United Arab Emirates or Oman?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 90 75
UNESCO listings among them 8 7
Cost level High Mid-range
Busiest month in our write-ups January February
Currency UAE dirham (AED) Omani rial (OMR)
Plugs and voltage G - 230 V G - 240 V
Everyday languages Arabic Arabic
Driving side right hand side right hand side
Region Western Asia Western Asia
Capital Abu Dhabi Muscat
United Arab Emirates
Glass-tower modern atop deep Bedouin courtesy; public decorum is the deal.
What we have written up
- Abu Dhabi Corniche waterfront
- Ain Al Madhab Gardens springs and gardens
- Ajman Corniche waterfront
- Al Ain Camel Market livestock market
- Al Ain Oasis forest
- Al Aqah Beach beach
All 90 places in United Arab Emirates →
Worth knowing before you go
- Cards work everywhere
- Tipping is 10% if no service charge
- Taxis are cheap and metered; ride apps work too
Oman
The Gulf's gentlest welcome; mountains, wadis and dhows over malls and towers.
What we have written up
- Ain A'Thawwarah Hot Springs hot springs
- Al Baleed Archaeological Park archaeological site
- Al Hamoda Mosque mosque
- Al Hamra town
- Al Hazm Castle castle
- Al Hoota Cave cave
Worth knowing before you go
- Cards work in cities; cash for villages and souqs
- Tipping is not traditional; rounding up is kind
- Wadi Shab and the Sharqiya sands are the classic circuit with Muscat
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.