As of 2002, there were 32,800 km (20,382 mi) of roadways, of which only 9,840 km (6,115 mi) were paved, including 550 km (342 mi) of expressways. A major 800-km (500-mi) highway links Nazwa in the north to Thamarit and Salalah in the Dhofar region. A main coastal road has been laid from Muscat to Suhar, a distance of 240 km (150 mi), and the road from Muscat to Buraymi on the United Arab Emirates border has been completed. In 2000, passenger car registrations totaled 262,400,000 and commercial vehicle registrations totaled 124,900. There are no railways or waterways in Oman.

In 2001, there were 143 airports, only 6 of which had paved runways. Seeb International Airport, 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Muscat, is served by numerous international carriers, including Gulf Air, in which Oman holds a 20% interest. A second modern airport, at Salalah in the south, serves domestic flights. In 2001, 1,980,100 passengers were carried on scheduled international and domestic airline flights.

Mina's Qabus, near Muscat, is the main port in the north, serving international and regional shipping. Port Salalah, 1000 km (621 mi) down the cost from Muscat is the main port for the south. Opened in 1998, Port Salalah is the only port between Europe and Singapore that can accommodate the S-class, the world's largest class of container vessel. It is now among the top twenty container ports in the world in terms of handling capacity, and among the top ten in terms of efficiency. All Omani crude oil is exported from Mina's al-Fahl, west of Matrah. In 2002, Oman had 3 merchant vessels totaling 17,291 GRT.

Getting Around by Air
Oman Air (WY) (website: www.oman-air.com) runs domestic flights to Salalah and Khasab from Seeb airport.

Getting Around by Road
Traffic drives on the right. Principal routes run from east to west, connecting Muscat to Sohar, and from north to south. There are good roads in Muscat and between Muscat and other major towns in Oman. Unpaved roads open up less-visited parts of Oman for those with 4-wheel drive.

Bus: The state-owned Oman National Transport Company (tel: 24 708 522; website: www.ontcoman.com) has a network of services around Oman using modern, air-conditioned vehicles. There are daily departures from Ruwi (Muscat) to Nizwa, Bahla, Ibri, Sohar, Buraimi, Sur and Salalah among other domestic destinations. It also runs international services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Taxis and minibuses run similar services.

Taxi: Prices are low compared to Western Europe. Shared taxis are also available. Metered taxis are slowly being introduced but in the meantime, fares should be agreed in advance.

Car hire: Available from international firms which have offices at the airport and at hotels in Muscat and Salalah. Local firms have limited availability in smaller towns.

Regulations: Traffic laws are strictly imposed. Heavy penalties are imposed for drinking and driving; 48-hour prison sentences are imposed if traffic offences are caused by driving under the influence of alcohol. Seat belts should be worn at all times. On-the-spot fines are imposed if caught using a mobile phone whilst driving. It is also forbidden to drive on the beaches.

Documentation: Long term residents need a local licence, obtainable from the police by presenting a national driving licence or International Driving Permit. Police passes are required for residents travelling to the United Arab Emirates.

Journey Times
The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Muscat to other major cities and towns in Oman.

Most visitors to Oman will arrive at Seeb International Airport, situated about 30kms from Muscat. The airport offers convenient links to most other major Middle Eastern and Asian centres, with connecting flights available from some of the more prominent air hubs. Transport within the city is via local buses, private taxis and shared taxis, know as baisa. It is also a feasible option to rent a car in Muscat, with the city’s roads being in excellent condition.

International Transport  Those entering Oman by air will do so at Muscat’s Seeb International Airport, the home of the country’s national carrier, Gulf Air. The airport is situated about 30kms from the city centre and it handles on average two and a half million passengers a year. Serving 66 destinations, it is possible to reach Oman directly from some European destinations including London, Zurich, Istanbul and Frankfurt, while most connections are to destinations within the Middle East and Asia including Cairo, Lahore, Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Dubai, Kuwait and Bangkok.

Airlines serving the airport include British Airways, Kuwait Airways, Emirates, Royal Jordanian, Sri Lankan Airlines and Thai Airways. Connection to international destinations that are not served can be made at Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. There are domestic flights between Muscat and Salalah twice a week.

The airport is a single terminal facility with limited amenities. There are food courts in both Arrivals and International Departures offering international cuisine, while there is a bar in Departures and an outlet of the popular coffee shop chain, Costa. Duty-free shopping is available is Departures, with everything from perfumes to jewellery on offer. Reading material and currency exchange is also available.

Parking is available at the airport, with both short-term and long-term facilities situated in front of the terminal. Car rental is also available from Arrivals, with several international rental agencies represented.

While some major hotels in Muscat offer transfer services from the airport for their guests, taxis are readily available, as are shared minivans, known locally as baisa. These can be taken to any destination across the city and to some destinations father afield.

Public Transportation  Muscat can be reached by bus from Dubai, while there are also bus links from the capital to many other Oman cities, with all services operated by Oman National Transport Company.

Taxis are a common way of getting about the city and from the airport to the city centre. Shared taxis can be taken to suburban districts such as Corniche, with passengers being transported in minivans, know locally as baisa. These shared taxis are available from the airport and throughout the city; they will take you to virtually any destination, as long as you find one that is going in your direction. Private cabs, recognisable by their white and orange markings, are more expensive, with passengers being expected to barter for a good price before embarking on their journey. There are no Metro or rail services in Oman.

Taxis, Cars and Busses Galore
The best to have a 4WD drive if you are visiting Oman as it will enable you to get off the main roads and explore the countryside without worrying too much about safety. There are several international Car Hire Firms in Muscat where you can arrange to pick up a 4WD. Taxis are fine for travelling around the capital area but as they are not metered then it can be hazardous to your wallet if you do not ask or negotiate a price before you get in. You can take a taxi 'engage' where you are the sole occupant or you can share the cost with other passengers. Busses are available but not always reliable or on time. There is a daily bus schedule from Muscat to Salalah which is far cheaper than flying down there but also takes between 10-12 hours.

Traffic roundabouts
One thing you will soon discover about Oman, including Muscat, is that there are lots of traffic roundabouts instead of traffic lights. This actually does help in the flow of traffic as there are not that many vehicles in Oman. An interesting feature is that some of these roundabouts have interesting statues in their centres, such as the one in this photograph showing a huge frankincense burner in the middle of a roundabout in Muscat.

Local Bus
This is the local transport its very cheap and always reaches on time. The seats a bit worn-out but the AC works and most important it does not keep u waiting.

Service taxis
Use the service taxis getting between the small towns which make up Muscat.
It costs 200 baizas per ride, per passenger.

Otherwise, say between Mutrah and Ruwi, you could easily pay up to OM3.

CAB Service
CAB service is available around Muscat and for reasonable price. Driver is Good in English language and knowledgeable and respectable.

Apart from taxis, the only other form of public transport in the Sultanate is the coach and bus service provided by Oman National Transport Co whose main depot is based in Ruwi. The timetable is as follows, but Omanet would strongly recommend contacting the company before embarking on any journey to verify times.