Oman
Oman’s coastal cities, mountain villages, and desert towns reveal centuries of Indian Ocean trade and deep-rooted hospitality.
Overview
Arabic and English are spoken across Muscat’s port neighborhoods, Salalah’s lush valleys, and the stark beauty of interior wadis. Oman’s landscape shifts from turquoise shores to rugged peaks and sand seas, with a cultural identity shaped by maritime history and local traditions.
At a glance
Languages
- Arabic(Official)
- Shehri(Recognized)
Population4,829,480
CurrencyOmani Rial (OMR)
1 OMR = 2.6007 USD
1 USD = 0.3845 OMR
Cost of living
Numbeo publishes these source indexes relative to New York City.
Cost of LivingPotentially much less expensiveSource category: All | 2026
RentPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Rent | 2026
GroceriesPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Grocery | 2026
RestaurantPotentially much less expensiveSource category: Restaurant | 2026
Local Purchasing PowerMuch stronger local purchasing powerSource category: Purchasing Power | 2026
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Quality of life
Quality of Life IndexStrongSource category: Quality Of Life | 2026 | Overall quality of life index
Healthcare IndexGenerally favorableSource category: Healthcare | 2026 | Healthcare quality index (100 = best healthcare)
Crime IndexLowSource category: Crime | 2026 | Crime index (100 = highest crime)
Safety IndexStrongSource category: Safety | 2026 | Safety index (100 = safest)
Pollution IndexLowSource category: Pollution | 2026 | Pollution index (100 = most polluted)
Traffic IndexHighSource category: Traffic | 2026 | Overall traffic index (considers time + inefficiency + CO2)
Sources
- Numbeo Cost of Living Index
Entry requirements
Visa and residency reference data is available for Business Visitor, Work (Employer-Sponsored), Family Reunification, and 6 more.
Business Visitor
- Business / Express Visit Visa
ROP eVisa type lists include sponsored business visit and express visit routes, plus an unsponsored multi-entry visit route for professional or business people in certain occupations. The fetched official type lists do not publish duration or fee details for these visit routes.
Work (Employer-Sponsored)
- Employment Contracting Visa
Short pre-employment route for workers whose role requires initial testing by a government organization before employment. ROP says the employer must provide approval from the government organization concerned.
- 2 months, renewable
- Limited work rights
- Temporary Work Visa
Employer-sponsored temporary work route. ROP says validity is set by the labour permit and may be four, six, or nine months.
- 9 months
Languages
- Arabic(Official)
- Shehri(Recognized)
Sources
- Country language reference
Safety
3 source-backed travel advisories are available for Oman.
Canada
Avoid non-essential travel
Advisory effective · Verified
Avoid non-essential travel to Oman due to the volatile security situation in the region.
United Kingdom
No destination-wide FCDO travel warning
Advisory effective · Verified
FCDO travel advice currently has no destination-wide warning for Oman. Review the full FCDO travel advice before travelling, including safety, entry, health, and insurance guidance.
United States
Level 3Reconsider Travel
Advisory effective · Verified
Reconsider travel to Oman due to the risk of terrorism and armed conflict. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. On June 27, 2026, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and U.S. government employee family members to leave Oman due to safety risks. This replaces the previous ordered departure status which is no longer in effect. Armed conflict Following the onset of hostilities between the United States and Iran on February 28, there has been an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights. Terrorism There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks in Oman. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country reports on terrorism to learn more.
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