Ministries and Government Establishments
Sunday to Thursday
7:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Fridays and Saturdays
Official Holidays
The Omani market has many strengths for potential investors including strong government investments in infrastructure, healthcare and education, no personal income tax, proximity to other Gulf markets and good connectivity by air to all major cities.
With an area of 309,500 sq. kms, Sultanate of Oman is the second largest country in the Arabian Peninsula. The Sultanate is bordered by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the west; the Republic of Yemen on the south; the Strait of Hormuz on the north and the Arabian Sea on the east.
Despite the significant progress in the diversification of the Sultanate's economy, it is still oil-based and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future. The Sultanate has a reputation for running a prudent economy. However, being oil-based, it is subject to the fluctuations of the world's oil market.
The population of Oman is currently estimated to be 2.3 million with 1.7 million of Omani origin and the rest being expatriates. Muscat itself has a population of 400,000.
The Omani Rial is divided into 1,000 Baizas.
RO 1/- = US$ 2.58. Currency notes are available in denominations of RO 50, 20, 10, 5, 1. Currency notes are also available in 100 baizas, 200 baizas, quarter and half Rial denominations.
The official language of the country is Arabic. English is also widely spoken and understood by the business community.
Like all the Arab countries, Arab Islamic culture dominates the style of life in the Sultanate. However, being an international market, other cultures of various countries are widely visible. Both men and women are expected to dress conservatively in public places.
It is a fasting month of Muslims and starts 10 days earlier each year according to the Gregorion calendar. During the day time Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and smoking. Therefore, eating, drinking and smoking in public is prohibited for all during Ramadan. Office timings are slightly changed to shorter working hours and business meetings are sometimes difficult to arrange.
The Sultanate of Oman is an Islamic country.
The State-owned bus company, ONTC, has the franchise to operate public services throughout the Sultanate. It also contracts out some of its fleet for short-term charters and tourism. It currently operates on some 28 routes, covering over 20 million km per year and has an annual replacement programme for its fleet with the most modern vehicles available.
Taxi services, run by the private sector, are also well developed and there is an excellent network of minibuses operating as 'service' taxis linking up the major centres of population.
Sunday to Thursday
7:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Fridays and Saturdays
Official Holidays
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Many private sector companies
work non-break shift schedules
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
4:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Except Muttrah Market
which closes at 7:30 PM
8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Except Fridays and Official Holidays
Hijra New Year | 1 day | 1st Moharrum |
Prophet's Birthday | 1 day | 12th Rabi-Al-Awai |
Isra and Meiraj | 1 day | 27th Rajab |
Eid Al-Fitr | 4 days | 1st-4th Shawal |
Eid Al-Adha | 3-5 days | 9th-13th Al-Hijjrah |
National Day | 2 days | 18th-19th November |
Weekly Day Off | 2 days | Friday and Saturday |
Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries | 24696300 |
Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs | 24696870 |
Ministry of Civil Service | 24696000 |
Ministry of Commerce & Industry | 24813500 |
Ministry of Education | 24775209 |
Ministry of Finance | 24738201 |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 24699500 |
Ministry of Health | 24602177 |
Ministry of Higher Education | 24693148 |
Ministry of Housing, Electricity & Water | 24693333 |
Ministry of Information | 24603222 |
Ministry of Interior | 24602244 |
Ministry of Justice | 24697699 |
Ministry of Legal Affairs | 24605802 |
Ministry of Manpower | 24813757 |
Ministry of National Economy | 24738201 |
Ministry of National Heritage & Culture | 24602555 |
Ministry of Oil & Gas | 24603333 |
Ministry of Regional Municipalities, Environment & Water Resources |
24692550 |
Ministry of Social Development | 24602444 |
Ministry of Transport & Communications | 24603800 |
Administrative Judiciary | 24812236 |
Central Bank of Oman | 24702222 |
Commercial Court | 24811210 |
Court of Appeal | 591540 |
Diwan of Royal Court, The palace - Salalah | 23290055 |
Diwan of Royal, The Palace - Muscat | 24738711 |
General Organization for Youth Sports & Cultural Activities | 24703299 |
Governorate of Muscat | 24798100 |
Institute of Public Administration | 24602252 |
Internal Security Service | 24406000 |
Majlis A'shura | 24510444 |
Muscat Municipality | 24704800 |
Muscat Security Market | 24812607 |
Office of the Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar | 23296555 |
Oman Chamber of Commerce & Industry | 24707684 |
Oman Establishment for press, News, Publication & Advertising | 24604477 |
Oman Telecomunication Company (S.A.O.G) | 24631000 |
Public Authority for Social Insurance | 24813757 |
Public Prosecution | 24694633 |
Royal Office | 24600631 |
State Council | 24699677 |
Sultan Qaboos University | 24413333 |
The National Organization for Scouts & Guides | 24592375 |
The Omani Centre for Investment, Promotion & Export Development |
24123447 |
A’Zubair House Museum Muscat | 24736688 |
Children Museum, Al Qurum | 24605368 |
National Museum, Ruwi | 24701289 |
Natural History Museum, Al Khuwair | 24604957 |
Oman French Museum, Muscat | 24736613 |
Oman Museum, Al Qurum | 24600946 |
Royal Army Museum, Bait Al Falaj | 24312646 |
Salalah Museum | 23294549 |
Sohar Fort Museum, Sohar | 26844758 |