Most trips to Oman pair Muscat with a road trip inland: the fort town of Nizwa, the mountains of Jebel Akhdar and Jebel Shams, the wadis of the Hajar range and a night in the Sharqiya Sands. Some add Salalah in the far south or the fjords of Musandam in the north. Oman is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and European plans generally charge for roaming there by the day.
Key facts for Oman
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Vodafone (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 9999
- Embassies: in Muscat
Regional tensions
Iran has carried out strikes and retaliatory attacks in a number of places across the region since July 2026, and the UK government warns of a risk of further attacks. Be ready for cancelled flights and airspace closures at short notice, and review your plans before flying home. During an alert, stay inside a sturdy building: debris falling after interceptions is the greatest risk, so leave any drone or missile fragments alone.
Muscat
Coverage is strong across Muscat, from the Mutrah corniche to the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque. Many street taxis have no meter, so agree the fare before you get in, or book through a licensed taxi app.
Mountains and wadis
The road up Jebel Akhdar passes a police checkpoint that lets only four-wheel-drive vehicles through, and the upper road to Jebel Shams is also easier in a 4x4. Coverage holds on the main roads but drops in the deeper wadis. Never enter a wadi when rain is forecast, even if it is falling far away in the mountains: flash floods arrive fast, and they claim lives in Oman most years.
The desert
In the Sharqiya Sands the signal fades soon after you leave the tarmac, and many camps have only patchy coverage. Driving on sand takes experience, so use the camp's pickup or a local guide rather than heading in alone.
Musandam and the UAE border
Musandam, Oman's northern exclave, is reached by road through the UAE, or by air and sea from Muscat. Near the border, phones can switch to UAE networks without warning; a Middle East plan covers both countries.
Customs and the law
Dress modestly away from beaches and hotel pools. During Ramadan, do not eat, drink or smoke in public in daylight hours. Alcohol is served only in licensed hotels and restaurants, and there is zero tolerance for drink-driving.
Salalah and the khareef
From late June to September, the khareef monsoon turns the hills around Salalah green and brings mist that can slow traffic on the mountain roads, so drive with care.
Paying
Cards are widely accepted in Muscat and the larger towns; carry some rials in cash for small shops and villages.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM goes on your phone before departure and starts with its first connection in Oman, so navigation works for the road trip from the first day. Your usual number keeps receiving texts and bank codes.
Omani prepaid SIMs from Omantel, Ooredoo or Vodafone are sold at Muscat airport and in phone shops, and you need your passport to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in Oman
- 9999 reaches the police, ambulance and fire service anywhere in Oman.
- Embassies are in Muscat. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Oman, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app has emergency phrases in Arabic, ready to show on screen.
Questions travellers ask about Oman
Does my EU plan work in Oman?
No. Oman is outside Roam Like at Home, so check your operator's daily rate before you go.
Do I need a 4x4?
For Jebel Akhdar, yes: the police checkpoint turns other cars back.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Oman?
Vodafone, with 4G and 5G where available.
What is the emergency number?
9999, for the police, ambulance and fire service.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, rent a 4x4 for the mountains, stay out of the wadis when rain is forecast, respect local dress and Ramadan customs, and save 9999.
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