Car Hire Oman
Oman is a vast country that covers many thousands of square miles and is home to some of the biggest deserts on the planet. As you would expect, the desert areas are sparsely populated, and the cities are more densely populated.
Travellers who visit this unique country often want to hire a car to enable them to get out of the main areas and explore areas it might be difficult to reach by public transport.
What you will need to decide is what kind of car you wish to rent; if you’re happy to stick to main highways then a standard car will be ok, but if you want to drive off-road and across deserts then a 4×4 would be a better option.
The good news is that car hire in Oman is a straightforward process and it won’t break the bank either.
Keep reading to find out more details about car hire in Oman.
Car Hire Muscat
Tourism in Oman is still in its infancy. As such Public transport has not yet developed to cater for tourists. It is possible to commute between the main cities by comfortable bus and very economically. But these bus routes do not extend to the main attractions such as Wadi Shab, Wadi Bani and Khalid Jebel Shams etc. It is of course possible to take a Taxi to some of these places but the cost of doing this would soon mount up.
If you are a Solo Traveller you might think to yourself “I will just jump on a plane and get off in Muscat and try to join a group tour. This is much harder than you think! Be sure to search the internet well in advance to make sure you find a company that offers such Tours. Things change all the time and you might be lucky to find such a company. In fact as we see our website traffic growing Nomad Tours are considering running daily tours to the “Classics” such as Wadi Shab and Wadi Bani Khalid.
So if you are a Solo Traveller you will find it much easier to get around by hiring a car. In fact if your budget does not enable you to hire a car then consider carefully if it is worth visiting Oman at all. OK, if you just want to get the T-shirt and visit Muscat but you will be missing out on so much.
Being the capital city of Oman, car hire in Muscat plays a vital role for travellers looking to find a flexible travel method across the country and provides jobs for the inhabitants of the city.
If you’re looking at car hire in Muscat, you first need to consider why you’re visiting Oman and what you plan to do whilst on your trip. If you plan on staying in the city the whole time, then it may be best to consider public transport options. Alternatively, if you wish to explore this vast country, hiring a car would provide you with the most flexibility.
It is possible to see quite a lot by hiring a 2WD car and this by far the cheapest option. But to really see the best of Oman the mountains the Sugar Dunes Bar and Al Hickman etc then it is much better to go for a 4WD car.
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4WD Cars Rental in Oman with Roof Top Tents
If you rent a car in Muscat, it will help you explore all of Oman’s amazing sights. The great news is that you won’t have to look far as there are plenty of companies offering a car rental service.
You can take your pick from companies such as:
- Nomad Car Rental
- Europcar
- Dollar
- Enterprise
- Alamo
- Thrifty
These companies all operate in and around the vicinity of Muscat. Some of these companies also offer a car hire service from Muscat International Airport, which you can book in advance of landing there, so you’re ready to explore as soon as you set foot off the plane.
If you have decided to hire a car when in Muscat, you’ll need to know the locations of where you’ll be able to pick one up. Most of the companies offer different locations across the city, including Muscat Airport, Muscat Headquarter, Radisson Blu Al Khuwair, Shangri-La Barr Al Husn Hotel, and Shangri-La Barr Al Waha hotel.
Nomad Tours Car Rental Service
Nomad cars and cars from our car partners are not always the cheapest. But what they are the best value cars available.
Our cars come with roof rails so you can install a rooftop tent. Not many other car rental companies provide cars with roof rails suitable to install roof top tents. Note some of these tents weigh 90kg so the roof rails have to be strong enough to support these tents.
Some of our cars have hatchbacks that open vertically so you can install a Tailgate tent and some of our cars like the Nissan Pathfinder and the GMC Yukon SLT have back seats that fold completely flat so you can sleep comfortably in the back of the car.
We allow our cars to drive off-road . If you are going to rent a 4WD car it is imperative that you are allowed to drive off-road. If you are planning to hire a car from any other company than Nomad Tours or one of our partners. Be sure to ask for a copy of the actual rental agreement to check that they allow you to drive off road .
- 4WD Toyota Land Cruiser V6 – Starting at 55 OMR per day
- 4WD GWM Poer V4 Turbo – Starting at 55 OMR per day
Full range of 4 x 4 Cars Available for Rental
4WD Cars for Rent with Roof Top Tents
Hiring a car at Muscat International Airport
If you want to take a car rental at Muscat airport, then the great news is that there’s plenty of options available to you.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to sort things out in advance the great news is that hire cars can be booked in advance. Using an online platform such as booking.com will enable you to compare a range of car rental providers to give you a great price, and for a week’s hire of a medium car the price to pay will be in the region of $150. You also have the option of upgrading to a different style of car for an extra cost.
Another great aspect of hiring a car at Muscat airport is that these come with unlimited mileage. Coupled with the fact that petrol is very cheap in Oman it’s the perfect partnership for exploring this wonderful country.
The benefits of hiring a 4×4 in Oman
The benefits of hiring a 4×4 in Oman is that this type of vehicle will enable you to travel on all the main routes, but where a 4×4 will get you that a standard car won’t, is to the off-road parts such as the deserts or those secluded beaches you’ll want to try and find.
You can easily find plenty of 4×4 rental in Muscat,. Most of the companies offer self-pickup or delivery service to various locations across the country, including Muscat, Muscat International Airport, Salalah, Azaiba or Duqm Airport. Nomad Car Rental will also deliver your vehicle to your hotel if desired, or you can head to their city office to pick it up.
This brings us nicely to our next point; fuel prices. Fuel prices are considerably lower than in other parts of the world meaning you can fill up your tank for a lot less. This is a major benefit of hiring a car in Oman as when you’re exploring the country it won’t be as hard on your wallet.
If you want to compare other means of travel around Oman, we have put together the following list:
Plane: you can catch in-country flights between certain cities and towns which would help cut down on driving time. Flying between places such as Muscat, Salalah, Duqm and Khasab via Oman Air would be your best choice.
Taxis: Although an option, this would be an expensive way to get around Oman. Fine for inner city travel around places like Muscat, but for long distance travelling you’d be better off finding alternative.
Buses: Contrary to the expensive taxi option, buses provide a budget-friendly option of getting around Oman. Buses are able to take passengers on inner-city and cross-country trips.
Boat: Visiting some of Oman’s islands can be conducted by a boat trip. Leaving the mainland these are the gateway to magnificent dive sites which are bursting with marine life and epic beaches. Tour operators such as SeaOmon are a great choice for travelling by boat.
Safety tips when hiring a car in Muscat
If you’re considering a car hire from Muscat 4×4 to do some off-road exploring, it would be good to consider the following safety tips as part of your routine pre-expedition travel plans.
- Oman is prone to flash flooding even during periods of very short rain fall, due to poor drainage infrastructure and many mountainous areas. It does not rain much at all, perhaps around 10 days of the year, however being in close proximity to Wadis (valleys) must be avoided at all costs, even if there are the slightest chances of rainfall.
- Dealing with an accident can be done in two ways. For major accidents, dialling 9999 will get you through to the emergency services who will be able to assist you. If you’ve been involved in a minor accident, you’ll either need to follow the instructions on the Royal Omani Police website, or fill out an accident form which should be included with your hire car.
- Don’t drink and drive in Oman – there is a zero-tolerance attitude towards driving under the influence.
- Similarly, don’t think about using a mobile phone when driving either as this is also against the law.
- Don’t run red lights in Oman otherwise you’ll be landed with a $1300 fine!
A short guide to getting to various places in Oman from Muscat.
If you decide on a car rental Muscat 4×4 type vehicle, it’s good to know how far you’ll need to drive to get to some of the destinations across Oman.
Muscat to Wahiba Sands:
There is a distance of 136 miles between Muscat and Wahiba Sands. This will take at least a couple of hours driving by car.
Muscat to Raz Al Jinz (Turtle Beach):
There is a distance of 155 miles between these two places which will take over 3 hours to drive by car.
Muscat to Salalah:
There’s a hefty 632 miles between these two places which will take a full day of driving.
Muscat to Sur:
There’s approximately 100 miles between Muscat and Sur which will take a couple hours’ worth of driving.
Oman is also an easy place to drive around. Here are some top tips for driving in the country:
- Pay attention to the speed limits; highways have a speed limit of 120km/h whilst open country roads are reduced to 90km/h. The speed limit reduces to between 40-80km/h in urban areas.
- If you decide to rent a car, check your rental plan to make sure it covers the kinds of activities you want to undertake. This will help you avoid unnecessary fees.
- You can get yourself an International Driving Permit for as little as $15, and although not required by law it can be useful to have if stopped by police.
- You need to be 25 years old to rent a car in Oman.
You can pick up a rental car for as little as $40 a day in Oman.
Your first option for hiring a car in Oman
Car hire at Muscat International Airport is something that many Oman travellers choose to do as it sets them on their way for the rest of their holiday. The great news is that car hire at Muscat international airport is simple and can even be done in advance of starting your holiday.
The options for choosing a hire car company at Muscat international airport are plentiful with some globally recognised brands such as Europcar, Enterprise and Thrifty to choose from.
There’s also a great range of vehicles to choose, from smaller economical cars to 4×4’s. The type of vehicle you need to choose largely depends on your holiday itinerary, for example if you’ll be sticking to main roads and city streets a small car would be fine, but if you’re the adventurous type who wants to head off into one of the deserts, a 4×4 would be a top choice.
Price is also an important factor when renting a car, but the great news is that renting a car at Muscat international airport is cheap compared to other countries with prices starting at around $60 a day.
Related Questions
Find more information about Car rental in Oman with these questions and answers:
Do you need a car in Muscat?
If you’re visiting Oman and intending to only stay in Muscat it’s probably the only time you don’t need to hire a car. Muscat is well served by an abundance of taxis which are straightforward to find. Muscat also has an extensive bus network that visits the main tourist attractions and airport.
Do I need a car in Muscat?
This depends on how long you’re visiting Muscat and whether you want to travel to any other parts of Oman. If you intend on only staying in Muscat then you can get by with using taxis and buses, however if you plan on venturing out of the capital it’s a good idea to rent a car.
Do I need a car in Oman?
If you’re travelling to Oman and plan on seeing the country, it’s worthwhile renting a car to get you around. Oman is large country and the easiest way to visit different places is by car. Public transport is very limited, and you would spend a lot of money on taxi fares getting to and from different places.
How can I get around Oman without a car?
Whilst renting a car to get yourself around Oman would undoubtedly give you the most flexibility, there are a couple of other options such as taxis, boats, buses and planes which you could use to help you travel around Oman.
Is Oman easy to drive?
Generally, yes Oman is easy to drive. Oman has some great quality roads and traffic is very light outside of places like Muscat.
If you are planning on driving on main highways and in towns and cities, a standard rental car will be fine. However, if you’re more adventurous and wish to explore deserts and secluded areas, hiring a 4x4 vehicle would be the best option.
Do we need a 4x4 in Oman?
Whether or not you need a 4x4 in Oman depends on the types of trips you’re planning to undertake. The major towns and cities are accessible without a 4x4 but if you’re planning on driving into one of the deserts for wild camping or other activities, renting a 4x4 would be useful.
