Before traveling to Oman, I knew little more than the country’s general location on the Arabian Peninsula, and the few travel blogs I found mostly focused on outdoor activities (visiting the famous wadis) and on proper attire. Definitely worth noting: Oman is a Muslim nation and women are expected to cover themselves from neck to wrist to ankle. There is a bit of wiggle room for non-Muslim tourists and there are certain public places in which it is acceptable for tourists to dress less conservatively, but overall it is wise to dress in respect to the place you are visiting—even if that place is 110+ degrees every day during the summer!

Having travelled quite extensively over the past 12 years, I like to think I have developed an open mind for engaging with cultures beyond those of my typical Midwestern life, and generally have a positive attitude toward new experiences. I arrived at the gorgeous Muscat airport with excited anticipation for what I would see, hear, do, eat, smell, touch and buy. But, other than worrying about the appropriateness of my attire and hoping we would be able to take in the natural beauty of Oman’s landscape, I wasn’t sure what else to actually expect.

Other than the heat, which was extremely oppressive in June—so much so that locals kept asking why we came at that time of year—the general atmosphere in Oman was one characterized by kindness and tolerance. To be sure, our group of mostly Caucasian Americans definitely drew attention in the souqs (markets), malls and corporate locations we visited. But, the energy we received was never hostile.

Oman was truly beautiful and it was privilege to visit the small nation. The food was a delicious mix of Arabic and Mediterranean influences: lots of grilled meats, delicious rice, fresh-baked flat breads, salads and dried fruits. Most places we went we were offered dried dates and Arabic coffee as a sign of hospitality. There are more than 200 varieties of dates in the world and we were told that at least 80 varietals grow in Oman. I was sure to bring home a vacuumed sealed bag of my favorite fard dates.

Throughout the trip, I really enjoyed learning about the country’s rich history of scientific research, agricultural cultivation (despite the barren landscape), and investment in the arts. Though not nearly as oil-rich as some of its Arabian neighbors, Oman has certainly benefitted from the discovery of natural resources in the latter half of last century, which helped spur rapid economic growth. The development was directed by the previous sultan, Qaboos bin Said al Said, who invested in his country through massive infrastructure, telecom, cultural and educational projects during his 50 years in power. He was so obviously revered by the public that despite the fact that he passed away in 2020, his portrait still hung alongside that of the current sultan in almost every business we frequented.

We spent most of our eight days in Oman in the capital of Muscat, but took a lively day trip to the ancient city of Nizwa where we toured the old fort, shopped at the souq and took in the sights, sounds and smells of the live animal market, which occurs every Friday morning.

Given that we were visiting during some of the hottest weeks of the year, there were many outdoor activities that weren’t available to us (hiking, four-wheeling on the sand dunes, visiting a wadi (oasis in the middle of the dessert), although we were able to go snorkeling on our first day. I would absolutely go back to the country, and encourage others to do the same—just maybe not in June!

The Highlights

Snorkeling in the Arabian Gulf (it was my first snorkeling experience & I absolutely loved it!). Drinking as much minty lemonade as I could order. Touring the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Visit to the Islamic Education Center for a dynamic conversation between Muslims & Christians. Nizwa Fort. Eating so many dates (I also really loved the sesame-covered varieties). Arabic lesson. Visit from U.S. Embassy diplomats to hear about their experiences. Visit to Alia Al Farsi’s art gallery (where I was ecstatic to invest in some original art!).

SDG

p.s. Wondering the context of this visit to Oman? This was one of the nine countries visited on the 2023 International Business Institute, for which I was the program assistant. Interested in learning more? Read about my own undergraduate experience on the trip when I participated in 2011.