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

[u/Necessary_Wing799]

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....

[u/painter_business]

Everyone that visits likes it a lot

[u/GrazingGeese → u/painter_business]

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.

[u/sitbar → u/GrazingGeese]

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

[u/jgandolfi → u/sitbar]

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

[u/Which_Environment911 → u/jgandolfi]

where? tell me one example.

[u/sitbar → u/Which_Environment911]

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.

[u/Which_Environment911 → u/sitbar]

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 :)

[u/Xplay3r_ → u/Which_Environment911]

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

[u/Which_Environment911 → u/Xplay3r_]

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.

[u/jgandolfi → u/Which_Environment911]

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.

[u/Which_Environment911 → u/jgandolfi]

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