Oman Local Customs

 
by Ewingjr98
 
  •   Local Customs
    by Ewingjr98
  •   Local Customs
    by Ewingjr98
  •   Local Customs
    by Ewingjr98
  •   Local Customs
    by Ewingjr98
  • 5 baisa coin
      5 baisa coin
    by Ewingjr98
 
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Dress Code

by JohnniOmani

Oman is an extremely religious and conservative society. They follow a conservative branch of Islam called Ibadi Islam thus making them dedicated followers of their religion. The dress code should be at all times shorts below the knee and t shirts at best for men with women wearing baggy pants and quarter length shirts. Outside Sohar, Muscat and Sur men shouldnt wear shorts and women shouldnt wear t shirts or shorts despite what the ignorant British expat Oil workers say or do. I have lived in this country in a very very conservative town and I have tried my best to respect the culture the best I could and I have been rewarded with countless friendships. My biggest pain is going to Muscat etc and seeing people dressed in shorts and tank tops.It irritates me sooo much because Omanis are too damn friendly to be rude. Point? You are in an Islamic country with a conservative branch of Islam...

Round water container

by victorwkf

In ancient Oman, the container for water was round as shown in this photograph. It was normally tied to a rope and hang onto somewhere. When a person needed to drink, he just need to hold the container and pour the water. Interesting indeed :)

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The bed in the fort

by victorwkf

When you visit the forts in Oman, you will discover only the ruler of the fort got to sleep in a bed! All the other people, including his family and guests have to sleep on mats. Unlike in other countries, the bed of the ruler usually look very simple.

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White colour & height of buildings

by victorwkf

Due to religion, you will notice that most of the buildings and houses in Oman are of white colour. In fact, certain areas of Muscat (e.g. the luxurious Al Khuwair suburb) only allows houses of white colour to be built. Also, the buildings and houses are not tall because Oman has lots of land, and the highest building in Oman is apparently the Sheraton Hotel which is probably about 20 storeys high !

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Man & Camel

by victorwkf

The camel is the most important animal in Oman. This is because life in the desert depends largely on the camel for food, transportation, camel milk etc. Some children in the desert have been drinking camel milk all their life and have never even tasted water before ! The camel is man's best friend in this part of the world :)

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The Bedouins

by victorwkf

The Bedouins are the desert nomadic people and there are still many Bedouins living in the deserts of Oman. I have a chance to visit a Bedouin family who is close friend to my Omani guide and it was really a very good experience into the culture of these people.

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Forts in Oman

by victorwkf

Why are there more than 500 forts in Oman? The reason is because Oman used to be ruled by many different tribes and the forts (together with its watch towers surrounding the area) are a means of protecting the various towns from enemy attacks. Some of these forts remain till today and the ones in Jabrin, Nizwa, Bahla and Nakhl are the mosr famous. It seems that almost every town in Oman has a fort.

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Cemeteries in Oman

by victorwkf

Unlike many other cultures, Islam believes in simple burial for the dead and therefore the tombs in Oman are very simple. Normally, only a pile of rocks is used to mark the location of the burial. In the older era, tombs such as the one shown in the photo is common, but now many of them are being removed. There are 1-2 remaining near to the coastal ruins of Qalhat and some remaining in Bat located in the Western Hajar Mountains.

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Way of life in Oman

by victorwkf

Contrary to believe, Oman is a very safe and modern country with some of the most friendly people you will ever find. Despite modernisation, Oman is still a very traditional country where people wear traditional costumes and islamic way of life is very dominant. Oman is more liberal towards women than some other countries in Arabia, and women in Oman can work, drive vehicles, go shopping and even become a Minister (the Minister for Tourism is a woman).

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Watch towers

by victorwkf

There are many ancient watch towers in Oman from the coast to the inland areas. These watch towers were used as sentry posts to warn of enemy attacks on the various towns during the era when Oman was divided into many different tribes. Usually, there is a fort in the town area surrounded by these watch towers.

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Local traditions and culture in Oman

Top 3 Hotels in Oman

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Sur Beach Hotel  Sur

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Reviews and photos of Oman attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Oman sightseeing.

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Local Customs: Cities in Oman
  1. Muscat Local Customs
  2. Salalah Local Customs
  3. Nakhl Local Customs
  4. Al Hamra' Local Customs
  5. Rustaq Local Customs
  6. Al Buraymi Local Customs

More Cities in Oman

 

Popular Regions in Oman

Mintaqat Masqat Local Customs  Muhafazat Zufar Local Customs  Muhafazat Musandam Local Customs  Al Mintaqah ash Sharqiyah Local Customs 

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Questions and Answers

JOSERAMON6D profile photo

Q:  who could inform me about a really good local travel agency or tour operator in oman, in order to book with them a 15 days round... 

lynnehamman profile photo

A: I recommend Nomad Tours in Oman. We stayed at Nomad Guest House in Muscat- it was excellent, and Lorna (the owner) can organize any tour that you might like to... 

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