
Oman Travel Guide 2026: Discovering Arabia's Most Welcoming Sultanate
Oman welcomed approximately 3.8 million visitors in 2024, with tourism contributing 2.7 billion Omani Rials to the national economy. The sultanate has emerged as perhaps the most accessible introduction to Arabian culture for Western travelers, offering visa-free 14-day entry for 103 nationalities including Americans while maintaining authentic traditions largely untouched by the mass tourism that has transformed neighboring destinations.
Where Dubai offers gleaming modernity and Saudi Arabia remains in early stages of tourism development, Oman presents a careful balance. Traditional souqs operate as they have for centuries, desert communities maintain Bedouin hospitality customs, and dramatic landscapes range from sea-level beaches to nearly 3,000-meter mountain peaks, all within a country smaller than Kansas.