Time Difference
Oman is four hours ahead of GMT and the clocks do not change seasonally, so in the summer they are only three hours ahead of the UK.
Money
The national currency is the Omani rial (OMR), divided into 1000 baïzas. Notes of 100 and 200 baisa are available, as well as half, one, five, 10, 20 and 50 rials. There are coins of 5, 10, 25 and 50 baisa. ATMs are available widely even in small towns, however banks will give you the best exchange rate. Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, however American Express is not. You may also incur an additional 5% fee for paying by card in some hotels and restaurants. It is advisable to have cash on you to pay for smaller fees such as transportation costs, and our team can advise on this before you travel to Oman.
Electricity
Standard voltage is 240 volts; and plug type G is used (the same three flat pin plugs used in the UK) or European standard.
Shops and Amenities
Shops are open daily from 09:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 22:00, except on Fridays where they will only open from 16:00 onwards. Banks are generally open Saturday to Thursday, from 08:00 to 14:00, and pharmacy opening times vary but some in Muscat are open 24/7. It’s worth noting that during Ramadan, opening hours may change, but our team will be able to provide the most up-to-date Oman travel advice before your trip.
Post
Post offices can be easily found throughout Oman, especially in cities, and many hotels will sell stamps. The central station is in Muscat. Each city has a post office and they will usually open from 07:30am to 15:00/16:00 from Sunday to Thursday. Again, these opening hours are subject to change during Ramadan.
Phone
To call Oman from the UK dial 00 968 plus the number of your correspondent. To call the UK from Oman, dial 00 44 followed by the nine digit number of your correspondent (without the first 0).
Internet and Mobile Coverage
Oman has generally good 3G and 4G coverage, however roaming charges can be expensive and it may be more cost effective to buy a local SIM card – which are sold in post offices, petrol stations and various shops. Mobile coverage depends largely on your operator so check with them before travel.
Currency
OMR
