A: You can apply for a visa through the Oman Embassy or Consulate in your home country, or that country nearest to you.
To query any of the information listed below, please contact the Royal Oman Police, Residency and Passports department ( ropnet@omantel.net.om ).
Information correct as at time of going to publication (6 January 2002) and extracted from Royal Oman Police website ( www.rop.gov.om ).

A: Most locals are able to understand English at least in the Muscat area. In the interiors it is best to use the services of a guide/ interpreter. Ensure that you purchase a good guidebook, available in most bookshops in the city

A: Oman is among the liberal countries in the Middle East where it is alright to dress as you please. Still, please be conservative in your style of dressing especially when you visit the interiors. It is best for women to cover their arms and legs. Dress codes are mentioned and strictly enforced in public functions.

A: For long distances the ONTC or Oman National Transport Company is a good choice. All major hotels offer luxury coach services. To visit the interiors it is best to hire a car and to travel in groups. Within the city feel free to use the taxis or cabs.

A: As from 1 August 2001, all expatriates seeking residency and employment in Oman must have a health certificate from their home country stating that they are free from illness and not carrying any communicable diseases.

Previously, the Communicable Diseases Control Department has issued health certificates for workers passing the stringent examinations. However, CDC also has to reject certain cases: many expatriates have to spend considerable amounts of money to enter Oman, only to find that they fail the health tests and are returned to their home country.
Additionally, children aged 12 and above will also need to supply health certificates as from 1 August 2001 in order to apply for a residency permit.

Muscat International Airport, located in Muscat, is served by many international airlines such as British Airways, KLM, Kuwait Airways, Swiss Air and Emirates. The national carrier is Oman Air which flies to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), India, Pakistan, Qatar, Egypt, and Sri Lanka as well as performing domestic flights to Salalah, Masirah Island and Musandam.

Taxis or cars can be hired at the airport, or hotels will arrange for transport.

Residents in the UAE are able to drive to Oman by road. It is a journey of around 4 - 5 hours from Dubai.

A: Mains' water is purified and treated eight times and is therefore perfectly safe to drink. However, due to its purification treatment, it can often taste of chlorine. Bottled water is readily available in shops and supermarkets.

A: Most shopping malls and supermarkets have wheelchair access, disabled parking, automatic doors and lifts. There are often disabled toilets in hotels and malls. In the supermarkets, the management will arrange for a member of staff to go around with you to assist you with your shopping.

A: Oman has a very high standard of health care. Hospitals in the capital area are staffed by medical professionals from all over the world. Emergency treatment can be obtained from the Royal Hospital, 24 hours per day. For non-urgent cases, there are many good health clinics which employ a number of male and female general practitioners and nurses. Ensure that your medical insurance is up to date as treatment can be expensive and payment is required immediately. Pharmacies are located in all main residential and commercial areas. Duty pharmacies are open for emergency prescriptions and many drugs can be purchased 'over-the-counter'. However, if you are already taking prescription drugs, it is wise to make sure that you travel with a sufficient supply.

A: Many visitors, if not hiring cars, tend to use taxis, which are reasonably priced. There are a number of metered cab firms now. Agree the price first if using an orange and white taxi. Mini-buses travel all over the commercial areas, stopping and picking-up on request. This form of transport is particularly cheap. The Oman National Transport Company is the state-run bus service which has a network of routes throughout the Sultanate. Long distance coach trips leave Ruwi bus station to the likes of Salalah for RO 16 return, making this a comfortable and cheap form of transport. The national carrier, Oman Air, flies to Salalah, Khasab and Masirah Island and is the only airline to make domestic flights within the Sultanate. Masirah Island has a regular ferry service to and from the mainland, but all other boat services are provided through tour operators. There are no trains in Oman. Please see our public transport section for details.

A: Obviously, Arabic is the main language in Oman, but many Omanis learn English at school. Most businesses and shops use English. Should you wish to learn some Arabic there are number of good phrase books available in bookshops in the Sultanate

A: You will be visiting one of the hottest countries in the world. Consequently, when you go outdoors, always make sure that you are wearing a high protection sunscreen which should be re-applied regularly (this can be purchased in any of the local supermarkets). If you are travelling in remote areas, make sure that you carry large supplies of water, as dehydration can occur . When travelling through wadis or the desert, it is wise to go in a group or with a tour guide, in case of car trouble, and always let someone know where you are going and what time you expect to return.

A: Yes, Oman supports GSM communications.

A: Oman has a wide variety of accommodation on offer, ranging from cheap, sharing flats, to luxurious villas on the beach side, with pools and landscaped garden. Consequently, rents differ enormously. The more desirable the location, the higher the rent, so it is recommended that you shop around and ask other residents' or work colleagues' advice. You should also take into consideration whether the house is supplied with mains' water or is filled daily by Bowser tanker.

There are also a number of serviced and un-serviced apartments in Muscat, such as Safeer Hotel Suites and Hatat House.

Many new residents establish in temporary accommodation for the first few weeks of arriving here, giving them a chance to decide in which area they would like to live. A good way of finding a villa is to simply drive around the area of your choice and keep a lookout for the 'To Rent' boards. The main estate agents in Oman are :

Al-Zawia Commercial Enterprises, Tel : 24781 250, Fax : 24781 174

Al-Habin & Co. Llc, Tel : 24793 251, Fax : 24788 780

Abdullah al-Harthy, Tel : 24565 765, Fax : 24565 766

Cluttons - Daniel Smith & Ptnrs., Tel : 24564 250, 24564 257

Hamptons International, Tel: 24563 557, Fax: 24563 558

Kehlan Trad. & Cont. Est, Tel : 24684 227, Fax : 24683 367