When to Go to Oman
To get the most out of your next adventure it makes sense to consider some of the very local factors that combine to make up what you feel is the best time to travel to a destination. Many of these factors are very personal - some people prefer to travel when the weather is not too hot, or sites too crowded - others prefer to travel when a traditional local event is taking place. Taking into account the dates of public holidays can also make sense as these may have an impact on opening times of attractions, shops and restaurants, or might affect public transport or other services. Conversely public holidays can be a time of great local festivities and celebrations providing a feast of local expressionism and culture.
Climate
Oman has a desert climate with hot weather prevalent for much of the year, however there are idiosyncrasies depending where one travels. The hottest months are June, July and August with daytime temperatures reaching a scorching 50°c. The summer monsoon, known as the khareef, just touches the southern coast of the Dhofar region during the summer months bringing regular light rain to Salalah and reducing the average daytime highs here to a sticky 30° C. Elsewhere rainfall varies but in general remains sparse and irregular with the north receiving rain in the winter months. It is usually light but can quickly cause dangerous flash flooding. Muscat gets just 10cm of rain annually on average.
Seasonality
Given the summer is too hot for a comfortable exploration of the country the best times to visit Oman are mid-October through to March, with April and September possible for those that don’t mind the heat or for high-mountain walking. At this autumn/winter/spring period daytime temperatures fall into the lower 30°s and are much more pleasant.
During the month of Ramadan all restaurants are closed during the day and alcohol is served only in Muscat hotels at which you are resident; in other locales the sale of alcohol is prohibited. In addition offices are often working restricted hours as do businesses. Ramadan commences on 13th September 2007, 2nd September 2008 and 22nd August 2009, ending with Eid el Fitr, a public holiday and time of great celebration.
National Holidays
| Date |
Description |
| 01 Jan 08 |
New Year’s Day |
| 10 Jan 08 |
Muharram (Islamic New Year) |
| 20 Mar 08 |
Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet Muhammed) |
| 30 Jul 08 |
Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet Muhammed) |
| 02 Oct 08 |
Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
| 18 Nov 08 |
National Day and birthday of HM Sultan Qaboos |
| 09 Dec 08 |
Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) |
| 29 Dec 08 |
Islamic New Year |
National Events
| Event |
Occurs |
Description |
| Muscat Festival |
The month of January, annually |
Muscat Festival celebrates Oman’s traditional arts, culture and heritage while providing the Omani people with fun, excitement and entertainment. |
