Wahiba Sands
A sea of golden-red dunes in eastern Oman, shaped by the wind and home to Bedouin communities. Visitors stay in desert camps, drive over the dunes with local guides and watch the sunset.
Wahiba Sands
Tall orange dunes make up this desert, where visitors go camel riding, drive 4x4 vehicles and camp overnight beneath starry skies.
Attractive locations
Al Saleel National Park
A protected natural area in northeastern Oman, set aside to look after local wildlife and desert plants. It is a quiet stop for visitors interested in nature.
Wadi Bani Khalid
A valley with natural pools of clear green water between rocky cliffs, near the edge of the Wahiba Sands region. Visitors swim and walk along the water, with a small cave to explore.
Ras al-Jinz
A headland on Oman's eastern tip where green turtles come ashore to nest. Guided night visits to the beach are arranged to watch them, and visitors follow the rangers' rules.
Airports
Muscat International Airport MCT
It is about 187 km in a straight line from Wahiba Sands.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan19.9 °C8 mm
- Feb21.6 °C9 mm
- Mar25.2 °C15 mm
- Apr29.9 °C11 mm
- May33.2 °C7 mm
- Jun34.2 °C13 mm
- Jul33.4 °C10 mm
- Aug32.3 °C7 mm
- Sep30.6 °C4 mm
- Oct28.3 °C6 mm
- Nov24.6 °C8 mm
- Dec21.4 °C6 mm
Driest months: Sep, Oct, Dec. Wettest months: Mar, Apr, Jun.
Costs
Prices here are about 47% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
9999 for police, ambulance and fire.
local government
Ministry of Heritage and Tourism
Helps with: Oman's tourism ministry. Its headquarters contact page lists phone numbers and email for inquiries, and the ministry's website has a suggestions and complaints section.
Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Oman or planning a trip there.
Phone: +968 22088000
Email: [email protected]
Address: P.O. Box 200, P.C. 115 Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Al Khuwair, Thaqafah St
local government
Royal Oman Police
Helps with: Oman's national police. Its website has a general email, a phone directory page and a map of police stations. No tourist police unit is shown there.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Oman who needs police services.
Phone: 9999
Email: [email protected]
embassy
Foreign embassies and consulates in Oman (Ministry of Foreign Affairs list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. This official list gives each mission's email, phone and address; some missions are based in other countries.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.