Jebal Misht

• Sultanate of Oman is the countries official name.
• It is located in the Middle East, near Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates.
• Oman has a coastline 1700 km long along the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf.
• Omani cuisine is a mixture of Arabic, Lebanese, Turkish and Indian influences.
• The national language is Arabic. However, most Omanis speak fairly good English as well.
• The national flag is red, white, and green.

HISTORY

• Oman gained Independence from the Portuguese empire in 1651.
• Oman joined the League of Arab States and the United Nations in 1971.

FACTS

Swimming Pool

• Every two years in Oman, UNESCO awards one Omani person the “Sultan of Oman” award for contribution to the environment.
• English, Baluci, Urdu and Hindi are also spoken in Oman.
• Arab, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lanken and Bangladeshi are the most common ethnic groups in Oman. The minorities are Iranian, Egyptian, Somali and others.
• Ibadi Muslim is the official religion. Other religions practiced in the area include Shia and Sunni Muslim, Hinduism and Christianity.
• Oman used to be one of the richest countries in the world because of their incense trade.
• The country is known for breeding Arab horses.

Grand Mosque

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King

• Ask permission before photographing persons or property. Do not take photographs in an area where No Photography signs exist.
• Oman is known to be fairly safe and serious crime is very rare.
• Royal Oman Police are a respectable and honest law enforcement group.
• Driving in Oman can be dangerous; Locals tend to drive very fast and pass carelessly. Often at night, locals do not use their headlights.
• Camels have a habit of walking on the road, regardless of the vehicles, and are known to cause accidents which may even be fatal for the driver.

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Muttrah Corniche at dusk, Muscat

• Oman is very hot, with temperatures reaching 54°C in the hottest months (May-September).
• Mountainous areas have frequent rainfall, while coastal areas may get no rain at all.
• Winters are cool and pleasurable, summers are hot and humid.
• The most suitable climate for travel to Oman is late September to early April.

Nakhal Fort and Mountains

Jebel Akhdar

• “The Green Mountain”
• Famous for rose water extraction, pomegranate, apricot, peach and walnut.
• It is the highest point in Oman and the whole of eastern Arabia.
• At higher altitudes the mountain receives around 300 mm (12 in) of precipitation annually, moist enough to allow the growth of shrubs and trees and support agriculture. It is this that gives the mountains their ‘green’ name.

Hajjar Mountains

• Located in Northeastern Oman, and also the Eastern United Arab Emirates
• They are the highest mountain range in the Eastern Arabian peninsula
• They separate the low coastal plain of Oman from the high desert plateau
• The Hajjar Mountains rise behind Nakhal Fort.

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Nakhal Fort

• 1000 year old restored fort believed to be pre-Islamic
• Located in the Al Batinah Region
• This fort’s architecture does not follow a particular pattern, as it was designed around an irregularly shaped rock.

Caves

• Caves in Oman are of varying types and lengths, sizes and geographic formations, and annually attract to Oman large numbers of speleologists.

Rock Garden

• The Rock Garden lies in Wilayt AdDuqm in the AlWasta Region (the central region)
• It is a vast area of strange art forms, naturally sculpted from rocks

AthThawarah Spring

• A collection of hot springs
• They pour forth all year round from Silud Mountain and flow from the valley for a distance of 300 meters

Communication Etiquette:
• A light handshake is customs between members of the same gender
– Men greeting women there is little to no touching at all
• They tend to favor a indirect style of communication
– Avoid confrontation
– Expect periods of silence during conversations
• They will often stand less than an arm’s length
– Fair amount of touching between men during conversation – sign of close friendship
– Men and women do not touch in public
• Plan schedules around their prayer
– Punctuality is appreciated
• Male dominant culture
• Always pass things with your right hand
• Thumbs up signals “I approve”
• Status is an important part of the Omani society
• Family and friends come before anything

Business Etiquette:
• Strong Islamic Influence
– Most companies have a strong hierarchy
• Relationships and trust are essential for any business success
– Spend time in small talk
– Make sure your relationship continues to develop
– Take time to take your counterpart out for dinner
• Business cards are common but not necessarily essential
• Address them with their appropriate titles