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Oman
Uman
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Customs and Culture
Customs and Culture
Cultural Attributes
Omani culture is deeply rooted in Islamic traditions and a rich Bedouin heritage, shaped over centuries by the country's history as a major trading hub connecting the Arabian Peninsula, East Africa, Persia, and South Asia. This mercantile legacy has produced a society that is notably open and hospitable toward outsiders while maintaining a strong sense of cultural identity. The family unit remains the cornerstone of Omani society, with extended family networks playing a central role in social and economic life.
The Sultanate of Incense and Monsoons
Greetings, Gestures & Visiting
When talking Omanis stand very close together. People of the same sex often hold hands while walking or talking. Omanis
Diet
Rice, dates, fish, fruit and meat are staple foods. Omanis eat their meals on the floor or ground, the dishes spread on a cloth. Food and drink are always taken with the right hand. The main meal of the day is at noon. Breakfast and the evening meal (supper) are light meals. Nomads eat the locusts that swarm over farmers' crops.
Family
Omanis are tribal people and the family is the center of their life. The woman's role is domestic while the men's role is public. Men take
Recreation
Camel racing and horse racing are popular sports. Hockey and target shooting are also popular. The Boy and Girl Scouts are also popular in Oman.
Holidays
Birthday of Sultan QABOOS
11/18Birthday
Dates of Interest
- November 18th
How do people greet and interact in Oman?
Omanis often stand very close when talking, and people of the same sex may hold hands while walking or talking. Conversations can be loud with frequent interruptions.
Good to know
- Expect people to stand close during conversation
- Same-sex hand-holding is a normal sign of friendship
- Loud talking and interrupting are part of normal conversation
What are the dining customs in Oman?
Staple foods include rice, dates, fish, fruit, and meat, and meals are often eaten on the floor with dishes spread on a cloth. The main meal is at noon, while breakfast and supper are light.
Do
- Always take food and drink with your right hand
- Expect to eat seated on the floor or ground
Good to know
- The noon meal is the main meal of the day
- Guests are traditionally welcomed with qahwa (cardamom coffee) and dates
What etiquette should travelers know in Oman?
Omani society values hospitality, modesty, and deep respect for elders, with consultation of senior family and community members central to daily life. Public behavior is generally conservative.
Do
- Show respect to elders
- Behave modestly in public
- Accept qahwa and dates when offered as a mark of respect
What should I wear in Oman?
Traditional dress is widespread: men wear the ankle-length dishdasha with a skullcap or turban, and women wear colorful dresses over loose pants with headscarves, most wearing a black ankle-length abaya in public. Modesty in dress is expected of visitors.
Do
- Dress modestly throughout the country
Good to know
- Omanis commonly wear leather sandals
- Men often pair the dishdasha with a kuma cap or turban
What is family life like in Oman?
Omanis are a tribal people and the family is the center of life, with women traditionally handling domestic roles and men managing business and public transactions. Extended family networks and tribal affiliations carry strong social weight.
Good to know
- Men typically handle business and public dealings
- Omani women are allowed to vote
- The mahr (marriage gift) is paid by the groom and becomes the bride's property
What do people do for recreation in Oman?
Popular pastimes include camel racing and horse racing, along with hockey and target shooting. Boy and Girl Scouts are also popular.
Good to know
- Camel and horse racing are popular spectator sports
- Scouting is a common activity
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Sources: CountryReports
Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism
- Travel Alert Status
- Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
- Currency
- Omani rial (OMR)
- Time Difference
- UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Climate
- Oman’s climate is one of the hottest in the world. Temperatures reach 130°F in the summer from April to October and rarely drop below 65°F in the cooler season from November to March. Average annual rainfall measures only 4 or 5 inches and occurs during December into April. Despite limited rainfall, however, humidity averages 65% to 80%. Summer monsoons create a tropical climate in the south.
- Airports
- 135
Read the full travel guide — health, safety, vaccinations, disease risk, sanitation, and transit details.
View full travel guideRecipes
Recipes
History
History
Historical Eras
Ancient & Pre-Islamic
3000 BCE – 700
Oman's coastal position made it a vital node in ancient maritime trade networks connecting Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and East Africa. The region, known in antiquity as Magan, exported copper and was integrated into Bronze Age trading systems. Various Persian and South Arabian influences shaped the population and culture of the territory before the arrival of Islam.
Early Islamic & Imamate
700 – 1507
Arab tribes brought Islam to Oman in the 7th century, and the region adopted the Ibadi sect, a distinct branch of Islam tracing roots to the early Kharijite movement. The Imamate system — elective religious-political leadership — became Oman's defining political institution. Omani seafarers extended trade networks as far as China and East Africa, establishing a maritime culture of remarkable reach.
Portuguese Occupation
1507 – 1650
Portugal seized Muscat in 1507 and dominated Oman's key coastal ports for nearly a century and a half, using them as strategic bases to control Indian Ocean trade routes. Portuguese fortifications, including Forts Jalali and Mirani, still stand in Muscat today. The Ya'ariba Imamate eventually united Omani tribes and expelled the Portuguese by 1650, reasserting indigenous sovereignty.
Ya'ariba & Al Bu Sa'id Rise
1650 – 1749
Following the expulsion of the Portuguese, the Ya'ariba Imams presided over an era of Omani imperial expansion, projecting power into Persia, India, and along the East African coast, capturing Zanzibar and Mombasa. Internal dynastic conflict invited a Persian invasion in 1737, but Ahmad ibn Sa'id successfully expelled the Persians by 1749 and founded the Al Bu Sa'id dynasty, which rules Oman to the present day.
Sultanate & British Era
1749 – 1970
The Al Bu Sa'id dynasty consolidated power, and by 1861 the ruler formally adopted the title of Sultan. Britain established a protectorate relationship by 1890, shaping Oman's external affairs while internal tensions between the Sultan and the interior Imamate periodically erupted into conflict, notably in 1913 and again in the Imamate rebellion of 1954–59. The discovery of oil in 1964 and the Dhofar insurgency (1965–75) defined the late period, marking Oman's transition toward a modern state.
Modern Sultanate
1970 – present
Sultan Qaboos bin Said seized power from his isolationist father in 1970 and launched a sweeping modernization program that transformed Oman's infrastructure, education, healthcare, and economy using oil revenues. He suppressed the Dhofar rebellion by 1975 with British assistance and pursued a notably moderate, independent foreign policy, maintaining dialogue with all regional actors. His reign of nearly five decades made Oman one of the most stable and diplomatically respected states in the Arab world.
Overview
Sharjah Mosque, built in the 1980s in traditional style
Timeline of Key Events
700
Beginning of Arab control and the introduction of Islam.
Beginning of Arab control and the introduction of Islam.
1507
Muscat is captured by Portuguese.
Muscat is captured by Portuguese.
1650
The Portuguese expelled from Oman.
The Portuguese expelled from Oman.
1659
The Ottoman Empire takes control of Oman.
The Ottoman Empire takes control of Oman.
1737
Persians invade.
Persians invade.
1749
Persians are driven out.
Persians are driven out. The Al Bu Said dynasty comes to power, and continues to rule to this day.
1800 – 1900
The Portuguese expelled from Oman.
Omani empire expands to include Zanzibar and Mombasa on Africa’s east coast and parts of the Indian subcontinent, reflecting Oman’s strong maritime heritage.
Read the full history profile — narrative overview, defining eras, and the complete timeline in one place.
View expanded historyInteresting Facts
Interesting Facts
When a child loses a tooth they face the sun and throw their tooth as far as they can while they say “Oh mighty sun, take this tooth, play with it, and do not froget to bring it back.”
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK.
See every fact — trivia, oddities, and curious tidbits gathered from across the country.
View all interesting factsGeography and Environment
Geography and Environment
- Terrain
- central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south
- Climate
- Oman’s climate is one of the hottest in the world. Temperatures reach 130°F in the summer from April to October and rarely drop below 65°F in the cooler season from November to March. Average annual rainfall measures only 4 or 5 inches and occurs during December into April. Despite limited rainfall, however, humidity averages 65% to 80%. Summer monsoons create a tropical climate in the south.
- Natural Hazards
- summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts
- Current Environmental Issues
- rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources
Read the full geography and environment profile — terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, land use, and international agreements.
View full geographyPeople & Demographics
People & Demographics
Religion
Languages Spoken
Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects
- Arabic
- Urdu
Population
- Population
- 2,967,717
- Population in Major Urban Areas
- MUSCAT (capital) 743,000
- Nationality Noun
- Omani(s)
- Ethnic Groups
- Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
Read the full people and society profile — demographics, health, education, religion, languages, and notable people.
View full people and societyGovernment & Politics
Government & Politics
Country Identity
- Country Name
- Oman
- Full Country Name
- Sultanate of Oman
- Local - Long
- Saltanat Uman
- Local - Short
- Uman
- Former Name
- Muscat and Oman
Government Structure
- Government Type
- monarchy
- Legal System
- based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
- Executive Branch
- chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
- Legislative Branch
- bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (58 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by popular vote for four-year terms; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers) elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2007) election results: NA
- Judicial Branch
- Supreme Court note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and Shari'a law
- Suffrage
- in Oman's most recent elections in 2000, limited to approximately 175,000 Omanis chosen by the government to vote in elections for the Majlis al-Shura
- Constitution
- none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
- Independence
- 1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)
- National Holiday
- Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)
Capital City
- Capital Name
- Muscat
- Capital - geographic coordinate
- 23 37 N, 58 35 E
- Capital Time Difference
- UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
the name, whose meaning is uncertain, traces back almost two millennia; two 2nd century A.D. scholars, the geographer PTOLEMY and the historian ARRIAN, both mention an Arabian Sea coastal town of Moscha, which most likely referred to Muscat
Military
Branches: Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF): Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman)
Embassy / Diplomatic Mission
U.S. Embassy Muscat
Jamiat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street,
Al Khuwair Area (Shatti Al-Qurum), in the capital city of Muscat.
Mailing address: PO Box 202, Medinat Al Sultan Qaboos 115, Sultanate of Oman,
Telephone: (968) 24-643-400
Facsimile: (968) 24-643-53
The Embassy's Consular e-mail address is ConsularMuscat@state.gov
Read the full government profile — flag symbolism, national anthem, and other national symbols.
View full government detailsEconomy
Economy
Oman is a high-income Middle Eastern economy with substantial oil and gas reserves, which continue to underpin government revenue and exports. While hydrocarbons remain central, the country has made significant progress in diversifying its economy under Oman Vision 2040, with growing contributions from logistics, tourism, manufacturing, fisheries, and mining. The government has pursued privatization of utilities and state-owned enterprises, modernized its commercial and foreign investment laws, and introduced a value-added tax in 2021 to strengthen non-oil revenues. Oman joined the World Trade Organization in 2000 and signed a free trade agreement with the United States that entered into force in 2009. To reduce unemployment and decrease reliance on foreign labor, the government continues to advance Omanization, requiring private-sector employers to hire more Omani nationals, supported by training programs in information technology, business management, and English. Industrial development efforts remain focused on leveraging natural gas resources, including major investments in petrochemicals, liquefied natural gas, and emerging green hydrogen projects, with Oman positioning itself as a regional hub for renewable energy exports.
Snapshot
- Currency Name and Code
- Omani Rial (OMR)
- GDP — official exchange rate
- $24,980,000,000 (USD)
- GDP Real Growth Rate
- 4.3%
Banknotes
Budget & Public Finance
- Fiscal Year
- calendar year
- Annual Budget
- $10,610,000,000 (USD)
- Public Debt (% of GDP)
- 7.5%
- External Debt
- $4,586,000,000 (USD)
- Investment (% of GDP)
- 17%
- Economic Aid
- $76,400,000 (USD)
- Reserves of Foreign Exchange
- $2,147,483,647 (USD)
Labor, Industry & Trade
- Labor Force by Occupation
- agriculture NA%; industry NA%; services NA%
- Industries
- crude oil production and refining, natural gas production, construction, cement, copper
- Agriculture Products
- dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish
- Export Commodities
- petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles
- Export Partners
- Japan 22.1%, South Korea 19.9%, China 15.2%, Thailand 12.6%, Taiwan 5.5%, Singapore 4.7%, US 4.4%
- Import Commodities
- machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
- Import Partners
- UAE 27.6%, Japan 16.7%, UK 7.4%, US 6.9%, Germany 5%
Energy
- Oil Production
- 769,000 bbl/day
- Oil Consumption
- 62,000 bbl/day
- Oil Reserves
- 6,100,000,000 bbl/day
- Natural Gas Production
- 16,500,000,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Consumption
- 7,090,000,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Imports
- 0 cu m
- Natural Gas Exports
- 7,430,000,000 cu m
- Natural Gas Reserves
- 829,100,000,000 cu m
Communications
- Telephone System
- general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable; domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations domestic: fixed-line and mobile-cellular subscribership both increasing with fixed-line phone service gradually being introduced to remote villages using wireless local loop systems international: country code - 968; the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) and the SEA-ME-WE-3 submarine cable provide connectivity to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat
- Internet Country Code
- .om
News & Weather
News & Weather
Current Weather
Latest News
Oil transfer activity in Gulf of Oman slows following ship attacks, data shows - Reuters
Reuters · 3h ago
Ship struck by unknown projectile off coast of Oman, crew recovered safely, British maritime agency says - The Times of Israel
The Times of Israel · 10h ago
Indian Envoy Meets 'Distressed' Women Workers In Oman, Assures Help - NDTV
NDTV · 9h ago
Two Dynacom Tankers vessels attacked off Oman - Arab News
Arab News · 17h ago
Caution urged as vessel catches fire off Oman - TradeWinds News
TradeWinds News · 11h ago
Greek-operated tanker vessel catches fire near Oman after projectile hit - eKathimerini.com
eKathimerini.com · 5h ago
Projectile Strike Sets Dynacom Tanker Ablaze Near Oman - Marine News Magazine
Marine News Magazine · 8h ago
Ship Catches Fire Near Omani Coastline In Strait Of Hormuz - Marine Insight
Marine Insight · 6h ago
News via Google News
Climate Overview
Oman’s climate is one of the hottest in the world. Temperatures reach 130°F in the summer from April to October and rarely drop below 65°F in the cooler season from November to March. Average annual rainfall measures only 4 or 5 inches and occurs during December into April. Despite limited rainfall, however, humidity averages 65% to 80%. Summer monsoons create a tropical climate in the south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Oman?
How do people greet and interact in Oman?
What are the dining customs in Oman?
What etiquette should travelers know in Oman?
What should I wear in Oman?
What is family life like in Oman?
What do people do for recreation in Oman?
What is the capital of Oman?
Where is Oman located?
What countries border Oman?
What is the main religion practiced in Oman?
What is the currency of Oman?
What language is spoken in Oman?
What is the geography of Oman like?
What is Oman known for?
Last reviewed 2026