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Oman flagTransportation & Infrastructure Guide

Public transit, airports, and getting around in Oman

Oman, with a population of 5.1 million, features a car-dependent transportation landscape dominated by its world-class road network spanning over 62,000 km, including modern expressways. Key strengths include extensive highway expansions under Vision 2040 and 8 major airports, while challenges encompass limited public transport and ongoing rail development. Residents and visitors rely on private vehicles (right-hand driving), taxis, and emerging bus services, with robust air and maritime connectivity via Muscat hub and ports like Salalah.
Public Transport
Below Average
Road Infrastructure
Good
Public Transport
3.2/10

Basic public transport limited to bus and expanding taxi systems in Muscat and major cities. No metro or urban rail; national railway under construction (Sohar-Muscat phase). Gaps in coverage outside urban areas; integration poor. Operating hours adequate in cities but frequency low.

Road Infrastructure
8.7/10

Exceptional road network of 62,240 km (29,685 km paved, 1,943 km expressways) ranked among world's top 10. Well-maintained highways like Adam-Thumrait dualisation (400 km), Batinah Expressway. Excellent safety features, resilient design for terrain; ongoing expansions (16,000 km paved in 2024).

Internet Speed
7.8/10

Strong broadband with average fixed speeds around 140 Mbps; mobile at 120 Mbps. Fiber optic expanding via Omantel and Ooredoo, good urban coverage but rural gaps persist. High investment supports reliable connectivity.

Avg: 140+ Mbps • Extensive in Muscat and cities (70%+ households), growing to regional areas; limited rural penetration

Airport Connectivity
7.2/10

60 airports total, 8 major handling international/domestic flights. Muscat (MCT) primary hub with global routes; good coverage to GCC, Europe, Asia. Strong port-air integrations via Sohar, Duqm. Quality modern with upgrades.

Hubs: Muscat International (MCT), Salalah (SLL), Sohar (OTH), Duqm (DQM)

Transportation Costs

Metro Pass
N/A (no metro)
Bus Trip
0.5 OMR per ride (Muscat Mwasat)
Taxi
2-3 OMR start + 0.2-0.3 OMR/km
High-speed Train
N/A (rail under construction; future est. 5-20 OMR Muscat-Sohar)

Mobile Network

5G Coverage: Available in Muscat, Salalah, Sohar; expanding to major highways and cities 2024-2026 via Omantel/Ooredoo
4G Coverage: 95%+ nationwide population coverage, strong even in rural/desert areas

Reliable networks from Omantel and Ooredoo with high speeds (100+ Mbps urban). Excellent uptime, supports logistics/digital transformation.

Driving License

IDP requiredConversion needed

Foreign licenses valid 3 months with IDP (Arabic/English). EU/non-EU need IDP for rental. Residents convert to Omani license after 1 year via test/exchange for select countries.

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