Oman
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.
Sites with usefull information about Oman:
www.omaninfo.com
Many sources of information on tourism, business and government.
www.pdo.co.om
A guide to the various regions of Oman, by Petroleum Development Oman.
The English daily newspapers published in Oman:
www.omanobserver.com
Oman Observer
www.timesofoman.com
Times Of Oman
www.outpostexpat.nl
A website operated by Shell, that offers a wealth of information of interest to expatriates.
www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/om.htm
See how hot it is today in Oman
About Oman
| 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) |
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, Saturday
Government offices:
7am-2.30pm, Saturday to Wednesday.
