Think twice.
Score capped: two or more governments advise against non-essential travel.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Oman
The advisories disagree by 2 level(s) — read all four before you decide who to trust.
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is illegal in Oman.
Online activity
Visiting gambling and adult websites is a crime in Oman.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Measles, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to Oman must obtain a visa prior to travel unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries.
Passport validity required: 6 months beyond entry.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Terrorist attacks in Oman cannot be ruled out. Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places visited by foreigners. Terrorists have threatened to carry out attacks in the Gulf region, including on: Residential compounds Military, oil, transport and aviation interests Public places, including restaurants, hotels, beaches, shopping centres and places of worship Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports, including official messaging from Oman’s Government Communication Centre , and follow the advice of the local authorities, including the Royal Oman Police . Examples of significant incidents include: in July 2024, 6 people were killed and others injured in a shooting incident in the vicinity of a mosque, in the Wadi Kabir area of Muscat.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Oman. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →Real talk
What travelers actually say
Travelers consistently describe Oman as an exceptionally safe destination, often citing it as significantly safer than the United States. There are no reports of violent crime, and visitors frequently encounter helpful, hospitable locals. The primary safety concerns are not criminal in nature but logistical; the country is not walkable, and pedestrians face dangerous conditions when attempting to cross multi-lane highways. Driving requires caution due to aggressive tailgating and strict traffic enforcement via cameras. While the country is peaceful, travelers should respect local customs by dressing modestly in historical sites and smaller towns. Otherwise, the environment is secure for solo travelers and groups alike, requiring no constant state of vigilance.
“Oman is ranked as one of the top safest countries in the whole world. It’s actually significantly safer than the US according to all global safety reports.
— r/travel
“Oman is not walkable (you might choose between 45 minute detours or Froggering a 6 lane highway).
— r/travel
“Safety: Absolutely no concern anywhere. Not a woman, so ymmv, but I saw nothing to suggest anything different for women, and I've heard tons of accounts confirming this anecdotally.
— r/travel
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
G · 240V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 9999 / ambulance: 9999 / fire: 9999
Cash vs. Card
The currency in Muscat is the Omani rial, denoted by the symbol "ريال" (ISO currency code OMR). Wikivoyage uses "RO" to remote the currency. One rial is made up of one thousand baisa (also written baiza, Arabic: بيسة). The Omani rial is tied to the US dollar at 1 rial = US$2.6008 making it one of the largest units of currency in the world; exchange rates on the streets are a percentage point or t
Zoom in
One Oman city on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- reddit — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09