O M A N V I S I T O R S P O RTA L Come ... Oman awaits you ! www.omanvisitors.com Welcome to Sultanate of Oman 2 www.omanvisitors.com Ahlan Wa Sahlan Marhab in Oman Visitors Portal www.omanvisitors.com The Sultanate of Oman is a country of enormous diversity, superb natural beauty, and authentic cultural heritage, which, while it has much to attract the discerning traveler, had until recent years been largely overlooked by international tourists. This unique and varied potential for tourism in the Sultanate created the need for a specialized website, which we have responded to by establishing the most comprehensive travel and tourism portal in Oman. Oman Visitors Portal is a complete information source for Tourism / Travel / Investment in Oman. The portal consists of the following websites: • • • • • Oman Visitors Portal, the main website, gives general information about the Sultanate of Oman . Oman Tourism Investment Portal, focuses on a number of tourism projects in Oman and helps visitors who may be looking for a future home in the country Oman Eating Guide, is the first online guide of its kind in Oman Salalah Visitors Portal, a new website, highlights tourist attractions in Salalah, a popular and rapidly developing resort in the South of Oman. Musandam Visitors Portal, highlights tourists attractions in Musan dam. The portal won the following awards: • • • Silver Award in the hospitality websites category - Oman Web Award 2009. Gold Award for best travel & tourism website in the Arab countries – an Arab Award 2009. Best travel & tourism website in the Arab countries - Pan Arab Award 2010. www.omanvisitors.com 3 Come to Oman... The Sultanate of Oman is gifted with its diverse natural attractions like breathtaking mountains, beautiful beaches and places of ancient monuments, attracting tourist interested in different kinds of tourist destinations. Oman’s coastline with its multicoloured sands extends from Musandam to Salalah for 1,700 km of clean and isolated beaches. These beaches are frequented by people during early morning hours or evening and are ideal for sunbathing and all forms of beach entertainment. 4 www.omanvisitors.com Things To Know CAPITAL: Muscat AREA: 309, 500sq km, with 3,165 km of coastline LOCATION: The Sultanate of Oman is situated on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula and is located between Latitudes 16° 40’ and 26° 20’ North and Longitudes 51° 50’ and 59° 40’ East. CLIMATE: The sultanate’s climate varies from one area to another. Generally, the coastal areas are hot and humid, whereas the weather in the south is temperate. The exception is the governate of Dhofar with its monsoon season, which lasts from June to October. The area is an ideal stopover for holiday-makers who plan to travel around the country. TIME: GMT + 4 Hours DRESS: Like all the Arab Counties, Arab Islamic culture dominates the style of life in the Sultanate. However, being an international market other cultures of various countries are widely visible. Both men and women are expected to dress conservatively in public places. GEOGRAPHY: With an area of 309,500 sq. kms, the Sultanate of Oman is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. The Sultanate is bordered by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the west, the Republic of Yemen on the south; the Strait of Hormuz on the north and the Arabian Sea on the east. CURRENCY: The currency of Oman is the Oman Rial (OMR), divided into 1,000 baisa. OMR 1 = US$ 2.6 at the current exchange rate. OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: The official language of the country is Arabic. English is also widely spoken and understood by the business community. RELIGION: Islam is the official religion while other faiths are also respected. VISAS: To find the update information visit: www.rop.gov.om CLOTHING: Lightweight summer clothing in cottons blends is ideal for most of the year. Sweaters, a light jacket or a shawl may be needed for the cooler evenings. Oman is a Muslim country so its important to observe a certain dress code and behave sensitively. www.omanvisitors.com 5 The Major Sights 6 www.omanvisitors.com GOVERNORATE OF MUSCAT GOVERNORATE OF DHOFAR • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Jalali Fort Mirani Fort Grand Mosque Bandar Jissah Muscat Gate House Museum Kalbou Beach Park The Omani Museum Bait al Zubair The Omani French Museum Mirbat Fort Taqah Fort Salalah Museum Wadi Darbat Teiq Cave Khour Al Dahareez Khour Al Maghseel Sadah Fort Al-Baleed Archaeological Park (Land of Frankincense) Haffa (Al Husn) Souq MUSANDAM GOVERNORATE GOVERNORATE OF AL BURAIMI • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Al-Hillah Fort • Al-Khandaq Fort • Falaj AlMiser Bait Al-Qufl Khasab Fort Jabal Harim old mosques The Souq The Harbour Khawer Sham Jazirat Al Maqlab Seebi Island Kumzar Wadi Rawdah & Rawadah Bowl Daba Fort Bukha Fort Oman A Promise of Magic THE DAKHILIYAH REGION AL BATINAH REGION • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Nizwa Fort Nizwa Souq Masjid Sultan Qaboos Bahla Castle Bait Ar-Radaidah Jabrin Castle Al-Hoota Cave Falaj AlKhatmain Falaj AlMalaki Falaj Dares The village of Birkat Al Mawz ( Banana Pools ) Jabel Akhdar Wadi Ghul & Jabel Shams ASH-SHARQIYAH REGION • • • • • • • • • Al-Muntarib Fort Qalhat As-Sunaisilah Fort Ras Al-Hadd Fort Wadi Shab Wadi Tiwi Wadi Bani Khalid Jalan Bani Bu Hassan Fort Majlis Al-Jin Cave Nakhal Castle Ar-Rustaq Castle Al-Hazm Fort Bait An-Nuaman Sohar Castle Sohar Castle Museum Wadi Al-Hoqain Ath-Thuwarah Wadi Bani Auf AL WUSTA REGION • • • • • Cave of Al Raki Wadis of ‘Ail Al Khudra Al Masak cave Beach of Al Shu’ir Ras Madruka beach A’DHAHIRA REGION • Ibri Fort • Wadi Fida • Bat Tombs www.omanvisitors.com 7 Getting to Oman Muscat International Airport is located 40 km from Muscat and also serves domestic destinations. The are frequent direct flights from a number of European, Asian and African cities. There are also direct flights from Dubai to Salalah,and Khasab,the gateway to Musandam. There are also excellent connection from all over the world with Gulf Air (via Abu Dhabi & Bahrain), Qatar Airways (via Doha) and Emirates (via Dubai). Many international airlines fly into Muscat include Lufthansa, Thi, British Airways, Kuwait Airways, Swiss and Emirates. Oman Air, the flagship company of the Sultanate of Oman’s Civil Aviation sector, commenced operations in 1993. 8 www.omanvisitors.com Culture & Heritage Culture: If you are someone who has an understanding and appreciation of history, arts, architecture and the intricacies of a civil society, Oman is the place for you. From the ancient city of Nizwa to the towns along the coast to the Capital to Salalah, all seeped in history, you can experience Oman’s sense of timelessness. The Sultanate enjoys an unspoiled culture and traditional lifestyle in almost every aspect. Heritage: A legacy that has been passed on from generation to generation; the art, the culture, the folklore and the artistry has to be seen. But there is much more in the heart of Oman to explore: the sense of respect for time, for people, and for nature. Come and taste a part of Oman’s rich heritage, kept alive and uncganged for generations. It may help you understand tomorrow a little better. For its size, Oman boasts an unprecedented number of UNESCO-classified World Heritage Sites including Al-Blaid; site of the ancient city of Zafar, Bat—with its tombs dating back 3,000 years, Bahla Fort, and R’as Al-Hadd; home to the rare Green Sea Tturtle. www.omanvisitors.com 9 There is service. And then there is world class hospitality. There are airlines. And then there is Oman Air. Fly the Oman Air Airbus A330 non-stop from Muscat to London, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Maldives and Colombo in absolute luxury. Take off to new heights of flying comfort on our new fleet of Airbus A330s. From industry-leading First Class Mini Suites to a large leather couch to sit back and relax in. From Business Class flatbeds with four abreast seating to unrivalled entertainment on state-of-the-art Thales i5000 Audio Video On-Demand System that is standard in every seat with live TV channels. Top that with wi-fi facility, laptop charging, SMS, phone and email access from your seat. Choose your favourites from the signature cuisine and enjoy delightful customer service that truly pampers you. Experience flying that is simply a class apart on Oman Air, the national airline of the Sultanate of Oman. For more information, call +968 2453 1111 or visit www.omanair.com Natural Wonders DESERT: Ash-Sharqiyah Sands (also known as Wahiba Sands) offer the romantic visitor desert in the accepted sense of the word. Rolling sand dunes, varying from deep red to a rich honey colour sands stretching as far as the eye can see. WADIS: A wadi is a dried up riverbed found in the mountain valleys. Wadis come into their own after heavy rains, when the rivers start running again and the vegetation is restored. However, some wadis have year-round running water, with deep, cool pools in which it is quite safe to swim if the currents are slow as in Wadi Bani Khalid (A’Sharqiyah). CAVES: There are many caverns in Oman and the country is home to one of the largest caves in the world recently discovered; Teyq Cave, which is 250 m in depth, 300 million m3 in size. BEACHES: With a coastline of 1,700 Km, Oman offers some of the cleanest, most stunning beaches a visitor could hope to see. Weekend picnics and barbeques are popular on the beach. Many coves are perfect for snorkelling and with fairly gentle shelves, are good for children. WILD LIFE: Oman has a surprisingly varied wildlife, both on land and in the surrounding waters. Strict laws have been established to ban hunting as a number of indigenous animals have now become endangered, such as the Arabian Leopard and the Arabian Oryx. Nature Reserves have been set up throughout the Sultanate to protect the natural habitats of mammals like the Leopard, Oryx, Gazelle, Taher, Ibex, Desert Foxes and Wild Cats. www.omanvisitors.com 11 Shopping Shopping: Oman is unquestionably a great place for shopping as it blends the new and the old. The snazziest shopping malls stands alongside the wonderfully quaint traditional markets. Visitors can buy carved handmade daggers, rose-water sprinklers, coffee pots, incense burners, fragrant frankincense, rugs and saddles. Women’s jewelry is perhaps the finest expression of the silversmiths’ art, ranging from kohl small silver boxes, to bracelets, earrings and rings, heavy anklets, and huge belts and necklaces. Modern Shopping Malls & Centres: Muscat has a number of bustling modern shopping malls and complexes, mostly situated in Qurum Commercial area, and in Al-Khuwair facing the Government ministries. Traditional Souqs: The traditional Arabic market place is called the souq and these are found in many of the towns throughout Oman. Household items as well as traditional handcrafts are on sale in the souqs. In some souqs like Nizwa and Sinaw livestock are auctioned and bartered. Beside its obvious economic purpose, the souq has long been the fulcrum of social interaction. Muttrah Souq: Muttrah Souq is the oldest market place in the Capital Area and is located behind the Corniche of Muttrah, rumbling over a large area. Entering the Souq, you feel transported into an Arabian Nights fantasy, albeit a slightly modernised one. Frankincense, spices, dates and antiques jostle for the limelight with electronic products. www.omanvisitors.com 13 Arabic Phrases ENGLISH PHRASES ARABIC TRANSLATED PHRASES Good Morning Good Evening Welcome How Are You? I’m Fine, Thanks! And You? Thank You Good Bye Excuse me I speak? I don’t speak Arabic There Zero One Two Four Coffee Tea Sorry How much is this Congratulations White Today Sabah El kheer Masaa El kheer Marhaban Kaifa Haloka/ Haloki ( female) Ana Bekhair, Shokran! Wa Ant? / Wa Anti? (female) Shokran Ma’a salama Lo TismaH Ana Atakallam ? Ma-Atakallam Arabi Hnak Sifr WaHid Idhnin Arba’a Qahwa Shaay Asef Bikam Hatha? Mabrook Abyad Al Youm 14 www.omanvisitors.com Find... at a finger of tips... Welcome to OMAN VISITORS PORTAL where you take a first step into Oman HOTELS BOOKING AIR TICKET BOOKING RENTAL CAR BOOKING SEA ACTIVATES RESERVATION BUS BOOKING MARHABA SERVICES AHLAN SERVICES YOUR FLIGHT INFORMATION TO OMAN WEEKLY NEWSLETTER E-CARD E-BROCHURES ONLINE SHOPPING REQUEST ITINERARIES TO OMAN SPECIAL OFFERS AND OTHERS www.omanvisitors.com 15