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Country Commercial Guides FY 1999:   Oman

CHAPTER IX - BUSINESS TRAVEL

     In Oman, as in other countries of the Middle East, business
transactions are characterized by the importance attached to
personal relationships.  Visits to Oman -- generally more than
one -- by authorized corporate representatives and intermediaries
are usually necessary for market penetration by foreign
companies, even after local representation has been established.

     Generally speaking, U.S. firms are latecomers to the Omani
market and face stiff competition from other established foreign
companies.  Omanis seek U.S. products and investment partners,
but typically say that they have difficulty attracting the
interest of U.S. firms new to the Omani market. The U.A.E., as
the largest transshipment point in the Gulf, has the biggest
share of Oman's market.  The Japanese have also captured a major
share of the market, independent of transshipment through Dub. 
The U.K. has long maintained close political and commercial
relations with Oman, but the British share of the market is
slowly dropping.  U.S. products have become better known in
recent years, and some inroads have been made.  U.S. firms
wishing to export to Oman must be prepared to satisfy Omani
concerns regarding price, shipping schedules, availability of
spare parts, and obvious American participation in the
relationship.  The Omani market is very price sensitive.  Oman's
electrical standard is 240V, 50Hz.  As in the U.S., vehicles
drive on the right side of the road. 

     In terms of business customs, while most leading businessmen
are accustomed to Western business practices, some still operate
along more traditional Arab lines.  (Note: There are a few
prominent women civil servants, but only recently has there been
an emergence of women business executives.)  A visit to the
office of an Omani businessman may involve some of the following
elements.  Appointments will sometimes not be made until after
the foreign businessman arrives in Oman.  Upon arriving for an
appointment, he may discover that others have appointments at the
same time or have arrived without one.   However, a visitor
should be on time, particularly for government appointments. 
Once the meeting begins, it may be interrupted by telephone
calls.  Coffee, tea, or soft drinks will probably be offered
(except during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan) and should be
accepted.  Politeness is highly valued; blunt statements should
be recast into constructive, balanced terms.  Visitors should
also be sensitive to hosts who break off a discussion for prayer
at noon and at sunset, which falls during business hours.  Devout
Muslims pray five times each day.  In dealing with one of the
many Omani executives educated in the U.K. or the United States,
there is little other than the "dishdasha" national dress worn by
the Omani that the visiting foreign business person will find
different from home.    

     Business representatives' who plan to visit Oman, should be
aware that entry into the country is strictly controlled.  All
entrants must obtain permission to enter, in the form of a visa
or "No Objection Certificate," in advance from the Omani
authorities, except those who are not permanent residents in
another EU State, for whom airport visas are available. 
Prospective visitors without such permission will either be
prevented from boarding an aircraft bound for Oman or will be
denied entry upon arrival at the airport and deported on the next
available flight.  

     Visitors must obtain a visa in advance from an Omani embassy
or consulate abroad, or arrange for an airport visa. Oman grants
U.S. citizens two year, multiple entry visas, $64 for business
visitors, $32 for tourists.  The airport visa alternative is
termed a "No Objection Certificate" (NOC).  Local hotels will
"sponsor" guests for NOC's.  Anyone arriving without a visa is
subject to deportation; however, expedited entry is available for
U.S. citizens resident in other GCC nations. The U.S. Embassy in
Muscat does not arrange visas or NOC's for visiting businessmen,
but it can help find sponsors for NOC's.  A multiple entry visa
is strongly recommended; however, not all Omani diplomatic
missions inform U.S. citizens of that option.  Four original
photos are required for the NOC; no photos are required for the
passport application.  Single women and young male tourists may
find their tourist applications rejected.

     Hotels are not permitted to pick up guests at the airport. 
Taxis are often not air conditioned.  Local business firms acting
as sponsors typically arrange to pick up visitors.  Western
visitors are unlikely to patronize the local, non-air conditioned
bus or collective taxi system in Muscat.  Outside of the capital
area, public transport is rarely found off main highways.    

     The major hotels patronized by western business visitors and
tourists in the Muscat area are as follows:  the Hyatt (a
five-star beach front property, opened in May 1998, close to the
U.S. Embassy, and with luxurious rooms and excellent
restaurants),  the Al Bustan Palace Hotel (five star, on the
beach, a "must see" site),  Muscat Intercontinental (convenient
to most ministries and on the beach); Sheraton (overlooking the
central business district, with complete business center
facilities);  Muscat Holiday Inn (particularly convenient to the
Ministries and growing Al Khuwair business area); Gulf Hotel
(possessing perhaps the best view overlooking the sea and a
variety of good restaurants); the Seeb (airport) and Ruwi
Novotels, and the renovated Mercure-Al Falaj in Ruwi.  In
Salalah, the Holiday Inn is favored by foreign visitors as the
only hotel with a liquor license; other hotels include the Hamdan
and the Haffa House.   By summer 1999, a Hilton Hotel now under
construction is expected to open in  Salalah, in close proximity
to Port Raysut.

     There are no Travel Warnings in effect for Oman.

The holidays for 1998 are: January 29-February 2 (Eid Al Fitr);
April 6-10 (Eid Al Adha); April 28 (Islamic New Year); July 6
(Birth of the Prophet); November 16  (Ascension Day); and
November 18-19 (National Day.  These dates are approximations. 
Muslim religious holidays are determined by locally observed
phases of the moon.  The actual date and duration of the National
Day holiday is announced shortly before the holiday is to take
place, and is usually about a week after the actual National Day.

     For further information on commercial matters, please
contact the American Embassy's Economic/Commercial Section.  The
U.S. mailing address is:

          U.S. Dept. of  State, Embassy  Muscat
          Attn.: Commercial Office
          Washington DC 20521-6220.

The international mailing address is: U.S. Embassy, Commercial
Office, P.O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos,
Sultanate of Oman; for courier services insisting on a street
address, use: Embassy Street, Al-Khuwair North. TEL: (968)
698989; FAX: (968) 604316.  The E-mail address is:
aemcteco@gto.net.om

     The official language of Oman is Arabic.  English is widely
spoken as a business language; Swahili, Farsi, Urdu, Baluchi, and
Hindi and other languages of south Asian are common.  Oman has
three national Arabic dailies.  Its two English papers are
published daily.  Radio Sultanate of Oman's FM English service
broadcasts 15 hours daily in Muscat, Salalah, and Thumrait. 
Except for governmental offices, most commercial building signs
and road signs are in Arabic and English.  Certain business
documents, such as company registration papers, must be in
Arabic.  There have been moves to require that all correspondence
with the Omani government be in Arabic; as of late 1998 this is
not enforced across the board, though putting documents in Arabic
will assist in speeding processing.    

     Oman has a modern infrastructure.  Modern roads provide
access to most of the country.  The General Telecommunications
Organization (GTO) operates a modern and efficient telephone
system.  Virtually all businesses have fax machines.  GSM phones
are widely used; roving arrangements already cover the GCC, the
UK., and some other countries.  International telephone access
cards cannot be used in Oman, nor can collect calls be made or
received.  International rates are very high -- $1.30 per minute
peak rate to Europe and the Western Hemisphere.   Since early
1997, GTO has provided the region's most economical Internet
service.  CompuServe access remains available via a British
Telephone/MCI connection.
  
     Food and water is generally quite good, particularly at the
major hotels.  Oman inspects restaurants to maintain hygienic
standards.  The use of bottled water is recommended, particularly
in the summer months.  Health care in Oman is adequate and there
are a number of Western or Western-educated health care providers
in the Muscat area.  Virtually all physicians are
English-speakers, with Indian nationals predominating.  Placement
for foreign medical personnel is very competitive.