Oman is ranked 47th out of 185 economies in the Doing Business 2013, with no change in its overall ranking from last year.
Oman’s economic freedom score is 67.9, making its economy the 47th freest in the 2012 Index. Its score is 1.9 points lower than last year, reflecting declines in five of the 10 economic freedoms, including freedom from corruption, labor freedom, and government spending. Oman is ranked 5th out of 17 countries in the Middle East/North Africa region, and its overall score is above the world and regional averages.
Source: World Bank
Visa Information
A one-month visit visa, required by all nationalities except for citizens of Gulf countries, can be obtained by many foreign nationals (including those from the EEC, the Americas, Australia and New Zealand) at Seeb International Airport in Muscat for OR6. You may be refused admission if you have an Israeli stamp in your passport.
It is also possible to obtain a visa at those border crossings that are open to foreigners. If you have a UAE visa, it is possible to cross into Oman by land without paying a further fee.
Multiple-entry visas cost OR10. They are valid for one year with maximum stays of three weeks.
Visa extensions
One-month extensions (OR6) are available for visit visas from the Immigration & Passports Directorate in Qurm, Muscat. Overstaying a visa will incur charges on departure (OR10 per day).
Business Etiquette
General Business Hours
Oman is rumoured to change its weekend to Friday and Saturday. For now, the following hours apply:
Banks 8am to noon Saturday to Wednesday and 8am to 11am Thursday.
Government departments & ministries 7.30am to 2.30pm Saturday to Wednesday, closing 1.30pm during Ramadan.
Post offices 8am to 1.30pm Saturday to Wednesday and 8am to 11am Thursday.
Restaurants 11.30am to 2pm and 5pm to midnight Saturday to Thursday, and 5pm to midnight Friday.
Shops 8am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm Saturday to Wednesday, and 8am to 1pm Thursday (Mutrah Souq and upmarket Muscat shopping centres to 9pm or 9.30pm).
