r/geography Geography Enthusiast 14d ago

Oman - a country rarely spoken about. What's happening there? Discussion

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Oman is located in a area we heat about a lot for an array of reasons - there are many famous and newsworthy spots close by from dubai to Doha to Iran and Yemen...... what goes on in Oman? Let us know how life is here and any relevant info on its current state....

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u/painter_business 14d ago

Everyone that visits likes it a lot

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u/emielver 14d ago

Thats true, i went 3 years ago. Its a beautiful country with really nice people there.

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u/Unlix 14d ago

My friends just returned from their holiday trip to Oman and they said it was their best travelling experience ever, they loved it so much.
They showed me the pictures they took and my god it looked beautiful.

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u/GrazingGeese 14d ago edited 13d ago

Everyone male maybe . My mom wasn’t allowed into some restaurants while visiting feom Dubai.

EDIT: asked my mom, asked my brother. This 100% happened. Here's an excerpt: "Mom, did you get denied access to restaurants?"

"Yes I did."

"Do you mean there maybe was a family section and a men's section you weren't allowed into?"

"No, I wasn't allowed into the only restaurant in the village."

"Were you scantily dressed perhaps?"

"Shocked No! I always dress conservatively (she lives in Dubai and knows the deal), brother's name always went to get food for me wherever we got, I didn't complain it's just the way things are in some places. I don't know how it is in Muscat, maybe people are less conservative there."

And she added she didn't see any women, claiming they weren't allowed out of the house. This sounds wrong to me, maybe she didn't see any women for other reasons, but that's not here nor there. Feel free to deny, divert, question, I don't care, my family's experience is valid and legitimate.

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u/sitbar 14d ago

I don’t believe this lol sorry. What reason would she have had to be denied? That makes no sense

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u/jgandolfi 14d ago

I've spent a month there. Most cafes and restaurants either don't allow women or have special "family rooms" in the back.

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u/Which_Environment911 14d ago

where? tell me one example.

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u/sitbar 14d ago

Literally I can’t even fathom this happening. And I spent most of my time there in the mid/late 2000s, when the general sentiment and public would have naturally been more conservative and restrictive. I don’t imagine in 2024 for some reason they would suddenly start being super aggressive like deny women without a male with them lmao it sounds fucking ridiculous.

If it did happen, it would be more akin to that one baker in America who didn’t want to bake that gay cake.

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u/Which_Environment911 14d ago

like i would understand if he said some homophobic stuff, because unfortunately we have that. however, what he claims is just dumb

the problem is I met this kind a lot, and when I ask for an example, they never reply and I get downvoted to hell because apparently you can spread misinformation here!
thanks btw. Its lovely to meet someone who spent time here in oman, I hope you visit again :)

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u/Xplay3r_ 14d ago

Its mind boggling how common it is that i see mfs spreading misinformation on anything gulf, arab or muslim related and people eat it up without thinking twice lmao. I get that its common sitewide nowadays, but I see it more frequently on threads regarding any country in that region lol

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u/Which_Environment911 13d ago

Since a lot of my country doesnt use reddit it spreads easily. And when i try to counter it i just get downvoted. Like i wont say oman has no problems, it does have and many but we dont have that.

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u/jgandolfi 14d ago

Mostly cafes around the museum and palace in Muscat. The newer more fashionable places like red bird and the international chains were fine. Most of the places in the touristy parts of Nizwa were fine too, but there were plenty still that required women to go to a different room in the back.

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u/Which_Environment911 14d ago

the different room thing is optional, so now it changed from most to plenty?
The cafes around the measums are old traditional ones, and many women visit them, I went there with all my family who mostly arent hijabis and never faced it.
but nah its a closic islamphopia, middle east = bad
dw dude you arent unique, many would love to say that without visiting just to get internet clout

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u/Which_Environment911 14d ago

i am omani, before spreading misinformation, can you point which restaurants didn't allow her?
most of my family arent even hijabis, and a lot of omanis are like that. there is barely any restrictions on women
oh but yea classic westrener. Arab=bad, middle east=bad

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u/fungicide7 14d ago

Upset at stereotypes; proceeds to stereotype lol

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u/Which_Environment911 13d ago

Well. Am i wrong? Like i wont lie and say oman has no problems. But you dont know how many times people spread this and when conforted they suddenly forget the restuarnt names or where. It literally doesnt exist😭

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u/MyStackOverflowed 13d ago

friend where are your nicest beaches for a holiday

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u/Which_Environment911 13d ago

Ahh ashrakhah beach is vey beautiful (الأشخره). Also sifah beach which is closer to the capital. Qurm beach is wonderful at night as it woll glow because of coral and its in the capital However you might find it dirty.

I hope you have fun!

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u/GrazingGeese 14d ago

I mean I can ask, they drove down from Dubai for a few days. She 100% wasn’t allowed alone in some places, as it apparently wasn’t common for women to dine out. I’m glad it puts you off.

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u/Which_Environment911 13d ago

No i am sorry but its common. Literally everyone goes and alone. What you think we live in some middle age shithole? Please stop spreading misinformation until you tell me the place name.

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u/GrazingGeese 13d ago

I don’t owe you anything bud

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u/Typical-Dinner-9070 13d ago

Yea this didn’t happen- I travelled alone in Oman without any issue. Which restaurants?

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u/GrazingGeese 13d ago

I don’t know

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u/True-Put-3712 14d ago

That's quite the broad statement.

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u/painter_business 13d ago

Ok Mr scientist

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u/ConsequenceNarrow176 14d ago

I've been there for only 12 hours (transit time) but their building and culture just always stick into my mind

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u/Fancy_Improvement_40 13d ago

My husband was deployed there years and years ago and absolutely loved it. He’d go back in a heart beat.

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u/SnooCrickets4626 14d ago

Not everyone. I met a fella who visited and did not like it a lot.

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u/gravity_squirrel 14d ago

That is to say, he didn’t ‘like it a lot’, but perhaps a little, or he disliked it a lot?