Sultanate of Oman
Oman, a vast country in the Gulf region, is blessed with abundant natural beauty and happens to be the oldest independent state in the Arab world. Although modern in its approach, it is a country which believes in preserving its rich traditions and culture and gives a lot of importance to them. The country has a large expat population who enjoy a modern lifestyle.
This diversity in climate gives Oman’s winter a special summer sun-warmth across the country’s deserts and cities, a fresh humidity-free breeze with moderate temperatures in Jabal Akhdar, and seasonal wind, showers, rain, clouds, and a refreshing breeze in the Fall season in the Dhofar region.
The Omani people are friendly and hospitable. Although Arabic is their main language, English is spoken widely. Despite their affable nature, the Omanis are quite conservative. They value their privacy and in particular, hold their religion in the highest regard, expecting due respect for their faith. Modesty is the keyword with regards to clothing. Omani women wear long garments called Abayat, ensuring that they are covered from head to toe and they wear scarves called Lahaf to cover their heads. The men wear long ankle length robes called ‘Dishdasha’ and handmade decorated caps called ‘Qum-ma’. On formal occasions, they wear a turban called ‘Mussar’.
During the holy month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast during the daylight hours. Visitors to the country should remember that eating, drinking, and smoking in public are not allowed during that time.
Interesting Facts about Oman:
- The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in the capital city of Muscat, is home to the second largest hand woven carpet in the world. It contains 1,700,000,000 knots and took 4 years to complete.
- The Muttrah Souq is perhaps one of the oldest marketplaces in the Arab world. It was named as Al Dhalam (Darkness in Arabic) souq because of the crowded stalls and alleys where the sun-rays could not infiltrate during the day and the shoppers needed lamps to reach their destinations.
- Amouage: is an Oman based luxury perfume brand which has been perfecting the art of creating perfumes for the last 35 years. They are known worldwide with outlets in the UK and Italy.
To know more about life in OMAN please visit the link below:
https://bit.ly/2IwXuw4
Top 8 things to see and do in Oman
1. Sea trips
2. Mountaineering
3. Relaxing in the sand
4. Horse & Camel Riding
5. Football at the beach, sand, and parks etc.
6. Sand crossing
7. Desert camping
8. Diving
The Muscat Experience:
The International Office organizes a day tour of the capital city covering the most popular tourist attractions. This will be a cost-effective way for you to get a quick glimpse of the city. This programme is offered to you if you are traveling to Oman for the first time. The aim is to show you the culture of Oman and also meet other students and socialize. You will be able to find out more about this programme through the International Office after your arrival.