Oman uses the rial as the standard base of currency. Each rial is divided into 100 baisa. Baisa are sometimes written as baiza as per Arabic.
The Omani rial was introduced as recently as 1973. Prior to this, the rial Saidi had been in use throughout Oman and this had been brought in after the Gulf rupee was withdrawn from circulation.
Coins in circulation are namely 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, ¼ rial omani and ½ rial omani.
Notes are circulated in denominations of 100 baisa, 200 baisa, ½ rial omani, 1 rial omani, 5 rial omani, 10 rial omani, 20 rial omani and 50 rial omani.
The Omani rial is a very strong unit of currency, fluctuating between being the 4th or 3rd highest valued currency in the world.
It is possible to obtain Omani rials before you travel to Oman. They can be purchased at a bank prior to travel, but you may need to order them beforehand, so that you get them before you leave the country.
In Oman you will probably find that although there are plenty of ATM machines in the capital, Muscat, they can be few and far between in other areas, particularly in the interior. When you arrive in Muscat, there is an ATM machine in the airport and most of the main towns will have an ATM machine. However, you should not assume that your card will be accepted in these machines and maybe prudent to check in advance, as to whether or not your card will be accepted.
Money exchange centres are also quite common and you can change money or travellers cheques at these centres.
If you want take cash in with you, then you were better to take it in US Dollars or British sterling. This can then be exchanged at any exchange centre.
Oman is a very safe country and crime rates are remarkably low. Theft is practically unheard of and the risk of being pick pocketed is extremely low. The main threat to your money will simply be the prices, since Oman and particularly Muscat is not a cheap place to visit.
The people of Oman generally welcome visitors and do their best to make them feel at home. It is a Muslim country and as such it is polite to respect this way of life. Women should not wear clothing which is very tight or revealing. Arms should also be covered, or at least the shoulders. Showing large amounts of flesh is considered rude. Necklines should also be quite high and low-cut tops should not be worn. Women will find that there may be occasions where they should cover their heads with a headscarf.
In Muscat, the capital city, people are generally much more liberal. But if you venture out into the interior, then you will find that people may look at you or children may point, if you are not dressed appropriately.
If you are visiting any site of religious significance, then women should always cover their heads.
Drinking is allowed in Oman and is available in hotels. However, you will not be able to buy bottles of alcohol to take away and alcohol for personal use, in the home, can only be bought by foreigners who have a licence for alcohol purchases.
It is illegal to drink and drive in Oman and if you are caught drinking and driving you will be placed in prison and you will probably have to pay quite a hefty fine. You may be imprisoned for several days or even some weeks, depending on the severity of the case. It is therefore, not worth the risk.
It is also illegal to drink in public and if you are caught drinking in public, again you'll be fined and possibly placed in prison. So you can only drink in a hotel bar or restaurant.
Alcohol tends to be quite expensive, partly to ensure that not everybody drinks.
Oman can become incredibly hot during the summer months, but it is actually quite hot all year round. Dehydration can easily take place, without you even being aware that you are dehydrating. Make sure that you always have drinking water with you and that you regularly top pop your water levels.
There are plenty of places to eat in Oman and the food on offer is quite varied and almost every conceivable cuisine is available in Muscat and the major towns. Eating at some of the more luxurious hotels can be quite expensive, but the quality of the food is extremely good. Many of these hotels will offer traditional fine dining, along with Omani cuisine, which will be cooked to a very high standard indeed.
Reasonably priced restaurants and eating-houses are also available, but these may be less safe for tourists or any one who has a stomach that can be easily upset.
Oman is a very interesting country to visit. It is a very wealthy country and the wealth is very readily apparent, particularly in Muscat.
Muscat can offer visitors some first class tourist facilities, due to its extensive range of extremely luxurious hotels. It is sometimes possible to use the facilities at the hotel, without actually staying there, if you are a Westerner. This can work out cheaper than staying at the hotel, but you will still pay for the privilege and it can be expensive to eat there, or even to hire a sunbed for the day.
Muscat is home to the third biggest mosque in the world, which is known as the Grand Mosque. Nearly all of it can be accessed by non Muslims, but women are advised that they must cover their heads and dress appropriately. Shoes also need to be removed before you go in.
One of the ways that you can identify or judge the wealth in Oman, is by looking at the chandelier in the mosque, which is made from genuine Swarovski crystal. This is also home to biggest hand-made Persian carpet in the entire world and again, this demonstrates the money available within the local economy.
The souk in Muscat is reputedly the best in the whole of the Persian Gulf. Here you will find some jewellery available and gold or silver, is an extremely good buy here. At first glance, it may not seem particularly cheap, however the quality is that the stunning and therefore it is very good value. Several of the shops in the souk will accept credit cards, but these are relatively few and far between, the main emphasis is on cash within this area.
But there is more to Oman than just Muscat. One thing that you should try to do in Oman is it out and about into the interior. Much of the interior is quite barren and in part covered by desert. One activity that is great fun, is to go 'Wadi Bashing' where you go off road in a 4 x 4 and simply get across the sand dunes, relying to a large extent on the expertise of your driver. If you do go wadi bashing, then it is always better to do so with an experienced guide. There have been instances where people have attempted to do this, but have become disorientated and dehydrated and consequently have run into quite serious problems. It may look like it is a very easy thing to do, but the reality is that it is quite difficult and so caution should be exercised.
Going into the interior, just to have a look at some of the little villages and even the mountains is a great way to really get to know the country. In some of the more remote villages, children will come out and look at the strangers, since they have not seen many people who are not Omani. Locals in these areas can often be quite friendly and tell you all about the local area and its history.
It is possible to use public transport to get out and about within Oman, but if you want to really explore the interior and travel independently, it may be worth hiring a car. Driving in Oman is relatively safe and the main problems are restricted to driving in Muscat. The problems in Muscat relate mainly to the sheer number of cars on the road and the congestion that ensues. Drivers generally are quite careful and they are also quite courteous. Often they will be particularly tolerant of Westerners and appreciate that you may be driving in a foreign country. Road signs are mainly in Arabic and English, so it is quite easy to find your way around.
Oman is a country that has been founded and developed on the basis of the revenue it has received from exporting oil. Yet unlike some of its neighbours, it is much more tolerant of Westerners and indeed much more welcoming towards Westerners, which makes it a very inviting place to visit. It is also very refreshing to find a Muslim country that is so proud of its associations with the West and which has a respect for the West, that can be lacking in some Muslim countries.
Oman allows tourism, but it is keen to ensure that tourism is controlled. It does not want to be overrun with foreign tourists, it wishes instead to allow a certain number of people to visit it each year. This exclusivity means that to a large extent, Oman remains largely undiscovered and indeed many in the UK do not even know where Oman is. To a great extent, this is actually a very good thing, because it allows visitors to continue to be something of a rarity and instead of becoming blasé about tourists and their presence, the Omani people remain genuinely delighted to welcome them. Given how jaded locals in some very touristy areas can become, this really does make a refreshing change for travellers.
So, for a holiday off the beaten track, which can offer a whole new perspective on life in a Muslim country, why not consider Oman?