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Language: The official language of Oman is Arabic, but English is widely spoken. Hotel staff often also speak German and French.
Currency: The currency of Oman is the Omani Rial (OMR) divided into 1,000 baisa. Notes come in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 rials, and 500, 250, 200 and 100 baiza. Foreign currency and travelers cheques can be exchanged at banks, exchange bureaux, hotels and at the airport. Outside banking hours, moneychangers operate between 4pm and 7pm in the evenings and at weekends. US Dollars are recommended. American Express, MasterCard and Visa credit
cards are readily accepted in large shops and hotels and by an increasing number of traders in the souq. Most banks in cities and towns have ATMs.
Time: Local time is GMT +4.
Electricity: Electrical current is 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs with rectangular, 3-pin flat blades are used.
Communications: The international direct dialing code for Oman is +968, and the outgoing international code 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK). City/area codes are not necessary. The country has GSM 900 mobile phone networks in operation. Internet cafes are to be found in Muscat and Nizwa and email is available in most city hotels.
Duty Free: Travelers to Oman do not have to pay duty on 200 cigarettes and 2 liters/2 bottles of liquor per family provided they are non-Muslim visitors. Videotapes for personal use may be confiscated and sent to Ministry of National Heritage and Culture for verification. Prohibited items include dates, including shoots of date palm, coconut, ornamental palm trees and parts thereof. Also prohibited are firearms and toy weapons, swords or knives and flammable material; obscene reading material; and non-canned foodstuffs from cholera-infected areas. Items of value may be exempted, subject to an assessment by a security officer.
Tourist OfficeDirectorate of Tourism, Muscat: +968 2458 8700 or www.omantourism.gov.om
EmergencyEmergencies: 999
Embassies
Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada): +1 202 387 1980.
Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, London, United Kingdom (also responsible for Ireland): +44 (0)20 7225 0001.
Embassy of the Sultantate of Oman, Tokyo, Japan (also responsible for Australia and New Zealand): +81 (0)3 3402 0877.
Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 346 4429.
Consulate of the Sultanate of Oman, Auckland: +64 (0)9 522 4426.
United States Embassy, Muscat: +968 2469 8989.
British Embassy, Muscat: +968 2460 9000.
Canadian Consulate, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (also responsible for Oman): +966 (1) 488 2288.
Australian Embassy, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi: +966 (0)1 488 7788.
South African Embassy, Muscat: + 968 694 791.
Irish Honorary Consul, Ruwi: +968 701 282.
New Zealand Consulate, Muscat: +968 794 932.
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