About Oman
Located in the Arabian Peninsula, north of Yemen and south of the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman has a very strategic position in the Arabian Gulf.
Oman has an area of 309,500 square kilometers and a population of 2.8 million. Its time zone is GMT/UTC +4 and the local currency is the Omani Rial which is pegged and worth US$2.60. Major credit cards are accepted in all of the larger hotels and shops.
Upon arrival in Oman it is a good investment to purchase a pay-as-you-go SIM card attached to one of the two providers here – Omantel and Nawras. The country calling code is +968.
Government offices work a 5 day week, with Thursday and Friday being the official weekly ‘Holidays’. Shopping centres are usually open from 9.00am – 1.00pm and from 4.30pm – 9.30pm (Friday mornings closed).
Arabic is the primary language in the Sultanate but English is widely spoken. In public places women should wear clothes that cover their upper arms and legs to the knee and men should wear long trousers and shirts. A relaxed dress code operates within the hotels and resorts.
Electricity is 220/240V 50 HZ
Some useful Arabic phrases
As-salaam alaykum – Peace be with you (greeting)Wa alaykum as-salaam – And with you peace (reply)
Kayf halek ? How are you? (to a man)
Kayf halesh? How are you? (to a woman)
Al hamdu lillah, bikhair – Fine, thanks be to God
Zain - good. (another response)
Tammam - (and another)
Tayyib - (and another)
Sabah al khair - good morning
Sabah al noor - good morning (the response)
Misa al kayr - good evening
Misa ah noor - good evening (the response)
Ahlan wa sahlan - Welcome
Marhaba - Hello
Ma’salamah - Goodbye
Min fadlak - Please
Shukran – Thank you
Afwan – you’re welcome
Naam, iwa – Yes
La – No
Insha'llah - God willing ( or at such time as God desires)
Mafee mooshkalah - No problem
Wayn... - Where is ...
Hammam - bathroom or toilet
Funduq - hotel
Teksi - taxi or taxi stand
Mushtashfa - hospital
Souq - market
Telefon - Telephone
Bikam? - How much?
Yillah! - Lets go!
Sifr - Zero
Wahid - one
Itnain - Two
Talata - Three
Arbaa - Four
Khamsa - Five
Sita - Six
Saba - Seven
Tamania - Eight
Tisah - Nine
Ashara - Ten
Ashreen - Twenty
Talateen - Thirty
Arbien - Fourty
Kamseen - Fifty (etc.)
Mia - Hundred
Alf - Thousand