair, Macca Business Centre (Ruwi), Capital Commercial Centre (Qurum) or the Zakher Shopping Mall for a few of the more modern cafés, which will charge anything between 400 and 700 baisas per hour. Only a handful of the cafés offer high speed broadband connections so you have to shop around a bit for the best offers.
Money
The currency is the Omani rial, which is divided into 1,000 baisas. The Omani rial is tied to the US dollar at a mid-rate of approximately US$1 to RO 0.385. Notes come in denominations of rials 50/20/10/5/1, which are written in English and Arabic. Cash is the preferred method of payment although major credit cards are accepted in most major hotels and some restaurants or shops. Cash and travellers cheques can be exchanged readily but to avoid additional charges take your cheques in US dollars. For up-to-date foreign exchange information call 1106.
Tipping etiquette
It’s really up to you—you don’t need to tip for taxis, but at hotels and restaurants it is the done thing, with the amount depending on where you’re staying or eating. A 17% surcharge is levied in any case, which benefits the restaurant rather than the waiting staff, but it’s usual to leave about 10% or the small notes for hotel bellboys, porters or waiters.
Visa/vaccination
In keeping with the push on tourism the whole visa process has been simplified. Visitor visas into the country are valid for three weeks and can easily be obtained on arrival at Seeb International Airport, sea-ports and land borders by citizens of 54 countries including Europe, North and South America and some Asian countries. The visa costs just US$13 and can be extended by a week if needs be. Business visas come in two categories: The Express visa for business purposes for three weeks which is non-renewable and costs $18, or The Multiple Business visa ($26), valid for six months provided that the holder of the visa doesn’t stay more than three weeks during each business trip. For information log onto www.omantourism.gov.om or go to the police website to get the latest info on visa restrictions at rop.gov.om.
Public holidays
If you are going to Oman on business make sure that your trip does not fall on a religious holiday as these are respected across the country and there will be very few amenities open. Also check when the holy month of Ramadan is as you will be expected to observe the laws of no drinking, eating or smoking during daylight hours out of respect for the nationals. Hotels might serve in their restaurants, and in the rooms, but the utmost care and respect must be taken at all times.
Islamic holidays are based on sightings of the moon, so dates can vary.
1st January — New Year’s Day
21st-23rd January — Eid al_Adha
10th February — Islamic New Year
21st April — Mouloud (Prophet Mohammed’s birthday)
1st September — Accession of the Prophet.
3rd-5th November — Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan)
18th November — National Day
19th November — HM Sultan Qaboos.
Weather and climate
The best time to visit Muscat is between October and April, when the temperatures are milder (25C-35C during the day and around 19C during the night). Summer (May- September) can sometimes get very aggressive as the humidity rises in tandem with the temperature and the hot gharbi wind from the desert lashes the coastal regions. As one can imagine air-conditioning is a life-line during these months and many residents spend their entire summer jumping from one controlled environment to another.
Suggested reading
Oman Today, a locally produced monthly mini guidebook costing RO1 that features events taking place around the country. Arabian Sands, a beguiling read by the late Wilfred Thesiger, giving a pictorial account of his crossing of the Empty Quarter many years ago, and as such a great insight into old Oman.
Oman Explorer, an essential resident and visitors’ guide with information for all types of visitors to the country, including an authoritative guide to the city of Muscat’s many offerings.
Off-Road in Oman provides an essential reference point for all those looking for a little more adventure in Oman, and providing several easy routes out of the capital city.