Oman: cosa sapere prima di partire
L’essenziale
- Regional conflict since early 2026: the UK FCDO warns of a high risk of sudden escalation and possible airspace closures in the Middle East. Check advisories and your airline before travel.
- Visa-free entry is only 14 days and you must show a return ticket, a hotel booking and travel health insurance at the border.
- Some common prescription and OTC medicines are illegal in Oman; carry prescriptions and check with the Ministry of Health before travel.
- Dress modestly in towns and villages: cover shoulders and knees; swimwear only at beaches and pools.
- Summer (June–September) is extremely hot in Muscat, while Salalah has its cool, rainy khareef season.
Ingresso e visti
Citizens of over 100 countries (incl. US, UK, most EU, China, Turkey, Ukraine) can stay up to 14 days visa-free with a return ticket, accommodation proof and health insurance. Russians have 30 days visa-free under a 2025 mutual agreement. Longer stays and other nationalities need an eVisa (tourist 'unsponsored visit visa') via the Royal Oman Police portal; Indians with certain Western visas or GCC residence may qualify for easier entry.
Moduli e autorizzazioni online
- Royal Oman Police eVisa ↗ facoltativo
Before travel, for stays over 14 days or if not visa-exempt · Visitors staying longer than 14 days or not on the visa-free list
Validità del passaporto: At least 6 months from arrival.
Alla frontiera possono chiedere
- Have a printed return ticket, hotel booking and insurance policy ready for border control.
- Taxis are unmetered in many places; agree a price first or use the OTaxi app.
Dogana
- Declare anything that may be prohibited or taxable; customs rules are strict.
- Some prescription and OTC medicines are banned; carry prescriptions in original packaging.
- Narcotics, pork products and pornography are prohibited.
Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: gov.uk ↗, middleeastbriefing.com ↗, muscatdaily.com ↗, evisa.rop.gov.om ↗
Denaro
Contanti e carte sono entrambi diffusi. Carte accettate soprattutto in città e nei luoghi turistici.
Circuiti di pagamento: Visa, Mastercard, Amex
Apple Pay — funziona in alcuni posti · Google Pay — funziona in alcuni posti
Dove cambiare
- Exchange houses in Muscat malls and Muttrah
- Bank ATMs (Bank Muscat, NBO)
Dove evitare di cambiare
- Hotel desks
- Dynamic currency conversion at terminals
Bancomat: ATMs are common in towns and malls and accept foreign Visa/Mastercard; withdraw cash before heading into rural areas or the desert.
Mance: Not obligatory; 10% in restaurants if no service charge, small tips for guides and drivers.
- Rial is pegged to the US dollar (about 0.385 OMR per USD) - one of the world's highest-value currencies.
- Cards work in hotels, malls and supermarkets in Muscat; carry cash for souqs, small cafes, fuel in remote areas and taxis.
- Russian-issued Visa/Mastercard do not work abroad; bring USD/EUR cash to exchange or a foreign-issued card.
Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: gov.uk ↗
Regole e divieti
Vietato
- Drugs, including small quantities; severe penalties.
- Drinking alcohol in public or driving after any alcohol; alcohol is sold only in licensed hotels, restaurants and shops.
- Eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight in Ramadan.
- Flying drones without a permit.
- Photographing military sites, government buildings, or people (especially women) without permission.
- Public displays of affection and offensive language or gestures.
- Wild camping near private property or wadis during flash-flood warnings.
- Importing or using e-cigarettes or vape products.
Leggi che i turisti violano senza saperlo
- Same-sex relations and sex outside marriage are illegal.
- Criticising the Sultan or Islam, including online, is a criminal offence.
- Off-road driving requires care: getting stuck in sand or wadis is common; travel in pairs.
Cultura e abbigliamento
Religione: Islam (mainly Ibadi, plus Sunni and Shia); Oman is known for religious tolerance.
Abbigliamento: Cover shoulders and knees in public; avoid tight or transparent clothing. Women need a headscarf and long sleeves in mosques (Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is open to non-Muslims on weekday mornings).
Galateo
- Greet with the right hand; let women initiate handshakes.
- Accept coffee (kahwa) and dates when offered.
- Ask before photographing people.
- Remove shoes when entering homes and mosques.
Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: gov.uk ↗
Clima
Hot desert climate in the north (Muscat shown): warm sunny winters, very hot summers. The mountains (Jebel Akhdar) are cooler. Dhofar (Salalah) gets the monsoon (khareef) from June to September: green, misty and around 25–30°C.
Mese per mese
- gennaio: Jan: 25°C / 17°C, pleasant; cool mountain nights
- febbraio: Feb: 26°C / 18°C, pleasant
- marzo: Mar: 29°C / 21°C, warm; good
- aprile: Apr: 34°C / 25°C, hot
- maggio: May: 38°C / 29°C, very hot
- giugno: Jun: 40°C / 31°C, extreme heat; khareef starts in Salalah
- luglio: Jul: 38°C / 31°C, extreme heat, humid; Salalah green
- agosto: Aug: 36°C / 29°C, hot, humid; Salalah khareef
- settembre: Sep: 36°C / 28°C, hot; khareef ends
- ottobre: Oct: 35°C / 26°C, hot, easing
- novembre: Nov: 30°C / 22°C, warm; season starts
- dicembre: Dec: 27°C / 19°C, pleasant
Stagione migliore: October–March for Muscat, deserts and mountains; July–August for Salalah's khareef.
Verificato il 29 ottobre 2026 · Fonti: gov.uk ↗
Cosa portare
- Type G (UK three-pin) adapter
- Printed return ticket, hotel booking and insurance policy
- Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees
- Headscarf for women visiting mosques
- Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and plenty of water for hikes
- Water shoes for wadis
Cosa non portare / vietato importare
- Medicines without checking their legal status in Oman
- CBD and cannabis products
- Drones without a permit
- Revealing clothing outside resorts
- E-cigarettes and vape products
Pratico
Prese: Type G, 240V, 50Hz
Acqua: Tap water in cities is desalinated and generally safe, but bottled water is recommended, especially outside cities.
Circolazione: a destra
Rete mobile ed eSIM: Tourist SIMs from Omantel, Ooredoo and Vodafone Oman at the airport; coverage weak in remote deserts and mountains.
App: OTaxi, Google Maps, Talabat, ROP eVisa
Internet: Some websites and VoIP calling services may be restricted.
Salute: No vaccinations required (yellow fever certificate only from risk countries). Good hospitals in Muscat. Heatstroke and flash floods in wadis are the main risks.
Assicurazione: Proof of travel health insurance is required for visa-free entry.
Emergenze: Police, fire, ambulance 9999
Le regole d’ingresso cambiano. Prima del viaggio consulta il sito dell’ambasciata o dell’ufficio immigrazione del paese.