Is Oman Safe for Women? Thoughts from a Solo Female Traveler

Let’s face it – the Middle East gets a bad rep as a travel destination. Drone strikes, terrorists, uprisings – headlines are littered with stories painting the entire region in a negative light. It is understandable that with this interpretation, travelers would have some hesitations.

As solo female travelers, there is yet another level of nuance in where we choose to travel, especially to countries with more conservative cultures. With all these factors, there are a lot of questions that come to mind when considering the safety of Oman as a solo woman. 

So is Oman safe for women? Did I feel safe solo traveling in Oman? The answer is a resounding YES! 

In this article, I will share my honest thoughts about safety in Oman and things you should consider when planning your own trip as a solo female traveler. I encourage you to forget everything you think you know and read with an open mind.

Guided Tours in Oman

Don’t want to travel completely on your own? Here are a few tours in Oman that you can join as a solo female traveler.

🇴🇲 Nizwa and Al Hamra Guided Historical Tour – explore Oman’s historic capital
⛰ Jebel Shams and Wadi Ghul Tour – explore the tallest mountain in Oman
🐪 Empty Quarter Full-Day Desert Tour – experience Bedouin lifestyle in the desert

Is Oman Safe for Women?

Contrary to popular belief, Oman is one of the safest countries in the world. Yes, this is even true for solo female travelers. 

Don’t let the headlines fool you – Oman actually has a score of 0 on the Global Terrorism Index, meaning that terrorism has no effect on the country. Other corruption that exists in the region has zero impact on life and travel in Oman.

Additionally, Oman has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. Locals regularly leave their homes and cars unlocked, as there is little-to-no risk of theft or petty crime like pickpockets even in the capital of Muscat. The Royal Oman Police take safety very seriously, and harassment against tourists is not tolerated. 

Oman also has a very high expat population – 40% to be exact. This means that locals are used to seeing people of many nationalities in the country and visitors are embraced. The Omani people are extremely hospitable and you’ll likely meet many locals excited to welcome you to their country and help make your time as enjoyable as possible. 

Local Interactions

Burqas, violence, silence – I encourage you to forget everything you think you know about interactions with women in a Muslim country. 

Women are extremely respected in Omani culture, both within and outside the home. They are business owners, educators, mothers, and enjoy equal rights to men in society.

This respect for women is true for foreign women as well. Heckling or cat-calling is practically nonexistent, and scams are extremely rare. 

While men and women hold equal rights, they do often remain separate. Men and women generally eat apart from one another, with most restaurants including a women and family section for those who prefer more privacy. As a solo female traveler you are welcome to request this section while eating out.

While it is not unsafe, it is a bit usual to see local women walking alone. This can mean people might be curious about you as a solo female traveler, especially in more rural areas. This curiosity is not usually malicious, and usually ends in a friendly conversation and invitation to gahwa. Overall, I felt safe in the majority of my interactions in Oman as a solo female traveler.

Interacting with Men

In general, Omani men are extremely respectful. I found most men I interacted with were very intentional in ensuring I felt comfortable and had space.

A good general rule of thumb is to wait for men to initiate. This includes conversations and interactions, and any sort of physical touch like handshakes. Men will rarely ask for a hug – public displays of affection between men and women are considered rude. You are always welcome to decline any offers of physical touch.

Men may ask you if you’re married – this is usually completely harmless. It’s a bit rare to see a woman traveling on her own in Omani culture, so many people will ask out of genuine curiosity and nothing more. You are never obligated to share personal details, a simple yes or no will suffice.

Interacting with Women

It’s a bit rare to find yourself interacting with Omani women, simply because they are generally quite private people in public. However, if you do find yourself in a private, all-women setting, you will likely find the women around you opening up. Omani women are intelligent, kind, and extremely hospitable.

When interacting with women in public settings, be careful of their feelings and do not pry if they are not interested in conversation. You’ll likely see women practicing traditional handicrafts in some of the touristy souqs – these women are often more willing to speak with visitors since they are used to seeing tourists.

However, avoid taking photos of Omani women without explicit permission, even in the more touristy areas. Photography and image is a very sensitive subject for many Omani women and it is considered extremely rude to photograph someone without their permission.

What to Wear in Oman

Oman has a high expat population, meaning you’ll likely see people dressed all sorts of ways. Especially in cities like Muscat, you could see a woman in shorts one minute and an abaya (a long cloak) the next. 

Omani women traditionally wear dark-colored abayas and a matching hijab. Foreign women are not expected to adhere to this traditional dress, and are welcome to wear pants, t-shirts, and keep their heads uncovered. The only place you’ll be expected to cover your head is when entering a mosque – more on that in a sec!

However, I highly recommend dressing modestly not only to avoid standing out, but also as a sign of respect to the local culture. This means covering your shoulders and knees and keeping clothing loose-fitting. Trust me, it actually helps beat the heat!

Whatever you choose to wear, good walking shoes are an absolute necessity. I live in my Blundstone Boots while traveling – perfect for hiking, city walking, and everything in between!

What to Wear to Mosques

Mosques are the only place all women are expected to cover their heads. I carried one of these lightweight scarves with me at all times in Oman – small enough to take up no space in my bag but useful if I encountered a mosque. 

Most mosques in Oman are closed to non-Muslims, with the exception of the Grand Mosque in Muscat. This is Oman’s largest mosque and a beautiful feat of architecture. I highly recommend a visit to any traveler in Oman.

Female visitors to the Grand Mosque in Muscat need to be covered from wrist to ankle with a properly tied headscarf. If you need some tips on how to tie a headscarf properly, here’s a great video with 4 different styles. Pants are fine as long as they are loose-fitting. I also recommend easy slip-on shoes, as you will be asked to remove your shoes to enter the prayer halls.

If you’re still worried about your outfit being right, there are abayas and headscarves available to rent at the entrance to the Grand Mosque for a small fee. 

I occasionally approached other mosques while filling up water bottles on the road (more on this in my camping in Oman article!) I felt more comfortable with my head covered when approaching a mosque, even if I wasn’t entering, as a sign of respect. 

What to Wear to Beaches

If you’re planning to spend your time in Oman relaxing at a beachside resort or lounging in the hotel pool, there’s no need to fret too much over your swimming gear. At most hotels and resorts, all swimsuits (even bikinis) are fine for swimming in hotel facilities. 

Swimming in public places is a bit more nuanced. Public beaches, wadis, and falajs are all more frequented by locals, so more coverage is recommended as a sign of respect. Some popular areas – such as the Bimmah Sinkhole – even have posted signs reminding visitors to dress modestly, even while swimming.

Swim shorts paired with a rashguard is a great option. For even more coverage, swap the shorts for a pair of leggings. 

Many locals swim in clothes, or in full-coverage bathing suits. I swam in swim shorts and a long-sleeved shirt throughout my time in Oman, even with some local friends, and we all felt very comfortable.

If you’re unsure if the clothing you have is right, Lulu Hypermarket and Carrefour, the two largest retail chains in Oman, both sell swimming gear. 

Getting Around Oman

By far my biggest recommendation for any traveler in Oman is to rent a car. Driving in Oman is fairly easy and puts you in control of your time and schedule. For solo female travelers, this control can be a matter of safety.

I rented a 4X4 from RentalCars.com for my road trip in Oman. You can read more about renting a car in Oman here. 

If you don’t want to rent a car, taxis are available in major cities like Muscat, Nizwa, and Salalah. Official Omani taxis have orange roofs. 

I highly recommend downloading the Mwasalat app, the Uber of Oman. This app allows you to call taxis directly, ensuring you’re entering an accredited taxi and avoiding having to haggle over a price or route. 

Where to Stay as a Solo Female Traveler in Oman

Hostels are usually one of the best ways for solo female travelers to connect with people, but unfortunately there are limited options in Oman. The few hostels can be found in Oman’s larger cities of Muscat, Nizwa, and Salalah. Click here to check prices and availability on HostelWorld.

There are many hotels and guesthouses throughout Oman, even in small towns. These are a great option for solo female travelers as you get your own space to relax. Check prices and availability on Booking.com

Couchsurfing is also very popular in Oman. This company allows you to connect and stay with local hosts for free. Oman has hundreds of accredited hosts with thousands of reviews, but be sure to vet hosts carefully and only stay with verified hosts if you pursue this option.

Camping in Oman as a Solo Female Traveler

I camped alone as a solo woman in Oman for a week and felt extremely safe the entire time. If you’re not turned off by minimal showers, camping in Oman is an extraordinary experience. 

You can check out my entire itinerary here. I break down my whole route – from the coordinates of spots I camped to places I ate, swam, and showered along the way. I also wrote this guide to camping in Oman specifically for solo female travelers.

I believe camping as a woman in Oman is safe, but out of caution, I had a few unspoken rules for myself while camping. I never told anyone I met the exact location I’d be camping, and I also avoided letting people know I was alone. “I’m camping with friends” was my straightforward, vague answer when people asked where I was staying. 

My Experience as a Solo Female Traveler in Oman

I spent a little over a week solo camping my way through Oman in February 2023. In my personal experience, I felt incredibly safe traveling on my own. I’ve heard this sentiment echoed with many other solo female travelers I’ve spoken to about their experiences in Oman. 

Since I live in Dubai, I was already somewhat familiar with the culture and landscape I would be encountering when I set off to travel in Oman. In general, the Gulf countries are great for solo female travelers. Like Dubai, Oman is safe, easy to navigate, and welcoming of tourists from all around the world. 

I was, quite frankly, blown away by the kindness that I experienced from the moment I set foot in Oman. Omani hospitality is real, with complete strangers doing everything from recommending campsites to helping push my car out of the sand. Local people are extremely respectful and always eager to invite you for gahwa (Arabic coffee) and dates.

One Negative Experience

I had one negative encounter with a group of men at the Nizwa Souq, where some inappropriate comments were made that left me feeling unsafe. However, I understand this to be extremely rare, and since sharing the story publicly I’ve received many messages from Omani people apologizing for the behavior I experienced. 

I know now that if I had reported the behavior to the police, action would have been taken immediately. Harassment towards visitors is not tolerated in Oman, and travelers are welcome to contact the Royal Oman Police at any time if they experience threatening behavior.

I speak more about this experience in the video below if you’re interested (begins at 8:30 mark). I also want to remind you that this was just one encounter, and 99% of my interactions in Oman were positive. Overall, this encounter does not change my opinion that Oman is a wonderful and safe place to visit.

Emergency Information in Oman

The number to know for emergency services in Oman is 9999. You can dial this number 24 hours a day and they can connect you to all emergency services. 

Police are very responsive in Oman and harassment against tourists is not tolerated. You can call the police if you experience harassment and they will respond immediately.

Here are a few other emergency numbers to note before heading to Oman:

• Muscat Police Headquarters: 2456 0021
• Royal Hospital Emergency: +968 2459-9457
• KIMS Oman Emergency Room: +968 2476-0123
• PDO Ambulance: +968 2467-7444

My Final Thoughts: Is Oman Safe for women?

In my experience, Oman is one of the safest places you can visit as a solo female traveler. I was astounded by the generosity and hospitality at every turn, and left my trip with an appreciation for the genuine goodness of people.

I actually believe Oman is a great place to dip your toes into solo female travel – easy to navigate, extremely safe, and full of exciting cultural experiences. If you’ve been considering trying a solo trip for the first time let this be your sign – go to Oman!

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