Safety in Oman: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 6 September 2026.
Safety
- Stable, tense region — Oman is politically stable with a low crime rate: thefts are few and robberies almost unknown. Continuing tension in the Gulf means hostile acts in the area cannot be ruled out, and the regional picture can change quickly, so keep informed and follow any specific instruction from the authorities.
- Yemeni border — Do not travel to the strip along the border with Yemen, and least of all to the area of the border crossings.
- Desert needs a guide — Do not head into the desert without a guide and proper equipment: for the more demanding routes the ministry says to rely on travel agencies and experienced drivers, using four-wheel-drive vehicles. Plan any itinerary off the main roads in advance with a local operator and ask the Royal Oman Police about restricted-access areas. Where a route crosses inland zones with oil installations, stopping is not allowed.
- Wadis and flash floods — Sandstorms, cyclones and heavy rain are not unusual here, and flooding and torrents in the wadi beds are frequent. In those conditions, drop any off-road or remote plans and never drive into a wadi. The Dhofar region around Salalah gets heavy rain, wind and flooding from the summer monsoon.
- Heat and getting lost — The climate and the terrain can create real trouble on their own, between extreme heat and the ease of losing your way. Do not go into isolated areas without a guide.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 6 September 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Oman before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 6 September 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.