A legacy that has been generation; the art, the culture, the folklore and the artistry has to be seen. But there is much more in the heart of Oman to explore: the sense of respect for time, for people, and for nature. Come and taste a part of Oman's rich heritage, kept alive and uncganged for generations. It may help you understand tomorrow a little better.

For its size, Oman boasts an unprecedented number of UNESCO-classified World Heritage Sites including Al-Blaid; site of the ancient city of Zafar, Bat—with its tombs dating back 3,000 years, Bahla Fort, and R'as Al-Hadd; home to the rare Green Sea Tturtle. Oman's heritage features a prominent sea-faring tradition, as one would expect from a country with 1,700Km of coastline. Many museums and galleries around the secluded and historic harbours of Muscat and Muttrah illuminate the importance of the sea and, indeed, of water generally, throughout Oman's 5,000 year-old history.

If you are someone who has an understanding and appreciation of history, arts, architecture and the intricacies of a civil soceity, Oman is the place for you. From the ancient city of Nizwa to the towns along the coast to the Capital to Salalalah, all seeped in history, you can experience Oman's sense of timelessness. The Sultanate enjoys an unspoiled culture and traditional lifestyle in almost every aspect. Even in its modernity, Oman is distinctly Arabic and offers many unique old-world wonders.

The Omani culture has its roots firmly deep in the Islamic religio. Oman developed its own particular form of Islam, called Ibadhism, after its founder, Abdullah ibn Ibadh who lived during the 7th century AD. Not all Omanis are Ibadhis however; there are also Sunni and Shi'a Muslims. Omanis are not only tolerant of the beliefs of different Muslim divisions, they are also tolerant towards believers of other faiths, who are allowed to practice their religion in churches and temples. Muslims are required to pray five times each day after the call to prayer by the Imam. Beautiful, ornate mosques are found throughout the Sultanate, but they are not open to non-Muslim visitors.

The holy month of Ramadhan is a time of fasting and praying. For around 29 to 30 days each Islamic year, Muslims refrain from smoking, eating and drinking during the hours of fasting (from sunrise to sunset). Ramadhan advances 10 to 11 days each year as it is governed by the lunar calendar. Out of respect, non-Muslim residents and visitors to the Sultanate are expected to observe the same principles in public.

The dress code is fairly liberal in Muscat, although decency is still expected. Women should wear, for example, tops with sleeves, and long skirts or trousers. Men are required to wear trousers and shirts with sleeves. Swimwear should be restricted to the beach or pools.

The Sultanate of Oman is situated on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula and is located between Latitudes 16° 40' and 26° 20' North and Longitudes 51° 50' and 59° 40' East. The coastline extends 1,700 Km from the Strait of Hormuz in the north, to the borders of the Republic of Yemen in the south and overlooks three seas: the Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.

The Sultanate borders Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the West; the United Arab Emirates in the Northeast, the Republic of Yemen in the South; the Strait of Hormuz in the North and the Arabian Sea in the East. The Musandam Peninsula forms the country's northern tip, and is separated from the rest of the Sultanate by United Arab Emirates' eastern coast and includes the only coast the Sultanate has on the Arabian Gulf. Musandam is just over 50 Km (30 miles) south of the Islamic Republic of Iran across the Strait of Hormuz. The total land area is around 309,500 Km2 and it is the third largest country in the Arabian Peninsula.

Seeb International Airport is located 40 km from Muscat City Centre and also serves domestic flights. There are frequent direct flights from a number of European, Asian and African cities. There are excellent connections from all over the world with Gulf Air, Qatar Airways, Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, Kuwait Airways, Swiss and Thai. (Click here to view the airline schedule)Oman is very much accessible by road from the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is 450 kms away from the Oman capital, Muscat and it takes approximately 4.5 hours to get there by road. There are buses (private and Government owned) buses, which ply between Dubai and Muscat every day.

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.

The varied geography of the Sultanate resulted in a wide variety of climatic conditions. Although lying in the tropics, th 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 March 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.

Each of these is subdivided into smaller districts called Wilayats, which are governed by the Wali, the person responsible for administrating the area and reports to the Minister of the Interior. Muscat is the capital of Oman; a cosmopolitan, but relaxed city, free from the hustle and bustle found in many of Arabia's other capital cities. In the south of the Sultanate, is Salalah; the administrative capital of the Dhofar region.

Main religion is Islam. Mazin Bin Ghadouba was the first Omani to travel to Mecca and meet with the Prophet. Most omanis belong to a distinguished sect of Islam known as the Ibadi. the sect is known for their simplicity. The other two important sects are Sunnis and the Shiyas. One of the main principles of the Ibadi sect is the belief in the Imam as a spiritual and political leader. Sunnis are the group which accepted the continuity of the leadership in the group(Imam). Shiaties are the followers of Imam Ali who believed that the Imam possesses no importance and should be elected from any tribe.

The history of Oman’s currency is very important it is believed that coins existed here before any other country in peninsula. in Pre Islamic time Arabs used Byzantine and Susanian coins as the only medium of exchange available. the values of the coins vary from copper, silver and gold coins and the empire had the rights to decide which currency type to be used. Archeologists unearthed a Silver Dirham (700 AD). It is the oldest dated coin found in the Arabaian Peninsula. The Rial (RO) is the Omani currency and is divided into 1000 baisas. The rate conversion is one Omani Rial = US$2.60

Oman has a modern network of roads and motorways. One may exercise the self-drive option and can avail the car of their choice including four-wheel drives. Taxis are plenty but the fare needs to be agreed beforehand, as the fares are not metered.

The Omani people are friendly in nature, welcoming to visitors and always offering incomparable hospitality. The Omanis have preserved and restored their heritage, which reflects their great value empowered with a rich culture of creative achievements. The Omanis are a very polite and, even when offended, will rarely mention it to their guests. Visitors thus are expected to respect their hosts and be careful not to cause unnecessary offense. Women in Oman take a full part in national life.

They are free to drive and pursue careers in the government and commercial sector on a par with their male colleagues. A commitment to friendship, hospitality and family solidarity is the solid foundation of Omani's lifestyle. Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting in the Sultanate. Although Arabic is the main language, English is frequently spoken and is often used as the lingua franca. Despite their relaxed air, the Omanis are quite conservative people. Respect for their privacy and their religion, in particular, should always be observed. Consequently, visitors should ask permission before attempting to photograph people or their property.

Men
The national dress for Omani men is a simple, ankle-length, collarless gown with long sleeves called the Dishdasha. The colour most frequently worn is white, although a variety of other colours such as black, blue, brown and lilac can also be seen. Its main adornment is a tassel (Furakha) sewn into the neckline, which can be impregnated with perfume. Underneath the dishdasha, a plain piece of cloth covering the body is worn from the waist down. Omani men may wear a variety of head dresses. The muzzar is a square of finely woven woollen or cotton fabric, wrapped and folded into a turban. Underneath, the kummar–an intricately embroidered cap, is sometimes worn. The shal–a long strip of cloth acting as a holder for the Khanjar, may be made from the same material as the muzzar. Alternatively, the holder may be fashioned in the form of a belt made from leather and silver–the sapta. On formal occasions, the dishdasha may be covered by a black or beige cloak, called a bisht. The embroidery edging the cloak is often in silver or gold thread and it is intricate in detail. Some men carry the assa, a stick, which can have practical uses or is simply used as an accessory during formal events. Omani men, on the whole, wear sandals on their feet.

Khanjar
The Khanjar is worn in a leather sheath at the front of the body in a special belt, in a tradition which is unique to Oman. It is a symbol of a man's origins, his manhood, courage and deep-rooted traditions. The national dress is not complete without it and men wear the Khanjar at all public engagements and festivals. The Khanjar has played an important role in Oman's history and this fact is reflected in the incorporation of its image into the Omani National Flag. The Khanjar consists of the hilt, which is made of silver, or ivory in the case of the ancient weapons; the shaft– decorated with bands of silver or gold wire; and the blade. The leather sheath is often intricately embellished with floral or scrolled leaf filigree work. It can take up to three weeks to make a Khanjar. Prices of good quality Khanjars may cost OMR 200-800. However, the Saidi dagger, which is generally of pure silver and gold-plated, the largest of the Khanjars, can cost much more.

Women
Omani women are distinguished from their Arab Gulf neighbours by their eye-catching national costumes which distinctively vary from one region of the country to another. The choice of colours, especially in the past, was linked to a tribe's tradition. Nevertheless, all costumes demonstrate vivid colours and vibrant embroidery and decorations. The basic components of the Omani costume comprise of a dress (dishdasha) worn over trousers (sirwal), a loose-overdress-cum-cloak (thub) and head shawl called lihaf. In public, women in the Capital Area wear a loose black cloak (abaya) while in some regions a face mask (burqa) is still worn. The Omani costume has been fashioned not only to protect from outside elements but also to serve useful purposes, often to store important items. The long packets of a woman's dishdasha were a safe place to carry Maria Theresa dollars, while cardamom seeds could be kept in the knotted corner of her head scarf. The Bedu living in sandy deserts wear large masks (burqa) covering the whole face except for a strip for the eyes, to protect delicate facial skin from burning sun and wind.

Accessories:
The jewellery worn by Omani women is fashioned mainly from gold, although the traditional metal was silver. Work is very intricate and elaborate patterns and symbols, including Quranic calligraphy, is engraved into the metal. Omani women have used natural cosmetics and beauty preparations for centuries and despite the supply of brand name cosmetics sold in department stores and supermarkets, the traditional products are still available at souqs all over the Sultanate. Kohl is still used to enhance the eyes and is applied with a small stick made from silver (marwat) or wood. Indigo is also used as a 'skin wash'. Indigo is also applied to the face in decorative patterns for festivals and celebrations, such as weddings. Many women in Oman paint their hands and feet with pastes of henna, particularly before special occasions such as Eid holidays or weddings. The paste is applied in patterns on the hands and feet, which, when dried, leaves a temporary orange/brown design that fades after around three weeks. Hair is conditioned with oil extracted from the shoo seeds which is said to make the hair shine and delay greying. A popular shampoo is made from sidr and ipomoea nil leaves.

Omani cusine is rich and varied. Rice is an important ingredient in daily eating habits, Qaboali (rice browned with spices), Aursia (mashed rice served during the festivals). Makbousa (yellow rice cooked on top of spiced white or red meat). Spices also play an important role in adding the special taste to the omani cuisine. However, Omani’s doesn’t use excessive amounts of spices (cardomon, cinnamon, saffron & turmeric). Food does change in every region, as well as other economic and historic factors.

Most shops and Malls are opened from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm and 4.00 pm to 9.00 pm and during Ramadan, the shops close later in the night. Embassies and Consulates are open from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon, Saturday to Thursday. In general, banking hours are Saturday to Wednesday from 8.00 am to 12.00 noon and on Thursdays from 8.00 am to 11.30 am.

While tap water is safe for drinking, a variety of locally bottled mineral water is widely available at all super markets and restaurants. Most hotels have medical help available and there are private and government medical facilities available.

Tourist photography is allowed but it is considered offensive to photograph Muslim women or near Military installations. It is always courteous to ask permission before taking pictures.