The beauty of planning a visit to Oman is that it’s truly a year-round destination.
With its unique and varied geography, there is almost always some part of the country experiencing amazing weather for tourists to enjoy.
This post is part of our Oman with Kids series – read more here
Weather in Oman
Oman is mostly a tropical desert, with some rain experienced in mountainous areas and clouds brought by summer monsoons along the east coast.
It is best to look at the country by its geographic regions rather than by season, as seasons vary dramatically.
The North-East Coast (from Sur through to the UAE border, including Muscat)
The North-East coast of Oman faces the Arabian Sea. Generally, the coast is warm and sunny year-round. Winters are mild with limited rainfall, and summers are slightly cooler than other parts of the Gulf due to the influence of the Summer Monsoon.
Muscat is hottest in June (expect averages around 38°C). Whilst cooling a little in July and August and experiencing cloud cover, daytime temperatures may only reach 34°C to 36°C.
Ocean temperatures are pleasant year-round (for most!), and you should be able to swim (between about 24°C to 31°C – 75°F to 88°F)
Musandam
The northernmost enclave of Oman that juts into the Strait of Hormuz can experience winter rainfall from December to March. In the summer, it is arid and hot, experiencing similar weather to much of the UAE and Gulf states.
The best time to visit Musandam for pleasant air and water temperatures is November to March.
Read more about visiting Musandam with kids here
The Hajar Mountain
The Hajar mountain range runs up the spine of the northeastern coast of Oman, the highest point being Jabal Shams (3,009m – 9,872 feet). The summer monsoon does bring a little rain to the mountains, and on very rare occasions, the Hajar Mountains can experience snowfall in winter.
You can expect frosts at high altitudes in winter and daytime highs in June – July of around 30°C / 90°F, making it a pleasant escape for many in hotter cities such as Dubai & Abu Dhabi.
South & East Coast of Oman through to Salalah
Salalah, the capital of the Dhofar region in the southern corner of Oman has a very different climate to the rest of the country.
In summer it experiences “the
Day time temperatures in June reach the early 30’s (90°F) in Salalah, but then the temperature drops to 27-29°C (81-84°F) in July and August. The water here is warm for most of the year though perhaps a little too cool for swimming at the peak of the Khafeer.
The rest of the year is mostly warm and pleasant. From April to July, winds can blow from inland accompanied by sand storms and temperatures in excess of 40°C.
We have a complete guide to the weather and seasons in Salalah here.
The interior – arid desert
The remainder of the country (which is actually most of the country’s land mass!) is
Summer maximums can drop, however, in July and August due to the cloudiness from the monsoonal weather to the south.
Holidays and crowds in Oman
Crowds are still very infrequently experienced at attractions in Oman – rarely will they spoil an experience. Those destinations close to Muscat will attract larger crowds from day trippers.
It will generally speaking be busier at times that coincide with school and public holidays in neighbouring Gulf states such as the UAE, and to some extent the European school holidays around Easter & Christmas.
Border crossings particularly will be congested on public holidays (you can read more about UAE border crossing here) and popular wadis may be more crowded than usual on hot days.
Public and religious holidays to be aware of in Oman 2023
*Note religious holidays follow the Hijri Calendar which moves approximately 10 days annually on the Gregorian calendar. Dates given are estimates only, confirmed by moon sighting committee.
- January 1 – New Years Day
- January 12 – His Majesty the Sultan’s Accession Day
- February 18 – Al Isra’a Wal Miraj (Rajab 27)
- April 21-22 – Eid Al Fitr (29th day of the month of Ramadan)
- June 28 – Eid Al Adha (from Dhul-Hijjah 9 until the 12th of the same month)
- July 18 or 19 – Hijri New Year’s Day (Muharram)
- September 26 or 27 – The Prophet’s Birthday (Rabee Al Awwal)
- November 18 and 19 – National Day holidays
Holidays falling over weekends (Friday – Saturday) may be observed the following Sunday.
Ramadan in Oman
Ramadan is strictly observed in Oman. During the 9th month of the Hijri Calendar (this year predicted to be March 22 to April 21), day time fasting occurs, and it is a quiet time for religious reflection. Eating or drinking in public during daylight hours is against the law.
Many attractions will shut completely, or only open evenings after Iftar (breaking of the fast). Major hotels will normally have a sectioned off area for non-Muslims to eat during the day.
It is an interesting time to visit a Muslim country, though may not appeal to all so be careful of limitations if planning a trip around this special time of year.
School Holidays in Oman
Local school holidays will not have a great impact on tourism and crowds but something to be mindful of.
They have a three-term school year that generally runs September to mid-December, January to March and mid-April to June. Schools may also have mid-term breaks in October and February.
Seasonal activities and events in Oman
Muscat Festival – takes place January – February in Al Qurm Natural Park. Showcasing culture & arts also features a circus and concerts. Learn more here.
Salalah Festival – held during the Khareef (15 July to 31 August) a cultural celebration and parades held around town.
Turtle Breeding Season – Around Ras Al Jinz is predominantly May to September when you can join nightly and dawn tours. Learn more here.
There are also many events happening at the Royal Opera House Muscat and a packed sporting calendar that attracts international participants to Muscat and various regional towns.
You can learn more about seasonal events here on the Experience Oman website.
So when is it best to visit Oman?
There is clearly no one answer as it’s a country that allows for exploration and interesting events year-round.
For most outdoor exploring, you will want to stick to the cooler winter months, October through to April. There is certainly merit still in enjoying the uniqueness of the
You can learn more about many of the destinations we have discussed here:
- Best things to do in Muscat with kids
- How to road trip and cross the border from Dubai & the UAE to Muscat & Eastern Oman
- Oman family highlights tour
- Where to find the best wadi’s in Oman
- Road trip from Muscat to Salalah
- What to wear when visiting Oman
- Muscat to the Musandam Peninsula – Air, Land or Sea?
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Researched and written by our Editor-in-Chief Keri Hedrick, an avid traveller, writer and mum of three based in the UAE. You can learn more about our contributing writers here. This article is not sponsored or endorsed by any of the businesses mentioned but does contain affiliate links that may earn us a small commission if a qualifying booking pr purchase is made. See our full privacy policy and terms of use here.
