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Oman: wat je moet weten voor vertrek

Het belangrijkste

  • 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.

Inreis en visa

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.

Online aankomstformulieren en vergunningen

  • Royal Oman Police eVisa ↗ optioneel
    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

Geldigheid paspoort: At least 6 months from arrival.

Aan de grens kan worden gevraagd naar

  • 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.

Douane

  • 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.

Gecontroleerd op 29 oktober 2026 · Bronnen: gov.uk ↗, middleeastbriefing.com ↗, muscatdaily.com ↗, evisa.rop.gov.om ↗

Geld

Contant en pinnen zijn allebei gangbaar. Kaarten vooral in steden en toeristische plaatsen.

Betaalnetwerken: Visa, Mastercard, Amex

Apple Pay — werkt op sommige plekken · Google Pay — werkt op sommige plekken

Waar je geld wisselt

  • Exchange houses in Muscat malls and Muttrah
  • Bank ATMs (Bank Muscat, NBO)

Waar je beter niet wisselt

  • Hotel desks
  • Dynamic currency conversion at terminals

Geldautomaten: ATMs are common in towns and malls and accept foreign Visa/Mastercard; withdraw cash before heading into rural areas or the desert.

Fooi: 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.

Gecontroleerd op 29 oktober 2026 · Bronnen: gov.uk ↗

Regels en verboden

Verboden

  • 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.

Wetten die reizigers onbewust overtreden

  • 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.

Gecontroleerd op 29 oktober 2026 · Bronnen: gov.uk ↗, gov.uk ↗

Cultuur en kleding

Religie: Islam (mainly Ibadi, plus Sunni and Shia); Oman is known for religious tolerance.

Kleding: 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).

Etiquette

  • 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.

Gecontroleerd op 29 oktober 2026 · Bronnen: gov.uk ↗

Klimaat

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.

Per maand
  • januari: Jan: 25°C / 17°C, pleasant; cool mountain nights
  • februari: Feb: 26°C / 18°C, pleasant
  • maart: Mar: 29°C / 21°C, warm; good
  • april: Apr: 34°C / 25°C, hot
  • mei: May: 38°C / 29°C, very hot
  • juni: Jun: 40°C / 31°C, extreme heat; khareef starts in Salalah
  • juli: Jul: 38°C / 31°C, extreme heat, humid; Salalah green
  • augustus: Aug: 36°C / 29°C, hot, humid; Salalah khareef
  • september: Sep: 36°C / 28°C, hot; khareef ends
  • oktober: Oct: 35°C / 26°C, hot, easing
  • november: Nov: 30°C / 22°C, warm; season starts
  • december: Dec: 27°C / 19°C, pleasant

Beste seizoen: October–March for Muscat, deserts and mountains; July–August for Salalah's khareef.

Gecontroleerd op 29 oktober 2026 · Bronnen: gov.uk ↗

Wat mee te nemen

  • 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

Niet meenemen / invoer verboden

  • 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

Praktisch

Stopcontacten: Type G, 240V, 50Hz

Water: Tap water in cities is desalinated and generally safe, but bottled water is recommended, especially outside cities.

Verkeer: rechts rijden

Mobiel en eSIM: Tourist SIMs from Omantel, Ooredoo and Vodafone Oman at the airport; coverage weak in remote deserts and mountains.

Apps: OTaxi, Google Maps, Talabat, ROP eVisa

Internet: Some websites and VoIP calling services may be restricted.

Gezondheid: No vaccinations required (yellow fever certificate only from risk countries). Good hospitals in Muscat. Heatstroke and flash floods in wadis are the main risks.

Verzekering: Proof of travel health insurance is required for visa-free entry.

Noodnummers: Police, fire, ambulance 9999

Gecontroleerd op 29 oktober 2026 · Bronnen: gov.uk ↗, gov.uk ↗

Inreisregels veranderen. Controleer vóór de reis de website van de ambassade of immigratiedienst van het land.