Oman, a country with turquoise waters and stunning mountains, offers a warm 30°C in October and remains untouched by the violence affecting its regional neighbours, according to a recent travel piece. Despite sharing a land border with Yemen and a maritime border with Iran, the Sultanate is positioning itself as a safe haven, with Lonely Planet naming it among its 50 Best Places to Go in 2027.
Tourism Impact and Local Optimism
Hotels in the three-to-five-star bracket recorded 992,000 guests in the first six months of 2026, down 13 percent on the same period last year. Some restaurants and hotels feel conspicuously quiet, even on weekend nights, but locals report numbers are beginning to pick up.
Hamad Al-Hakamani, a driver with Otaxi, said: 'My country is safe, beautiful and welcoming and there are so many wonderful places to visit. People often have no idea where we are actually located, but it is out of the conflict zone.' Aesthetician Anis Mayahi added: 'Oman is a very safe country and the people are incredibly kind and welcoming.'
Coastal and Mountain Attractions
The coastal development Al Mouj has grown since 2020, now bustling with activity. The Kempinski Hotel Muscat, opened in 2018, has 310 rooms and suites overlooking more than six kilometres of coastline. Currently, 28 projects totalling 4,789 rooms are in the pipeline for completion by the end of 2027.
In the mountains, the Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort sits around 2,000 metres above sea level on the edge of a canyon. Princess Diana visited with Prince Charles in 1986, and the viewpoint where she was photographed is now known as Diana's Point. The hotel is booked out for Christmas, Oman's busiest time of year.
Desert and Cultural Experiences
A'Sharqiyah Sands offers huge dunes in shades of orange, red and gold. A local Bedouin man with around 50 camels let a visitor ride one for 10 minutes. Traditional experiences include sunset cruises on dhows past 16th-century forts, exploring Mutrah Souq with its 200-year-old lanes, and tasting Omani-Portuguese cooking at Mesa restaurant.
The UK Foreign Office continues to warn travellers that the situation in the wider Middle East remains unpredictable, but the cautions did not reflect what was seen on the ground. The country offers dramatic mountains, turquoise waters, ancient forts beside shiny hotels, and strangers who stop to ask if you need help.
