Oman Weather and Climate

Geographical location

According to COUNTRYAAH, Oman is located in the Near East in the Middle East and occupies the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. To the northwest of the Sultanate of Oman are the United Arab Emirates and to the west of Saudi Arabia.

Oman borders Yemen in the southwest, the Gulf of Oman in the north and the Arabian Sea in the east.

In addition to the regular land area, the Rus al-Jibal peninsula on Cape Musandam as well as the Madha exclave (surrounded by UAE) and some islands are part of the Omani national territory.

Around 4.2 million people live in an area of ​​309,000 square kilometers, i.e. only around 13.5 inhabitants per square kilometer. Oman is only slightly smaller than Germany, but only has about 5% of the population.

The capital and economic center of the Sultanate is Muscat (often also after the English spelling: Muscat) in the northeast of the country. Muscat is located in a bay between towering cliffs and the foothills of the Hajar Mountains.

The highest point in Oman is Mount Jebel Shams at 3,017 meters. Most of the land area, however, is determined by the Jeddat al Harasis, an extensive desert.

• Abbreviation Finder: Check to see national geography, brief history, society description, domestic politics, economy overview, and a list of widely used acronyms about Oman.

Climate in Oman

The climate in Oman, as one of countries with O according to COUNTRYAAH, is very warm all year round, due to the influences of the Indian monsoon, one speaks of a so-called marginal tropical climate. The northeast coastal plain around Muscat and further north is characterized by a subtropical climate with very hot summer months. From April to October, daytime temperatures of 35 degrees and more are more the rule than the exception in Muscat. The 40 degree mark is often cracked in hot periods, and around 30 ° C is quite common at night in June and July.

The high humidity is in contrast to the relatively low rainfall, the entire coastal plain in the northern part of the country experiences rain very rarely during the year. With water temperatures of 23 degrees (February) to 32 degrees (June / July), the sea ​​is suitable for bathing in every season. A completely different climate prevails in the southern region of Dhofar on the Indian Ocean, which includes Taqah and Mirbat as well as the up-and-coming resort of Salala (Salalah). This section of Oman is strongly influenced by the Khareef monsoon.

In winter it rarely rains, but from mid-June onwards a strange weather phenomenon occurs in the region: Our climate table shows only very small amounts of rain in Salalah during the rainy season. In fact, however, warm, humid air accumulates in the coastal areas of Salalah and plunges the south of Oman into a kind of spray mist, which, as a mix of the finest rain and low-hanging fog, plunges nature into lush green. This rainy season is so unique on the Arabian Peninsula that it attracts thousands of wealthy Arabs to Dhofar every year to celebrate the “natural wonder” and bring Salalah a second main season.

When to go to Oman

To summarize the weather in Oman and our climate values ​​in a nutshell: Summer in Oman is extremely hot, hazy and very humid. As the best travel time for Oman (both Muscat and Salalah) we therefore recommend the period from November to March, the transition months of October and April are still well suited for a vacation in Oman.

The rainy season in the south (June to September) is so much celebrated by visitors from the United Arab Emirates as a natural wonder that many hotels have booked out months in advance and a second main season arises around Salalah. However, this time is by no means recommended for European holidaymakers, as the climate during this period is perceived as rather unpleasant.

Optimal travel time for the regions

In the following overview you can see the best travel time depending on the region (Oman).

Place	Best travel time
Muscat	January, February, March, April, November and December
Salalah	January, February, March, April, October, November and December
Khasab	January, February, March, April, November and December

Temperatures, precipitation, sunshine in Muscat (Oman)

	Jan	Feb	March	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daytime temperature	24 ° C	26 ° C	30 ° C	35 ° C	38 ° C	38 ° C	37 ° C	35 ° C	35 ° C	34 ° C	30 ° C	27 ° C
Night temperature	15 ° C	18 ° C	20 ° C	23 ° C	27 ° C	31 ° C	29 ° C	28 ° C	26 ° C	25 ° C	20 ° C	17 ° C
Water temperature	24 ° C	23 ° C	25 ° C	27 ° C	30 ° C	32 ° C	32 ° C	31 ° C	30 ° C	30 ° C	28 ° C	26 ° C
Precipitation in mm	26	25	16	17	7	1	0	1	0	1	7	13
Rainy days	3	2	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2
Hours of sunshine	9	9	9	10	11	11	9	9	10	10	10	9
Sunrise	6:50	6:40	6:15	5:45	5:25	5:20	5:30	5:40	5:55	6:05	6:20	6:40
Sunset	17:40	18:00	18:15	18:25	18:40	18:55	18:55	18:40	18:10	17:40	17:20	17:20

Temperatures

The annual average temperature in Muscat is 28 ° C. For comparison: Munich reaches an average of 8.6 ° C, in Berlin it is 9.6 ° C. The warmest month is June (35.5 ° C), coldest month of January with mean values of 19.4 ° C. The maximum water temperature in Muscat is 32 ° C. Comfortable bathing is possible at these temperatures. All months have a water temperature of at least 21 ° C and are therefore suitable for a beach holiday.

Precipitation

The annual precipitation is 113 mm on 13 days with precipitation. For comparison: In Munich, 967 mm, in Berlin 570 mm, precipitation is measured annually. There is no rainy season, i.e. months with more than 175 mm of precipitation. You cannot expect snow in any month in Muscat.

Sunshine

As our climate table shows, May is the sunniest month with an average of 11.2 hours of sunshine per day. On average over the year the sun shines an average of 9.6 hours per day. For comparison: In Munich and Berlin, the sun shines an average of 4.7 hours per day throughout the year.

Cities nearby

The following larger towns are nearby and have a similar climate: Sib and Bawshar.

Highlights and attractions

The region of Dhofar is worth seeing in itself, as the otherwise dry and colorless shrub savannah turns into a green, blooming landscape with the monsoons. The more than 40 kilometers long beaches of Salalah also earned the place the justified nickname “Caribbean of the Orient”. It is probably the most beautiful region for a relaxing beach holiday in Oman.

No less fascinating is the capital Muscat, which has preserved old traditions and offers a fascinating impression of the country’s culture. The landscape of Muscat is also absolutely unique with its sheltered location in a bay. The fjords around the Musandam (Khasab) peninsula are popular excursion destinations. A traditional dhow takes you on a maritime exploration tour with several snorkeling stops, often the trips are accompanied by dolphins.