Oman : Safety by City
Located in the Middle East, Oman rests on the southeastern end of the Arabian Peninsula.
Its neighbors are the United Arab Emirates in the northwest, Saudi Arabia in the west, and Yemen in the southwest.
Apart from that, within Oman are two exclaves, separated from it by the United Arab Emirates, the Musandam Peninsula, and Madha.
It is the oldest independent state in the Arab world.
Oman is regarded as one of the more traditional countries in the Gulf region and as such, tourists are expected to respect their beautiful and unique culture, and in turn, Omani people treat them very kindly.
Omanis are warm and friendly people, some even say they are the friendliest people in the world and tourists are always welcome in their country.
Consequently, since this is a religious and traditional state, a crime of any kind is strictly punishable, which makes Oman a very safe country for any tourist.
Warnings & Dangers in Oman
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Overall, Oman is a very safe country. It is highly friendly and warm toward tourists, and the crime rate is fairly low, so apart from petty crime on the streets, there isn't too much to worry about.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
Public transportation is available but not very reliable in Oman. Some buses can go from A to B and from B to C, but not from C to A which makes it easy to get lost or stranded somewhere without a way back. However, the buses are comfortable, cheap and very safe. You can easily get ripped off when taking a taxi, since they're not metered, so be careful and negotiate your ride in advance.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
Even though pickpockets are not the primary cause for concern in the Middle East, pickpocketing does happen, and this applies to Oman, too. Be careful in crowded places and markets, and leave your jewelry and passports at home. Some passport thefts have been reported as well as wallets. Never keep all your money in the same place.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Tropical storms are fairly common in Oman and while its climate is generally dry, heavy rains do fall, usually during winter. Flash floods are also known to happen and they can even cause injuries and deaths. Cyclones coming from the Indian Ocean occasionally make landfall in Oman during summer.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
The crime rate in Oman is low, and consequently, cases of mugging and kidnapping are rarely, if ever, reported.
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
The threat of a terrorist attack is a serious issue in Oman. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advised travelers "to exercise a high degree of caution in Oman because of the high threat of terrorist attack". The United States Department of State expressed concern over the possibility of terrorist attacks against citizens of the United States. Attacks could be indiscriminate, and happen in places visited by foreigners and tourists so be aware of your surroundings at all times.
SCAMS RISK: LOW
There are a couple of scams that can happen in Oman. Sometimes the expiration dates on food and drinks in supermarkets get "prolonged" by the merchants so the people would buy them even though they are no longer consumable. Vendors may either try and charge more or give the wrong change, and taxi drivers might try to rip you off. However, these scams are not that common and should be easy to detect.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Traveling as a woman in Oman is easy and safe. As long as you respect their culture, dress appropriately and are friendly, you will have no problem. Apart from standard safety rules, you should apply (not walking alone at night, not finding yourself alone with strange men, not taking taxis in isolated areas at night) there isn't much to worry about.
So... How Safe Is Oman Really?
Given that this country is known for its friendly and kind people and strict laws, it is no wonder that the crime rate in Oman is low.
Occurrences of serious crime are fairly rare in this state and the Royal Oman Police is known to be highly efficient and not prone to bribery.
However, petty crime including theft of property does happen and you should be vigilant when handling your valuables.
Another safety issue in Oman is driving.
Driving in this country requires the highest level of attention and you should really use all your senses and expect the unexpected: Oman has the second-highest death rate from traffic accidents in the world.
When outside of the cities, Omanis are notorious for driving very fast.
Driving at night is especially dangerous as many drivers don’t even turn their headlights on.
Another thing that happens is that camels often walk straight out on the road even when they see cars approaching, and these encounters often end fatally for both camels and drivers.
The current political situation in the Middle East is such that, at the moment, Oman has a higher degree of political tension in the state.
Be wary of large gatherings and demonstrations.
Even thought they are usually peaceful, those that occur near the United Arab Emirates border can turn violent and even have fatal consequences.
Apart from these precaution measures, follow your common sense and your trip will go smoothly because unlike some of its neighbors, Oman is open towards visitors.
How Does Oman Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Oman | 76 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Norway | 85 |
| Mauritius | 80 |
| Namibia | 71 |
| Germany | 85 |
| Romania | 80 |
| Mongolia | 71 |
| Netherlands | 75 |
Useful Information
Visas
Most visitors to Oman must obtain a visa before traveling to Oman. As a tourist, you can get a visa upon arrival at any land, sea or air entry port in the country. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Oman. if you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
Omani rial is the currency in Oman. You can withdraw your money from ATMs across the state and exchanging your money at the National Bank of Oman is recommended.
Weather
The climate in Oman is very hot, with very big differences between maximum and minimum daily temperatures. Oman has very low annual rainfall, happening mostly between December and April. Temperatures can reach as high as 49 °C, which is why the best time to visit is between December and March when the temperatures are mild and pleasant. Winters, typically, are mild in Oman.
Airports
Muscat International Airport, formerly known as Seeb International Airport, is the main and busiest international airport in Oman and is situated 32 km from the old city. Salalah International Airport is Oman's secondary international airport.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Oman, since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Oman Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 25 | 26 | 29 | 34 | 40 | 40 | 38 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 30 | 27 |
| Low °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 24 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 18 |
| High °F | 77 | 79 | 84 | 93 | 104 | 104 | 100 | 97 | 97 | 95 | 86 | 81 |
| Low °F | 63 | 64 | 68 | 75 | 84 | 86 | 86 | 82 | 81 | 75 | 70 | 64 |
Oman - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Muscat | 75 |
Oman is definitely one of the safest countries in the Middle East. In fact it’s so safe, that there’s zero terrorism risk; this article really exaggerates that threat. It needs to be edited to reflect the reality.
I am shocked when I sow that article about terrorism is high !!
I am also shocked when I sow that article about terrorism is high
I see …. I saw (past tense) we got to learn And speak better English
To be « shocked » is an exaggerated word seeing how most strict muslims’s countries REALLY are !!!!!
This is my opinion when I SAW
your comment 🤪
Agree. I found Oman one of the best countries in the world. This article has bias issues.
Love from Uk.
Oman is near the Yemen.
Yemen launch rocket to Israel yesterday.
Is very easy for Yemen terrorist to cross border to Oman or to attack the beach resorts from sea.
The country with the best relations with Yemen is probably Oman so the chance of Yemen intentionally bombing Oman is near impossible, so is the chance of it happening by accident because they’re not in the same direction. Secondly what Yemen did is not terrorism and Israel is not a country
Oman: A safe haven worthy of acclaim
Having lived here for the better part of 15 years, I can vouch for Oman as a place of safety and security. Terrorism threats are virtually non-existent, with the odd (peaceful) demonstration to curb unemployment taking place outside ministry buildings. Even so, these have never turned violent, and much of the citizens resort to Twitter to make statements. Aside from that, Omanis are peaceful and welcoming, and are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet in the Middle-East. It’s hard to fault the living standards of Oman when compared with other parts of the GCC; some of which are, frankly, ostentatious, expensive, and a touch over-the-top, for the median salaries earned by expats and locals.
Misguiding Post- Oman is actually safer than Germany.
Hello,
First off the US Travel advisory explicitly says there has been no threats to US citizen in Oman TO DATE. Which means there has never been any terrorist activity in Oman throughout the country’s history, which is also a documented fact. I suggest readers of this blog to not take my word and check the US travel advisory yourself.
The US Travel Advisory says :exercise normal caution in Oman. Meanwhile Germany has a higher caution alert by the Travel advisory. Unfortunately, your stats do not reflect this in Germany vs Oman which makes me question the criteria you base your numbers on.
Second, the Taxis have been metered since 2019. This is not reflected on your stats which affects the overall rating.
I don’t know who’s writing this but this seems to have been written with bias without real factual data about Oman. Kindly review and update your information to avoid misleading Prospective travelers to Oman.
For readers of this blog it is worth noting that this website is registered for MediaVine ads. Meaning this is a personal blog that runs for profit and is not monitored by any authority. Kindly fact check the information of this post up until the authors edit this.
Thank you , I’m a Filipino and I decided to work in Oman this year I search about Oman and I felt afraid when I read the terrorist attack is high in there, I thought it’s true 😭
. . Thank you You enlighten me .
Thank you so much for this info.
Yes, thank you
OMAN TERRORISM RISK : HIGH !!??
Oman is the safest country in the world
update your article above regarding.TERRORISM RISK : HIGH
Single mom – never felt as safe in my life as right now, living in Oman. Hope to live here many, many, many years!
atleast give any reference or the article is not valid
Oman is safer than most of the U.K., most of Europe and most of the U.S too. People there are certainly nicer than the majority of people here in the U.K. in General.
I lived in Oman for quite sometime and I don’t understand the high terrorism risk they are talking about, can’t recall any terror attack there during my time. It is safe to say that Oman is one of the safest places I’ve ever been to, if not the safest.
OMAN TERRORISM RISK IS NOT HIGH
I don’t understand why they wrote
OMAN TERRORISM RISK : HIGH !!?
like people I am from Oman and my grandparents lived here and so did my grand grandparents and none of them or anyone I know (trust me I know lots of people like a lot a lot) has ever said anything about terrorism attacks or anything so I can ashore you that Oman is extremely safe because all the people I know that have sadly perished have died because of old age and sometimes because of sicknesses but never because of terrorism so I can tell you that this app is not telling the truth and maybe the creator of the app can do a little more research about Oman and maybe should come visit it to then he will know.
I’m not going to be polite, The United States Department of State is lying and spreading hate. we lived in Oman our whole lives and never even heard of a “terrorist attack” once!! How has it been classified as “High”? weird Huh?
Oman is Great Country
I am staying in Oman since decade. Its quite peaceful. I have never been any kind of bitter experience. Highly respect for Omani people and their hospitality. I feel better than my home country. “Humanity is first” cultural in Oman.
Do women and men have equal RIGHTS
Can women wear a bathing suit and go to the beach And swim in Oman !!!!????
of course women can go for swimming as man !
Oman is a phenomenal, fantastic, fabulous country and the Leadership is to be congratulated for the welcome given to tourists. Great place for a vacation…super hotels and great eating places.
I was a visitor from Toronto Canada
Dont go oman
Never ever go to Oman as a tourist.Chances of ending up in Jail for minimum 1 day is high if you take picture of a street or building etc. Also if you previously travelled to any arab countries and some offense happened,then you will be in jail again in oman until they complete enquiry about those events.
This is real fact.
And moreover nothing to see in oman for a tourist.
its totally not true, you mix-up between Oman and North korea
OMAN IS GOOD FOR TRAVEL
OMAN IS GOOD FOR TRAVEL
I worked in Oman for 4 years. It’s a very safe and peaceful country. People are super friendly.
Super Safe
Oman its super safe its one of safest countries in the world and this website has really wrong information as Oman they have zero TERRORISM.