Language

Arabic is the most used language in the Middle East. It is a good idea to have a few words and phrases to get around.

A proper greeting is usually "as salam alaykum" which translates to "peace be upon you."

In some parts of the country, you might find yourself the subject of much curiosity, apparent from glances in your direction every few minutes or questions about where you're from. Don't be alarmed: Omanis take a genuine interest in visitors and want to make them feel welcome.

As such, it's nice to greet people appropriately. Some useful phrases to know (in addition to the essential "as salam alaykum" and "walaykum as salam," said in reply to the former), are "sabah al khayr" (good morning), "misa al khayr" (good evening) and "shukran" (thank you).