Sultan Qaboos University will assist in issuing visas to all participants coming from abroad to participate in the conference. 
Citizens from GCC countries do not need to apply for visas. To check eligibility and for more information, please visit the Royal Oman Police website

Omani Rial is the currency of Oman. The currency code for the rial is OMR. It has a fixed exchange rate of $2.59 per 1 OMR. Foreign currency can be exchanged at banks or at currency exchange counters (The opening hours are generally 8.30am to 4.30pm). Please visit the Currency Converter page.

Muscat is in Gulf Time Zone, UTC+04:00.

Arabic is the official language of Oman. Street names and generally most of the road and transport signs are in Arabic and English. All restaurants have menus in both Arabic and English. But if there is something you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask as Omani people are kind and will be happy to help you.

Oman has one of the most diverse environments in the Middle East with various tourist attractions and is particularly well known for cultural tourism. The capital of Oman, Muscat was named the second best city to visit in the world in 2012 by the travel guide publisher Lonely Planet. Muscat also was chosen as the Capital of Arab Tourism of 2012. Other than Muscat, Nizwa, Al-Hamra, Sur, Sohar, and Salaalah are the major Omani cities. Please visit the Oman Transport Site.

Frankincense is one of the most evocative expressions of Oman’s vibrant heritage and culture. Oman has gained historical and cultural importance through the frankincense trade since time immemorial. It is because of this trade that Oman has, for thousands of years, held strong trade and communication ties with people from a wide variety of cultures from all over the world. Please visit Ministry of Tourism, Oman

 

Oman generally has a hot climate like other Middle Eastern nations and receives little rainfall. Annual rainfall in Muscat averages 100 mm (3.9 in), falling mostly in January. The Dhofar region has a tropical-like climate and receives seasonal rainfall (from late June to late September) as a result of the monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean, saturated with cool moisture and heavy fog. The mountain is as receive considerably larger rainfall with annual rainfall on the higher parts of the Al Hajar mountain range exceeding 400 mm (15.7 in) on some occasions. Low temperatures in the mountainous areas result in snow cover once every few years. Please Visit 

Omani people are warm and welcoming. It’s not unusual to be invited into a local’s home after a day touring the mountains or walking through the local souk. It’s considered polite to take a small gift for your host.

When entering an Omani home, you’ll likely be greeted with the scents of frankincense and cardamom, and treated to Omani coffee, dates, and halwa – a local dessert made with saffron, dates, and rosewater. Coffee is served in small cups, which are refilled until the guest gives them a gentle shake to signal they’ve had enough.