.......Oman
  

 

Country | Geography | Climate | Business
 

From our hilltop site in a suburb of Muscat, the capital of Oman, the British School enjoys views of the Gulf of Oman and the towering copper mountains, and we take full advantage of these natural amenities and the wonderful weather of the Middle East.

There are a number of web sites about Oman - a country that remains something of a mystery to many people, but has been described as the hidden jewel of Arabia.
This page provides links to a selection of these sites:
   
The two English daily newspapers published in Oman.
   
Country :
•  
Capital :
Muscat
•  
Area :
309,500 sq. km, with 3,165km of coastline
•  
Population :
2.33 million
•  
Official Language :
Arabic
(English widely used)
•  
Religion :
Islam
•  
Time :
4 hrs ahead of GMT
•  
Currency :
Rial Omani=US$2.58
(US$1 = R.O. 0.387)
•  
Climate :
Summer - 31-45°C;
Winter - 20-25°C
 
Geography

The Sultanate of Oman borders Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the West; the Republic of Yemen in the South; the Gulf of Oman in the North and the Arabian Sea in the East.

Oman's terrain has a varied topography, with plains, desert, mountain ranges and wadis. The rock matter is predominantly sedimentary and is rich in metallic mineral deposits, like copper, chromite and gold.

The two main mountain ranges are the Hajar range, running from Musandam to Ras al Hadd; and the Qara range in Dhofar, which attracts the light monsoon rains during the mid-summer months (July - Sept).

Around 82% of Oman consists of desert. There are several islands located in Oman's waters, the largest of which is Masirah in the southeast which is accessed by boat and plane.
 

Climate :
Hot and humid in Summer (June 31-45° Centigrade)
Pleasantly cool in Winter (January 20-25° Centigrade)
The climate differs from one area to another. It is hot and humid in the Coastal areas in summer; while it is hot and dry in the Interior with the exception of the higher mountains, which enjoy a moderate climate throughout the year. Rainfall is generally light and irregular; although heavy rains and thunderstorms can cause severe flooding.
Summer (May - September)
Days
Nights
Coastal
25-49°C
(78-120°F)
19-32°C
(67-89°F)
Interior
18-50°C
(64-123°F)
11-35°C
(52-95°F)
Winter (October - April)
Days
Nights
Coastal
16-41°C
(61-106°F)
11-22°C
(52-71°F)
Interior
8-44°C
(46-111°F)
2-19°C
(36-66°F)
Average temperatures for the North of Oman are 32-48°C from May to September; 26-36°C from October to April. Due to the monsoon season, June to September, Dhofar in the South of the country maintains a fairly steady year-round temperature of around 30-35°C.

Dhofar is transformed after the rains into a lush landscape of green fields and verdant vegetation. Average rainfall in Muscat is 75mm. In the Jebel al Akhdar region, average rainfall can be from 250mm-400mm. The monsoon season in Dhofar can bring rainfall of between 100-400mm.
Business Hours :
•  
The work week begins on a Saturday, with Thursday and Friday making up the weekend - Friday being the day of rest.
•  
Private sector businesses : 8am-1pm, 4-7pm, except Friday.
•  
Shopping centres : 9am-1pm, 4.30-9.30pm.
•  
Banking services : 8am-12pm, except Friday.
•  
Government offices : 7am-2.30pm, Saturday to Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Helpful Links