Oman - Business TravelOman - Travel
Business Customs
While most Omani businesspersons are accustomed to western business practices, some still operate along more traditional lines. A visit to Oman may involve the following: appointments will sometimes not be made until after the foreign businessperson arrives in Oman; upon arriving for an appointment, s/he may discover that others have appointments at the same time, or have arrived without one. However, a visitor should be on time, particularly for government appointments. Once the meeting begins, it may be interrupted by telephone calls. Politeness is highly valued; blunt statements should be recast into constructive, balanced terms. Devout Muslims pray five times every day; visitors should be sensitive to hosts who break off a discussion for prayer at noon, which falls during business hours. In dealing with one of the many Omani executives educated in the UK or the United States, there is little other than the national dress worn by Omanis that a visiting businessperson might find different from home. English is very widely spoken, particularly in the capital area.
Coffee, tea, or soft drinks will probably be offered (except during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when it would be impolite to expose Omani counterparts to open food), and should be accepted. It is customary for a guest to have one cup of Arabic coffee and a teaspoon-sized portion of halwa, a gelatinous sweet. If spoons are provided, the guest uses the spoon to scoop a small portion from the bowl or platter to eat. If a guest wants a second scoop, it is acceptable to use the same spoon to take another portion. If spoons are not provided, the guest will use the thumb and two forefingers of the right hand to scoop a piece of halwa from the bowl or platter. A server may then bring water and a towel hand washing. This may also be followed by an offer of rosewater which is poured onto the open palm for the guest to rub into their hands. Arabic coffee is poured into a small cup and offered to the guest for immediate consumption. The server will stand by to pour a second cup. If the guest does not wish for his cup to be refilled, s/he should shake the empty cup to indicate s/he is finished.On formal occasions, frankincense may also be brought into the room and held in front of the guest for a few seconds to allow the guest to wave some of the smoky vapors onto themselves. After each guest has had the opportunity, the frankincense will be taken out of the room.
Ramadan Protocols:
The holy month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, during which all Muslims must observe a fast by abstaining from eating and drinking between dawn and dusk. The Sultanate of Oman has formulated regulations to be followed during the holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan working hours:
- Royal Decree No. 113 of 2011, amended Article 68 of the Labour Law (promulgated by RD No. 35 of 2003), reduced the maximum working hours during Ramadan to not more than six hours a day or 30 hours a week for all Muslim workers.
- The Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court and Chairman of the Civil Service Council reduced official working hours at ministries, public authorities, and other departments of the state's administrative apparatus to 5 hours per day, i.e. from 9am to 2pm, during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
- The working hours in the private sector during the Holy Month of Ramadan are reduced to six hours per day and (30) hours per week, according to a ministerial decision issued by the Ministry of Manpower.
- According to the Central Bank of Oman, official working hours for all licensed Banks in the Sultanate of Oman during the holy month of Ramadan are from 9 am to 1 pm.
- Drinking and eating in public during the holy month of Ramadan is considered discourteous in Oman. All restaurants and cafes are closed during the day and they re-open only after sunset. Non-Muslims should refrain from smoking, eating, or drinking water and other beverages in public places during the hours between dusk and dawn.
- It is advisable for Non-Muslim employees to eat food/drink water or other beverages discreetly, at their desks, out of sight of Muslim employees or in a canteen, in a separate designated room, or at their homes. No food or drink should be provided during meetings. Muslim employees should not be required to attend business lunches during Ramadan.
- Employers should ensure that business meetings and training sessions for Muslim employees are shortened or postponed until after Ramadan.
- During the holy month of Ramadan, Non-Muslims should adhere to modest dress code and their behavior should be empathetic and courteous towards the Muslims in general.
- Companies operating during non-conventional working hours, such as shift working, should make provision for suitable breaks for Muslim employees to enable them to take their meal at the time of Suhoor and Iftar.
Travel Advisory
In April 2018, the U.S Embassy issued a travel advisory on the Saudi Arabia and Yemen border areas.Visa Requirements
See the Government of Oman’s website for visa information. A valid passport and visa are required for entry into Oman.U.S. citizens are encouraged to apply for tourist visas in advance via the Royal Oman Police E-Visa website. The current list of visa types and a schedule of fees are available at the Royal Oman Police website.
Please note that the U.S. Embassy in Muscat does not arrange visas for visiting businesspersons. Other categories of short-term visit/business/work contract visas are available, but these must be arranged in advance through an Omani sponsor.
Self-sponsorship through an Investors Visa is available for a minimum OMR 250,000 (USD 650,000) capital investment, and provides for two years of residency. Pursuant to a free trade agreement (FTA) concluded between the U.S. and Oman, U.S. persons may form an entity in Oman without a local partner, provided that all the shareholders are U.S. persons. The minimum share capital for LLCs with local or GCC ownership, or for those qualifying under the US FTA is OMR 20,000 (USD 52,000). According to Embassy contacts, capital requirements for certain grades of companies have been waived, but it is advisable to reconfirm this with the Omani Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
For further information on obtaining a visa to visit Oman, visit the Royal Oman Police website, or contact the Embassy of Oman in Washington D.C. at (202) 387-1980 for the most current business-visa information.
Currency
The Omani rial is fully convertible and is pegged to the U.S dollar (1 OMR = USD 2.60).
Telecommunications/Electronics
Omantel and Ooredoo operate a relatively modern and efficient telephone system. (See Chapter 4 for more detail.) Virtually all businesses use fax machines, and official e-mail correspondence is becoming more common. Mobile (GSM) phones are widely used; roaming arrangements cover the GCC, the U.S., the UK, and European countries. The networks for GSMs are operated by the telecommunications providers in Oman, Ooredoo and Omantel, although other competitors, Friendi, Renna, Mazoon Mobile, Samatel, and Injaz Mobile have recently entered the market. Omantel, Ooredoo and AWASR also provide broadband Internet services.
Transportation
Western visitors rarely patronize the local, non-air conditioned bus or collective taxi system in Muscat, though this is not recommended for unaccompanied women. Outside of the capital area, public transport is rarely found off main highways. Taxis are ubiquitous throughout urban areas. Customers are advised to negotiate the fare before entering the taxi and ask a trusted local regarding pricing for the distance travelled. In 2018, the Oman National Transport Company (ONTC) rebranded as ‘Mwasalat’, introduced its new fleet of buses, which have become popular in the Muscat city area and have started routes and services to major cities. There are many international rental car companies active in Oman, and their counters can be found upon arrival at the international airport.
Language
The official language of Oman is Arabic. English is widely spoken as the language of business and higher education; Swahili, Farsi, Urdu, Baluchi, Hindi, and various languages of South Asia are common.
Health
Sanitary standards for food and water are generally quite good, particularly at major hotels. The Omani government inspects restaurants to maintain hygienic standards. The use of bottled water is recommended in the summer months. Health care in Oman is adequate and there are a number of Western or Western-educated health care providers in the Muscat area.
Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays
Local Time: Oman is four hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime and eight hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time (EDT); as Oman does not observe daylight savings time, during winter months it is nine hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST).
These are the Public Holidays for 2018.
Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings
The United States-Oman FTA provides for temporary admission of goods under Chapter 3, Market Access. Duty-free treatment shall be granted for temporary admission of the following list of goods:- professional equipment, including equipment for the press or television, software, and broadcasting and cinematographic equipment, necessary for carrying out the business activity, trade, or profession of a person who qualifies for temporary entry pursuant to the laws of the importing party;
- goods intended for display or demonstration;
- commercial samples and advertising films and recordings; or
- goods imported for sports purposes.