Is Oman Safe for Travellers? (From a Women’s Perspective)
Scribbled by Claire ⬩ 06 Apr 2025
I’ve written an honest account of my experiences travelling in Oman, as a woman, including instances when I was treated differently than a man, positive and negative moments, and about what to wear, scams, harrassment, crime, and more.
In my experience, not many people know much about Oman, let alone safety in Oman for women travellers. Few people appear to even know where this country is.
I had a conversation with a very ignorant acquaintance last night, who said:
‘I’d never visit any of *those* countries, I’d probably not come home’.
This got my back up, a lot.
As a result of that unfortunate conversation, and because I have spent three months travelling the entire length of the country, I figured it might be helpful to write this post to dispel some very inaccurate assumptions, particularly to do with safety for women.
Here, I cover all aspects of safety in Oman; road safety, travelling safely as a woman, camping, the stigma of being a Middle Eastern country, petty crime, scams and more. I’ve included as much personal experience as possible; hopefully it is informative if you are considering a trip.
Peek preview (TLDR): I’ve been asked over and over: ‘is Oman safe for women?’ and ‘Did I feel safe in Oman?’. The answer is 100 percent yes. I have always felt safe as a woman travelling in Oman.
Full disclosure: I have not travelled solo as a woman in Oman. However, I have spent three months in the country and often been out on my own, including at wild campsites and in cities. Below is my honest perspective on how I feel foreign women are regarded and details any difficulties I experienced. I’ve also noted where I felt that I was treated differently to my male travel partner.
IN THIS GUIDE //
Safety in Oman (by a woman)
SAFETY IN OMAN AS A WOMAN: THE STIGMA OF THE MIDDLE EAST
– IS OMAN SAFE FOR WOMEN TRAVELLERS – MY EXPERIENCE
ROAD SAFETY IN OMAN
PETTY CRIME IN OMAN
SCAMS and HARASSMENT IN OMAN
– RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORT AS A WOMEN IN OMAN
TRAVELLING AS A WOMAN IN OMAN
– Omani Men: My Perspective as a Woman Traveller
WHAT TO WEAR IN OMAN AS A WOMAN
WILD CAMPING AS A WOMAN IN OMAN
WEATHER IN OMAN – MONSOONS, HEAT AND WADIS
IS THE WATER SAFE IN OMAN
FINAL THOUGHTS
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Travelling in Oman as a Woman: The Stigma of the Middle East
I’m going to begin this story by saying that I love west Asia; it is my favourite region to travel as a woman.
However, it is not without an unfortunate (and often unfair) reputation. So, because nobody ought to be writing about safety in Oman in a ‘sensationalistic’ kind of way, I’ll keep this short and sweet:
The threat of terrorism in Oman is one of the lowest across the globe.
The Global Terrorism Index, an annual report that lists countries by terrorist activity and measures the impact of terrorism, ranks Oman as zero. This is the lowest and best score in joint 89th position. The United States and UK are positions 30 and 41 respectively. A country like Egypt that welcomes many more tourists (at a peak they welcomed 14.7 million people in 2010 versus Oman’s peak of 4.1 million in 2019) is ranked 20th highest in the world on the index.
My Experiences
This low risk of violent crime and terrorism in Oman was obvious to me when travelling around the country:
⬩ I came across zero metal detectors/bomb checks in malls, hotels and public buildings.
⬩ I was never searched or in any way worried about security. Even in the capital city, Muscat, there was no need for security measures.
⬩ I travelled to Jordan immediately following my first trip to Oman and was stunned by the contrast. In Jordan, I had my handbag searched just going into a supermarket. They wouldn’t even let me in with a camera in my bag (and I didn’t want to leave it in the car). I had all my bags inspected going in and out of almost every hotel. The car was examined multiple times – many hotels had security at the gates before you could even park. Every building had metal detectors.
All that extra security in Jordan might make you feel safer, however it doesn’t for me – it puts me on edge. There was no need for any of that in Oman and I’ve never felt more secure in a country (I absolutely loved travelling in Jordan, though, just for perspective).
⬩ It is false to assume that the proximity to other countries (that are perceived as more turbulent) makes Oman unsafe. I urge you to read through the GTI report if you are interested in how the rankings are calculated, or just understanding more about the difficulties our world faces in 2026.
It contains far more information than just a list of numbers.
⬩ On a personal note, I just really enjoy travelling in Muslim countries, they are some of the most hospitable in the world.
PLANNING A TRIP TO OMAN?
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
Explore the quirky white pools of Wadi Abyad
or the magnificent waterfalls of Wadi Darbat
Explore the the cities 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
Prepare with our Oman driving guide
Max out your time with these Muscat day trips
Check out Muscat’s best viewpoints
Have the best two-day city break in Muscat
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Roads and Road Safety in Oman
Oman has very modern, gleaming new roads, for the most part. So, how safe are they to drive?
Answer: the roads are very safe to drive in Oman. After covering over 20,000 kilometres spanning three months in Oman, I can confidently say that driving there was nothing but a pleasure.
⬩ The population of Oman is very small considering the size of the country so, apart from a few specific places in and around Muscat, you’ll rarely see much traffic.
⬩ It is not socially acceptable to show any kind of ‘road rage’. You will not get people swearing out of their windows, driving overly aggressively or in an intimidating manner.
⬩ Speeding is not an extreme problem. It is something that happens, but no more than I experienced in the United States, for example.
⬩ Animals on the road are the most significant hazard you might experience. It is common for camels, goats and donkeys to wander out in front of you with little regard for even the busiest roads.
Can Women Drive in Oman?
Yes, of course women are allowed to drive in Oman!
They do so, all the time. It’s not weird to see a woman behind the wheel, and there is no requirement for a man to be present in the car (this is a surprising assumption that many I’ve spoken to people make. I think it’s because they equate Oman with Saudi Arabia, even though women are allowed to drive and even be taxi drivers in Saudi, too).
If you’re a woman visitor from another country, you can rent a car in Oman without issue.
I’ve never been treated differently than my male partner by the rental companies, either.
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 why we fully recommend them.
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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Petty Crime in Oman
The general crime rate in Oman is very low. Violent and serious crimes are extremely rare and punished severely, which appears to act as a major deterrent for all crimes.
Petty crimes like bag-snatching or pickpocketing can occur, like anywhere, but the chances are minimal. Multiple listings put Oman in the top safest countries in the world to travel – my anecdotal experiences as a woman support these stats.
From an unqualified perspective, I’d actually consider being a woman as a benefit when travelling in Oman, in relation to petty crime. Women are respected and rarely even physically touched outside the home, so are at a lower risk of petty theft than men.
In supermarket car parks, I saw vehicles left unlocked with windows down, sometimes even with the keys still in the ignition and phones on the seat. At that moment, I realised that the chances of anyone pickpocketing or mugging me was pretty damn small.
It was after that when I started feeling comfortable leaving my car keys, phone, and camera on the edges of wadis out of sight, while I went swimming. People who live here does it and there’s no perceived threat from theft, so why shouldn’t I?
Scams and Tourist Harassment in Oman
I did not experience anything in Oman that I would describe as a scam or typical tourist harassment, so there’s not much to write about here.
I mean, consider the usual characteristic scammy behaviour you find in many touristy regions: hassle, overcharging, trickery. Nothing much like this happened to me and, in my experience, it is not typical in Oman to see that type of dishonest behaviour. Below is the only experience that is worth watching out for:
‘Tour guides’: adults and children who live in rural villages near more popular wadis can sometimes be a little cheeky, that verges on hassle. They act as a friendly guide, then attempt to charge a relatively huge amount of money after. It’s not a very common scam, but if you take anybody along a hike with you, always arrange a fee in advance. (It’s hardly a safety issue, though).
Unrelated, and it’s obviously an individual judgement, but I’d feel safe hiking with any of the male guides I have met around the wadis.
Taxis and Haggling
We all know that taxi drivers are the most scammy risk to tourists in any country, right? Well, apart from the above section about guides, Oman is no exception (although I say this almost in jest).
There are two official taxi companies, Marhaba and Mwasalat, who both have standard charges, plus Otaxi and a few other Uber-style apps. You can order taxis from machines in the lobbies of hotels or through their respective online portals. I’ve used all the taxi companies and never had any safety concerns as a woman.
We have seen drivers act a bit like the Mafia, though, when we got dropped at the side of the road in Azaiba by the Dubai-Muscat bus. They swarmed and drove a ridiculously, unreasonably hard bargain knowing we were foreigners with no other choice (to the point that I would consider it scammy, rather than fair). However, that’s as far as our negative experiences go. It’s certainly not a safety issue – more of an annoyance!
Random Acts of Kindness
As a nice counter-balance to the above, I’ve written about just a few of the many times I’ve experienced what I would describe as extreme hospitality. I think it’s super important to focus on all the good people in the world, rather than the few foul Donald Trump types out there.
I was offered so many complimentary things in Oman that I really let my guard down by the end of the trip, which is a rare occurrence for me, to be honest. It was charmingly disarming! This is one of the reasons Oman is my favourite country to travel a a woman – I never felt like I was at risk of being a victim of the typical harassment or scams.
⬩ Scarves: in Muscat’s Mutrah Souq (one of the most touristy destinations in the country due to cruise ship arrivals), I was looking at scarves at a little stall by one of the back entrances and the owner started chatting with me (I was prepped for a hard sell, to be honest). I said I had no spare money, but his products were beautiful, and he insisted that I take one for free.
Declining his incredibly kind offer, I felt guilty for not accepting his hospitality and equally too guilty to take something for free. The hospitality was genuine, though.
⬩ Tamarind: I’ve been randomly given an unusable amount of fresh tamarind when I told someone I’d never tried it, somewhere in Dhofar.
⬩ Bananas: in a small shop along a dusty street in Sur, I tried to buy bananas. Not wanting a whole large bunch, I asked for just two, and the owner was insistent on giving them to me with no charge. It’s like an anti-scam.
⬩ Taxi: I was gifted a huge OS-style map of Oman from a taxi driver on my first day in Oman when I told him I was camping for a month. He was so enthusiastic about my trip!
⬩ Dates: I’ve been given free dates more times than I can count – it’s like giving dates is the Omani love language. Also halwa.
⬩ Fishing: I was fed an entire dinner on a beach, including the most incredible om ali, and then invited on a fishing expedition in Salalah.
TAKING PUBLIC TRANSPORT AS A WOMAN IN OMAN
Oman doesn’t have a lot of public transport, and I’ve only caught one (quite long) bus.
If you’re concerned about being a woman on buses in Oman, I can’t speak from masses of experience, but my journey was filled with solo Omani women travelling with their kids.
Men wouldn’t sit next to a women travelling alone, and the bus driver was one of the kindest people I met in the country.
It’s all anecdotal, but my experience was good.
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Gender-Based Safety in Oman
Oman is a very conservative, traditional country.
I had limited contact with women outside of Muscat and Nizwa, so it would be difficult to talk about their lives and how safe they feel in their homes in any detail (and it’s not really my place to do so, anyway).
For example, when a rural, conservative family invited me in for dates and coffee, the wife/mother did not show herself at all and stayed in the kitchen area, even after she prepped all the food.
The husband explained that conservative women and female children do not like having their pictures taken. I was able to meet all his cute young daughters, though.
Omani Men: My Perspective
My anecdotal experience was that men in Oman, in general, were respectful, friendly, and polite to me as a woman visiting their country. They were keen to talk to me and appeared to take great satisfaction in being helpful.
Negative: the only vaguely negative experience I had as a woman was in Nizwa where I found that men would not look at or speak to me (it is extra conservative there). It wasn’t an unsafe feeling though, just a little bizarre and uncomfortable.
Despite this, I had countless positive experiences from men in Nizwa, too. I was invited to homes, guided around the old town, and even remained in contact with several men for some time after.
I mean, I walked around at night alone in unlit back alleys of old town Nizwa and never felt a sense of threat at any time. (You just get an uncomfortable vibe in certain places, don’t you, and I didn’t feel that in Oman).
Physical threat: I never felt any form of physical threat from Omani men throughout my time in Oman. This included hiking in remote wadis solo, visiting small villages and also in the major population centres. I also never felt like Nick was treated differently to me (apart from in Nizwa).
Verbal threat: there were zero incidents of cat-calling, inappropriate comments or behaviour at any point in my three months there.
From my personal experience, travelling as a woman in Oman is a very comfortable experience. Due to the generally low crime rates, I feel safer than I do at home in the United Kingdom (I actually feel quite safe in England) and significantly safer than I ever felt for even a second in the United States.
WHAT TO WEAR AS A WOMAN IN OMAN
As a woman travelling in Oman, I always tried to dress appropriately, including being fully covered to my wrists and ankles. I looked at the other women and just mimicked their degree of cover-up wherever I was.
Mosques: the only place I covered my head was in mosques. I also did not wear an abaya, but do carry around a long dark, flowy skirt that looks similar to an abaya which I could wear for mosque visits.
Wadis and at beaches: I wear full length leggings and a non see-through t-shirt and sports crop top at any place where you can swim. Oman is not the place for bikinis (apart from some very upmarket resorts and, even then, I’d question your need for a two piece).
Hiking: when hiking in remote mountains, I wore full length leggings and a loose t-shirt. I’d also wear a lightweight hoody tied around my waist (for modesty and also sometimes the mountains can be a little cold!).
Nobody really appeared to care what I wore as a Western woman visiting Oman. However, I hate the idea of being regarded as disrespectful and really care that I fit in as much as possible.
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Wild Camping Safety as a Woman
I spent more than two months wild camping across Oman.
This is the primary topic that that I am always asked about (and because I am a woman, I get it more than Nick). Things like this:
‘didn’t you feel unsafe, wild camping in remote regions in Oman?’
I’ll be honest, I was a little nervous about it at the beginning. I would never wild camp in most places in the UK, for example, so why would I do it in Oman?
However, as you spend more time in the country, you realise how entrenched camping is within the culture of Oman. There are always locations with no other people, but if you feel worried about that level of isolation, find a quiet spot on a beach. There will be others doing exactly what you are doing, with kids and grandparents in tow! After seeing that, you realise how regular a family activity camping in Oman actually is.
My first night camping was spent on As Sifah Beach, an hour south-east of Muscat. We pulled up, saw a family setting their (quite elaborate) camp up with their toddler and it immediately set me at ease. That same night, I also spent time chatting with Musa, who lives in the village nearby. He runs on the beach every day and was so excited that I was camping near his home. It was the most genuinely welcoming reaction to my presence there.
After this first night, I had nothing but more positive experiences. Often though, if you choose your campsite wisely, you’ll come across nobody at all. That is the beauty of this country.
GOT EVEN MORE TIME IN OMAN?
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 palest 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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Weather in Oman: Monsoons, Heat and Wadis
Luckily, weather doesn’t discriminate based on gender! However, it’s worth mentioning here because it’s important and one of the bigger dangers, in my opinion (and statistically, I think).
Weather conditions in Oman can be extreme; hot and dry, or monsoon levels of wet. Both are hazardous depending on the circumstances. This is probably the most dangerous thing you’ll encounter in terms of safety in Oman.
Rain in wadis: watch for wadis (dry river washes) that cross roads if you are driving during rain and never hike in a wadi if rain is forecast. The ground in Oman is often very dry, meaning it can be extremely hydrophobic, so water just runs off rather than being absorbed. This means even a small amount of rainfall can be deadly, causing flash floods, especially in the winter.
Monsoon: the Khareef (the south-eastern monsoon) affects southern Oman during July and August. It’s actually a tourist attraction because it changes the landscape surrounding Salalah so much – just be aware that it pours.
Heat: the summer in Oman has extreme heat, so ensure you have adequate water, sun protection and do not hike in the hottest hours of the day.
Is the Water Safe in Oman?
Yes, in general the water is safe to drink in the main cities in Oman. However, I filtered most of my water with a Sawyer filter just in case, especially in more rural areas. I’m not vibing with even the tiniest risk of having a dodgy stomach while camping.
Water is inexpensive and available in bottles, but please try to minimise plastic use – use a filter and buy large containers.
Some Final Thoughts
Oman is statistically a very safe country, even for solo women travellers, and my experiences mirror these figures. I wrote this post to reassure any woman who was hesitant about being safe while travelling in Oman – I wanted to provide a detailed view of what it was like there and whether you should to visit.
If you are considering a trip, we have written lots of posts on different aspects of Oman; check them all out on our Oman page.
I hope my random anecdotes encourage you to visit (if you needed it!).
Have a great day!
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Thank you, Claire + Nick
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