Driving in Oman: 29 Tips from 20,000 Kilometres on (and off) the Road
Scribbled by Claire ⬩ 10 Aug 2026
Wondering if you should self-drive in Oman or just book tours? We think you should definitely drive! Here’s the low-down on what exactly to expect, from checkpoints and camels; rules and regulations; to gas and navigation. Plus lots more to help you prepare for your trip.
We’ve driven over 20,000 kilometres around Oman: on paved highways, through rough wadis, over sketchy mountain passes, to the Yemeni border and, once, into a questionable river we definitely should not have been in.
The thing is, we arrived in Muscat on our first trip to Oman with no plan or idea what to expect, having booked our flight and rental car just a few days before. It felt risky and unknown, and we were (uncharacteristically) a bit on edge.
My ‘edgy-ness’ was thoroughly unwarranted, though. That first incredible road trip led to me booking three more, and Oman is still my favourite country to drive in, out of everywhere we’ve been since. It’s one of those places we’ll be returning to forever.
So, whether you fancy exploring ancient villages, trekking through dramatic mountain ranges, or chilling on empty beaches, I promise that a road trip through Oman is the simplest, yet most exhilarating, way to get around.
This guide contains 29 things we picked up along our journeys: what you need to rent a car, whether you need a 4WD, how the police and army checkpoints work, what the roads and other drivers are like, and a few anecdotes (my first experience of canned of hummus from a ferry port in central Oman is a weird one to have banked in my memories, but there you are).
If you’re on the fence about self-driving in Oman, I hope this post helps settle any nerves or questions you have.
IN THIS GUIDE //
On the Road in Oman
Why Drive in Oman?
Part 1: Renting a Vehicle
– What rental companies does Oman have?
– Quick things to know about rentals
– Do you need an IDP in Oman?
– Do you need a 4WD in Oman?
– How expensive is car rental?
– Do You need rental insurance?
– Do You need a 4WD for Jebel Akhdar?
Part 2: Getting Around
– What side of the road does Oman use?
– What are the best navigational tools?
– Gas Stations
Part 3: Oman Traffic Rules
– Road signs
– Does Oman have speed cameras?
– Car speed restrictions (the beep)
– Oman’s sneaky speedbumps
– Parking and parking fees
– Alcohol driving limits
– Clean your car
– Police and army checkpoints
– Other rules and laws
Part 4: Is it Safe to Drive in Oman?
– Wildlife on the road
– Driving at night
– Flooding
– Car supplies and safety
Part 5: Is Driving in Oman Difficult?
– What are the roads like in Oman?
– Unpaved roads in Oman
– What are Omani drivers like?
– Driving in cities
– Desert_driving
– Mirages!
Where to Next?
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Why Drive in Oman?
I truly believe that the best way to get the most out of your visit to Oman is by self-driving.
Below are just a few reasons why I think driving in Oman is such a fantastic idea:
⬩ Oman has minimal public transport outside the major cities.
⬩ The country’s best bits are rural: wadis, forts, mudbrick villages, mountains, deserts.
⬩ Oman’s road network is high quality.
⬩ Self-driving is the most affordable way of getting around (outside of hitch-hiking).
⬩ Renting a car provides flexibility to explore independently.
⬩ Gas is exceptionally affordable.
⬩ Oman has a driving culture – the country is designed for cars.
⬩ It is straightforward for English speakers.
AT A GLANCE
SIDE OF THE ROAD: right
UNITS: kilometres, litres
MAX SPEED LIMIT: 120 kilometres/hour
GAS STATIONS: attended
GAS COST: about US$0.61 a litre
ROAD SIGNS: Arabic and English
PARKING: almost always free, even in cities
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RELATED: | 17 EPIC WILD CAMP SITES IN OMAN
WANT SOME OMAN INSPIRATION?
Explore some wadis:
Take a look at our 13 favourite wadis
Hike Oman’s favourite Wadi Shab
Live in a fairytale at the Wadi Damm pools
Drive through rivers at Wadi Dayqah
Explore the quirky white pools of Wadi Abyad
or the magnificent waterfalls of Wadi Darbat
Explore the towns and mountains:
Feel intrepid on an Oman offroad mountains itinerary
Discover what dramatic means with this Salalah itinerary
See some offbeat spots around Sur
Explore Oman’s cultural heart in Nizwa
Max out your time with these Muscat day trip ideas
Check out Muscat’s best viewpoints
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Part 1: Renting a Vehicle in Oman
1. What Rental Car Companies are there in Oman?
There are all the usual international car rental companies in Oman, most of which are conveniently located directly within the international airport at Muscat with 24 hour pick-up. There are companies, like Sixt, Alamo, Enterprise, Budget, and more.
The cars we rented (from several different companies) were perfect for everything we needed them for and were much cheaper than from specialist outfitters (who quoted us the exact same cars for double the price).
All our car reservations were with Discover Cars, who were easy to use and well-priced. We trust them because they paid a large insurance claim we made within three days (although it was not for an incident in Oman, but in Italy, because Italian roads, you know?).
Find out more about why we love them.
We’ve always found the best car rental prices for Oman on DiscoverCars. It’s our go-to car comparison website for every road trip because they have such good insurance. You can save loads of money and get great-priced comprehensive coverage.
2. Quick Things to Know About Oman Rentals
Renting a vehicle in Oman is simple, with a process typical of most other countries.
A few things we have learnt about Omani rentals:
2.1 Rental Mileage Limits
Rentals in Oman can come with a mileage limit, commonly 200—300 kilometres per day.
These can sometimes mean more affordable rates (but not always!). Taking this option might be an idea if you don’t drive to Salalah – just be aware of any potential additional costs.
The companies have a surcharge per kilometre for going over. You’ll usually be charged between UK £7-10/3.5-5 OMR per 100 kilometres above your limit.
Keep any eye out for the terms: they should be obvious on your rental company conditions (companies like Discover Cars make it really clear).
2.2 Borders
If you are planning on driving into another country, such as the United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia, then check the car rental requirements for this.
Currently, in 2026, border crossings with some rental car companies are allowed for non-residents of Oman, but you will require a NOC – a certificate from your rental company, plus insurance.
2.3 Hassle and Scams
We’ve never had any drama with car rental companies in Oman, in fact it’s been quite the opposite.
There’s never been any suggestion of charges for damage or pushes to get unnecessary car insurance (we always use the one provided by Discover Cars). We actually don’t even take photos or videos of the car on pick-up after we’ve checked it over with the attendant (I know people recommend doing it but I just don’t feel any need to, unlike certain other nearby countries).
Also, we absolutely push our cars to the limit and have never been charged for the small, inevitable scratches from off road jaunts and getting stuck in rivers.
3. Do You Need an International Driving Permit in Oman?
No, for the first six weeks, you do not need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to legally drive in Oman, for any nationality (although if your license is in a language other than Arabic or English, it’s best to bring a translation).
Although we have never been asked for an IDP when renting a car in Oman, some rental car companies may ask for one (this has happened to people in the past few years, but I cannot verify their nationalities).
Oman recognises both the 1949 and 1968 IDP.
4. Do You Need a Four-Wheel Drive Car in Oman?
No, you definitely do not need a four-wheel drive (4WD or 4×4) vehicle for a road trip in Oman.
The Sultanate has high quality paved roads that link all major locations across the country. However, it really depends on your style of trip and where you would like to visit.
4.1. Two-Wheel Drive
Many popular sites including the forts, villages, and markets can be visited without a four-wheel drive. Routes between major cities and towns are all paved, so a standard car is an excellent and affordable way to get around.
If you only spend one week in Oman and want to see the main sites, a 2WD car will do fine!
4.2. Four-Wheel Drive
If you want to venture off road in Oman and drive along beaches, traverse sand dunes, head over high mountain passes or explore the multitude of wadis, then you will need a four-wheel drive car.
A camping trip around Oman would also be hugely enhanced by a four-wheel drive vehicle and will enable you to reach the most scenic and private camp sites.
Even though 4WD cars cost more than a 2WD (sometimes more than double the price), we absolutely recommend one if you’re considering a super-rogue wild camping adventure in Oman.
WHAT IF I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A 4WD CAR?
Depending on your home country, it’s possible that you may have never driven an off road/4WD car.
In the UK, for example, cars like this are rare. In contrast, for drivers in Oman or the USA, off-roading is very common!
However, it is generally simple. You have 2WD, 4WD low and 4WD high modes to choose from:
2WD: this is self-explanatory and you use this whenever you’re driving on normal paved roads, gravel roads or anything that doesn’t require additional traction!
4WD high: this is for when you need more traction but are driving at moderately high speeds (over 25 km/hr), for example when you are driving up a steep uneven hill.
4WD low: this is for when you really need a bit of grip and are going slowly (traversing large obstacles, rivers, wadis, and sand dunes).
Manual: it’s occasionally useful to manually choose your gears (so if you know how to drive a manual transmission, you’re in luck). If you don’t, it’s worth at least understanding when first gear might help you get up a very steep hill, for example. These cars don’t have a clutch, so it’s like driving a semi-automatic, which is straightforward.
When you pick up your car, you can have a go with the various settings. The feel of the car changes – spend a bit of time understanding the options. Oh, and check the driving manual if needed.
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5. How Expensive is Car Rental in Oman?
The cost of renting cars in Oman varies depending on season and how long in advance you book (as with most other countries!). Below are some representative 2026 prices:
Standard 2WD car: per day, a small, two wheel drive vehicle will cost upwards of 8-10 OMR. Sometimes they can even go slightly lower, which makes them a fantastic choice for a budget trip.
Off road capable 4WD car: per day, a large, off road capable four wheel drive vehicle will cost around 30-60 OMR. The upper end of the range is going to be if you reserve much nearer to your pick up date, usually.
Our experience: we have paid varying amounts over the past five years, but for a 4WD it has varied from around 25-45 OMR a day for a larger car (for one month at a time).
6. Do You Need Car Rental Insurance?
It’s the age old question isn’t it – do you take the risk, or not?
Miraculously, we’ve never had a single incident in Oman that necessitated using our insurance, yet we always get it anyway.
We have, however, had to claim in several other countries, like Italy and the United States. These claims were from incidents that were not our fault (mostly).
Consider things like: someone backing into you in a car park, a motorbike knocking off your wing mirror while you are stationary, a rogue bit of gravel destroying your windscreen, getting stuck in a flash flood, or literally wedging your car in a miniscule Italian street (slightly our fault).
I figure that random stuff can happen anywhere, and I don’t want to pay for damage that somebody else does to my car, so we get insurance – everywhere.
The rental insurance we get through Discover Cars has always paid out straight away, with no fuss or drama. They’re pretty nice, and I really like them a lot. Even when their prices are slightly higher, which isn’t often, we use them anyway.
7. Do you need a 4WD to drive up Jebel Akhdar?
Yes, it is an official requirement that you have a four-wheel drive vehicle to drive up Jebel Akhdar. There’s a Royal Omani Police checkpoint at the bottom of the mountain where your vehicle will be checked, so you can’t sneak through in a 2WD.
Honestly, this requirement is a bit weird since the drive up isn’t at all stressful. It’s paved the entire way, really wide and super safe. There are far, far worse roads just a few miles across on the next mountain!
If you only have a two-wheel drive car, your options are to get a driver for the day or take a tour from Muscat.
CAR HIRE FOR YOUR OMAN TRIP
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trips in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Morocco, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily.
Find out more about why we fully recommend them.
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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Part 2: Getting Around
8. What Side of the Road Does Oman Drive On?
In Oman, cars drive on the right side of the road. This makes adapting from the USA, Europe and much of West Asia really straightforward.
If you come from a country that drives on the left side (like us), Oman’s roads are wide and mostly empty, so adapting is not stressful.
9. What are the Best Navigation Tools in Oman?
The best online navigation options are Google Maps, Waze or Maps.Me.
There aren’t loads of complicated road junctions, lanes and layouts so following road signs is easy, too. It’s all just very nice and straightforward.
We use Google Maps exclusively in Oman (because we hate change and all our saved map markers are on there) and it functioned perfectly for our needs.
It has occasionally not known whether a road is closed: sometimes marking them as shut when they aren’t (there’s this one particular road near Jebel Shams that always has a section like that) and then sometimes routing you through nature reserves that have no access.
But these are very rare occurrences and, despite these indiscretions, it has the seriously offroad-y routes down perfectly accurately.
Online GPS
Your car will not be supplied with a GPS system as a standard when driving in Oman.
This means you may want to consider using Google Maps, Waze or a preferred mapping app on your phone. Ensure to download all maps beforehand so they are accessible offline as there are some regions of Oman with minimal internet signal. Personally, we always used Google Maps.
Google Satellite
Google Satellite is a good option if you are really off road – often tracks will be visible on there but the roads do not show on Google Maps.
We did this, a whole lot for a bit of fun.
Oman Offroad
Oman Offroad is a (kind of expensive) book that can be bought in stores in Oman, such as the WH Smiths at Muscat’s airport.
It details (mainly 4WD) routes to some spectacular sites and includes information on the quality of the roads and what car you’ll need. It’s hard to rely on this book purely as a map, though, because it hasn’t published the maps with north facing upward, so they’re hideously confusing. (It doesn’t really replace GPS).
10. Gas Stations
Gas stations in Oman are very common in and around all the major cities.
They’re also easy to find on Google Maps if you need one: search for ‘petrol’. Even on the remote, lengthy drive from Nizwa to Salalah, there are evenly spaced petrol stations with rest areas and food.
In our experience, the only places where it’s worth being cautious are the more remote mountain regions and some coastal areas in central Oman. In the mountains, even if it seems like you are nearby a fuel stop, it might actually be a several-hour drive due to the crazy slow, rough roads. Also, be aware that some of the particularly steep roads will use more petrol than you expect.
So, if you are heading off on a mountain camping adventure, definitely go with a full tank.
⬩ Fuel Prices: gas is incredibly affordable in Oman. When we filled up in 2026, we were paying around 0.234 OMR per litre, which is UK £0.45 (US$0.61). For comparison, fuel in the U.K. currently costs a distressing £1.58 ($2.13 per litre).
⬩ Self-serve: Oman is not self-serve for petrol. There is an attendant who asks for your required amount and fills the tank for you. There are usually a couple of options for fuel type (we always went for the cheapest one – Mogas 91). Every gas attendant we spoke to understood the word ‘full’ and was proficient in English numbers (although Arabic numbers are easy to learn!).
⬩ Payment: this is by cash or card. Tipping is not expected but if they have been kind enough to clean your windows and wing mirrors (not that common) you could consider a small tip – we always felt 0.5 rials was reasonable.
⬩ Bathrooms: on a long drive, gas stations will likely be the only bathrooms you’ll find.
Part 3: Oman Traffic Rules
11. Road Signs
Road signs in Oman are almost always written in Arabic and English. There are a few very rural places where place names are only in Arabic, but it’s pretty rare.
Speed sign numbers are always written in English, sometimes accompanied with Arabic.
Street signs: sometimes a location is known differently on Google Maps than in your guidebook or on the street signs. We found one location had four different (similar) names just to add some extra complexity to our plans. For example ‘Al Hoota Cave‘ is spelt about a billion different ways on different signs and in books.
12. Does Oman have Speed Cameras and what are the Limits?
The speed limits in Oman are strict, and typically follow this pattern:
⬩ Residential: 40 km/h
⬩ Urban: 60-80 km/h
⬩ Rural: 90 km/h
⬩ Highways: 120 km/h
However, there are quite a few exceptions, so keep an eye out for signs.
Many major routes in Oman have speed cameras. Like, Oman has the most amount of speed cameras I’ve ever seen in my life. On the highways, they are the massive black and white towers on the central reservation – you can’t miss them. They definitely work, too, because we’ve seen people get flashed by them.
On these roads, there are clear signs depicting the speed limit, so there’s no excuse to get caught by one.
13. Car Speed Restrictions (the beep)
Cars in Oman are usually equipped with a warning that tells you if you go over 120 kilometres an hour. It literally beeps at you.
This noise is kind of alarming and really started to stress me out, so we never went over 120 kilometres per hour, ever (so I guess it works!).
Every vehicle we’ve rented in Oman had this feature so it’s likely yours will, too.
14. Oman’s Sneaky Speed Bumps
Oman’s paved roads have lots of typical traffic calming measures, including speed bumps.
One thing to note is that these (sometimes savage) bumps are often unmarked and frequently not very visible (the paint is often faded). Sometimes they are even located directly after a sign telling you a new higher maximum speed limit.
I feel like they are there to catch you out and destroy your car, rather than slow you down.
They didn’t cause us much difficulty when we figured out the typical placement (often outside schools and police stations, and around crossroads and junctions).
15. Parking and Parking Fees
Parking is widely available almost everywhere in Oman (it’s a big driving culture, after all).
It’s very rare to have to pay for parking anywhere in Oman. The only places in the entirety of our trips where we saw paid-parking were along the Mutrah Corniche and in a few places around Al Khuwair in Muscat (and even these are avoidable by just driving a few metres down the road).
Attractions like forts, castles, wadis, malls, and viewpoints are always free to park, with (usually) an enormous amount of space.
The only place we had a tiny bit of trouble parking was for the Nizwa goat market, because it gets crazily busy. However, it wasn’t impossible and we had to put our car under a bridge next to a bin. Parking at Misfat Al Abriyeen and Wakan Village can be a little tight, too.
Places like Wadi Shab can also be horrendously busy, parking-wise, during busy times (we’d always recommend going early).
16. Alcohol Driving Limits
Don’t drink alcohol and drive in Oman.
Previously, the allowable blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in Oman was 0.08%, but now there is a zero tolerance for any amount – the legal limit for BAC in Oman is 0.00%.
If you are caught, it may result in imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to 500 OMR, and impounding of your rental vehicle.
17. Clean Your Car
This one is a bit odd, but you can actually be fined for having a dirty car in Oman.
We were fortunate that we have got away with our car having a continuously thick coating of mud even when stopped by police (our license plate was always visible, so maybe that is why, or maybe it’s because we were obviously tourists?).
18. Police and Army Checkpoints
There are several places in Oman with permanent army or police checkpoints, specifically in the south towards Yemen and the famous one at Jebel Akhdar. There are also random police checkpoints dotted around the country in unpredictable places.
They’re quite rare but we’ve seen, and been stopped at, quite a few throughout our journeys.
19. Other Driving Rules, Laws and Things to Know
Running a red: most traffic lights are equipped with cameras to record if you run a red light. There are so many traffic management cameras in Oman – be aware! If you’re caught, a first-time offence will result in a fine of 50-75 OMR and there’s a risk of 48 hours in jail if it’s not your first, or it was dangerous.
Road rage: while there’s not an actual road rage law in Oman, using obscene language or rude hand gestures can lead to a fine or imprisonment. So, don’t get ragey.
Beeping your horn: there is a fine for using your horn excessively or “in a way that disturbs others” of 10 OMR for the first offence. Generally, Omani people don’t use the horn (unless you’re in Muscat at rush hour and it’s 48 degrees, then everyone is feeling pissy, in my experience!).
Children: kids under four have to use a child seat or restraints in a car.
Seatbelts: it is the law that everyone in a vehicle has to wear a seatbelt in Oman. There’s a 10 OMR fine if you don’t.
Part 4: Is it Safe to Drive in Oman?
Yes, it is safe to drive in Oman, even at night.
Having travelled over 20,000 kilometres across sand, mountain passes and along riverbeds, we think that Oman is categorically (maybe anecdotally) one of the safest and easiest countries that we have driven in around the world.
Statistically: in 2021, Oman had 10.6 road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants. This is around four times higher than the equivalent figures for the United Kingdom. However, when compared to the United States, who have 12.84 road fatalities per 100,000 inhabitants, it’s about 20% lower in Oman. Figures taken from the WHO.
This shows that Oman has a reasonable safety rate, which comes from various factors, including the low tolerance for alcohol, stringent traffic control measures and harsh punishments. Add these factors to the well-maintained roads, quality vehicles and relatively low density population, and you’ve got a pretty safe country to drive in!
20. Wildlife on the Road
The biggest road hazard in Oman is likely to be animals – goats, donkeys, sheep and camels are commonly found straying onto the roads. Even on 120 km/hr freeways we often saw large animals, including herds of camels.
We’ve regularly driven in rural Oman at night and hitting an animal was easily the biggest concern we had. Having said that, we’ve never actually had any close calls.
21. Driving at Night
It’s okay to drive in Oman at night.
We’ve driven many miles in the dark, including a few very rural mountain routes, and didn’t have any concerns.
⬩ Animals: keep an extra eye peeled for anything on the roads, particular in rural, southern Oman. A camel will do some serious damage to your car (and, personally, I’d be distraught if I hurt a camel).
⬩ Street lights: major cities and villages are well lit with street lights. Rural areas, especially dirt roads, have none and are completely pitch black. Take these slow (you’ve got very little chance of a collision with a vehicle, but it can be difficult to follow the tracks).
⬩ Other cars: we never saw any vehicles at night without their lights on in Oman, so they were always easy to see.
⬩ Steep roads: avoid any particularly steep mountain roads at night (obviously). We’ve miscalculated our timings occasionally and driven in mountains which was fine, but could be hairy on particularly narrow roads with huge cliff edges. There are a few specific roads in the Hajar Mountains I would not want to be on in pitch black!
22. Flooding
Although Oman is perceived to be a dry, desert country (which it is a lot of the time), this type of terrain is at particularly high risk of flash flooding.
All our visits have been during the dry season between November and March, so we’ve seen rain only once in three months. However, in the monsoon season, in the south of Oman especially, the rain can be torrential. This affects road safety conditions, possibly washing ungraded roads away.
In particular, never drive in a wadi when there is an expectation of rain and always check conditions before setting off anywhere. There are videos every year of flooding in Oman, showing cars being carried away by torrential rivers and reports of people dying. This doesn’t just happen in rural areas, either, for example, central Nizwa basically follows a wide wadi (many cities do – you can often tell from the clusters of date palms). It occasionally floods, so watch the weather forecast.
23. Car Supplies and Safety
If you’re only driving between Nizwa and Muscat, there’s not much need for car supplies, but if you travel further afield into the mountains and deserts, go prepared.
Water Supplies
Oman is often very hot, particularly in summer. It’s always advisable to carry enough water for a few days in the event of car breakdown, a tire popping, or just getting stuck. Three litres of water per day, per person, is a sensible amount, and double that in the height of summer.
Water is very affordable and can be bought in six-litre containers to cut down on plastic waste. It’s also available for free at mosques and various refill stations you’ll see on the side of the road.
We also travel with a Katadyn BeFree water filter, so would often refill our containers with filtered water at any wadis that don’t have warnings (like Wadi Darbat).
Food
Always travel with a few snacks – in remote areas you could be without food for a while if you get peckish. In these regions, fresh vegetables are harder to come by, but most towns and villages will likely have a bakery.
Longer lasting staples, such as long-life cakes and bread, are ubiquitous and tins of various foods are easily found in supermarkets and shops at gas stations.
We found a *can* of hummus once near Shannon Port, which is the only canned hummus I’ve ever seen in my life. It was not great.
EVEN MORE IDEAS FOR YOUR OMAN TRIP
Go camping:
Sleep under the stars at these amazing wild camping locations
Plan your trip with our Oman camping guide
Camp atop Oman’s highest mountain
or camp in the whitest of Oman’s deserts at the Sugar Dunes
or have a totally unique adventure:
Spot the most remote beehive tombs in Oman
Wander around Oman’s most photogenic fort
Learn about livestock at the Nizwa goat market
Take a look around Oman’s most unique fortification
Find a way into Bat’s 5000 year-old tombs
Figure out which of Oman’s UNESCO sites are worth visiting
Take a chill day on one of Muscat’s beaches
Drive up Oman’s most popular Mountain
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Part 5: Is Driving in Oman Difficult?
No, it is not difficult to drive in Oman, at all.
The hardest part is probably adapting to the other side of the road, if it’s the opposite to your norm.
We found that driving in Oman is far easier (and more pleasant) than driving in the United States, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, or the UAE, for example.
24. What are the Roads Like in Oman?
The major roads in Oman are generally comfortable, wide, and high quality.
These modern, smooth, fully paved roads link all the major towns and villages. We often commented that they were significantly better quality than back home in the United Kingdom!
They have clear markings, cat eyes, signs, and street lights. Potholes were extremely rare, and roundabouts are well marked and wide (and almost always empty).
There is seldom much traffic outside of Muscat and central Salalah (and even in the cities, there’s not masses unless it’s rush hour).
25. What are Oman’s Unpaved Roads Like?
If you are heading into more rural areas, the comfortable, modern roads are often replaced with adventurous, unpaved and bumpy off-road trails (the most fun!).
The quality of these vary greatly. Many are well graded, easy, smooth experiences for either a two- or four-wheel drive car; others are extremely steep, narrow, rough tracks that shouldn’t be undertaken without high clearance (often found in the mountains and wadis).
It will never be necessary to drive the rougher tracks unless you want to reach a specific, particular rogue location (or just have some fun). Every populated centre with tourist infrastructure will have, at worst, graded dirt roads for access.
26. What are Omani Drivers Like?
We found Omani drivers to be some of the most polite in the world (along with Moroccan drivers). However, as with virtually anywhere, you should still watch out for sketchy driving.
Omani drivers tend to exceed the speed limits, but no more than in any other country we have visited (from our anecdotal experiences, anyway). Italy and the USA are way worse.
Drivers seemed to (very un-assertively) tailgate as an indicator that you’re going too slow in the fast lane, although the brash driving of the United States is rarely a problem.
Our experience was that drivers were very kind and would even pull over to let you pass if you were the faster vehicle. We had this happen many times in the more rural mountain areas (and it’s almost unheard of in any other country we’ve driven in, again, apart from Morocco).
Omani drivers generally use their indicators (a rarity in many other countries).
27. Driving in the Cities (Muscat and Salalah)
Driving around Muscat and other major cities is mostly calm and low-key, especially when compared to other capitals around the world!
Certain junctions can be busy, but drivers obey the road rules, signs are pretty clear, and roads are wide, often with multiple lanes in each direction. The only junctions that get really busy (and you might end up in the wrong lane) are around the Oman Avenues Mall and the Muscat Grand Mall in Al Khuwair. We usually stay around that area and it’s honestly the only area that really feels a bit congested.
If you’re happy driving in your home capital city, it’s very unlikely you’ll find Muscat (or Salalah) any kind of stress.
28. Desert Driving
Visitors to Oman often want to see the vast deserts and sand dunes that stretch into the horizon. The problem with this is that sand driving is hard, risky, and sometimes uninsured. Personally, driving on sand dunes is the only terrain that scares me.
Compacted sand is almost always fine, but loose, sandy dunes or salt pans can be a whole mess. People get stuck all the time, and it’s fixable, but not ideal for your trip!
Safety gear for Oman’s deserts: when driving off road in Oman’s deserts, it is important to have the right gear to safely traverse any sand dunes.
Sand boards and ropes are pretty standard stuff, just in case you run into issues. You may also want a tyre pressure gauge and compressor so you can deflate/inflate your tyres for sand driving. For dunes and other risky routes (Bar Al Hikman, crossing Wahiba Sands or the Sugar Dunes, for example), ensure you have a route planned and inform someone of your intentions.
It is generally advised that you do not attempt these routes with a single vehicle (the Sugar Dunes is generally okay with one car). We have not spoken to a single convoy of tourists (without guides) who crossed the Wahiba Sands desert and did not have at least one car get stuck at some point!
You really, really do not want to get stranded out in the wilderness.
29. Mirages
Watch out for these in the desert (and the mountains and the coast).
Oman’s conditions are perfect mirage weather and they can actually be a bit confusing (I always used to think that they were just a vague, lost in the desert thing, like in films. Turns out I was wrong).
I found them to be much worse here than in California’s deserts, for example (no idea why but it’s def going to just be some simple physics). Just ensure to focus on the road.
HAS OUR FREE CONTENT HELPED YOU PLAN A ROAD TRIP TO OMAN?
If you’ve found our content helpful, consider booking your rental car (if you need one!), through the company we always use – Discover Cars. They’re the absolute best and have been our rental companion (and savior, thanks to their insurance) in many destinations across the world.
Also, consider booking your accommodation through Booking.com – we use them exclusively when travelling in Oman.
Alternatively, leave us a tip to say thank you.
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Help like this makes it easier to pay for the upkeep of this site. Thank you!
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Where to Next?
We hope this post helps you plan, or encourages you to take that epic driving trip around Oman. It’s a special country with a magical light and the best way to experience its untouched, wild, vast beauty is independently with a car.
Oman is our favourite country and one of the biggest reasons we keep returning is due to the driving culture. It’s one of the most relaxed places on the planet to take a road trip and I’m pretty sure my blood pressure lowers while I’m there.
Most people start their trip in the capital city, so check out our two-day Muscat itinerary – it’s detailed and includes loads of cool stuff that’s not in other guides.
Anyway, we hope this post was informative – have a great day!
Hi, thanks for visiting our blog! If this post has been of help to you, or you’ve just enjoyed our random ramblings and musings, say thank you by buying us a coffee! It helps keep The Restless Beans blog up and running.
Thank you, Claire + Nick
Me ha encantado vuestra información para visitar Omán recientemente.
Hi Mari,
Thank you for your comment. I’m glad we were of help 🙂
Thanks for such detailed driving tips in Oman ! Planning to self drive around so was looking for some information and bumped into your portal 🙂
Thanks again ur write up gives me confidence to drive in a foreign country !