The Islamic month of Ramadan is expected to begin this year on or about Friday, June 19, 2015.
Ramadan is a month of fasting and spiritual discipline for Muslims all over the world. It is a time of personal purification and renewal. Muslims are required to abstain totally from food, drink, tobacco, and sensual pleasures during daylight hours. Likewise, it is forbidden in most Arab countries, including Oman, for anyone, including non-Muslims, to eat, drink, or smoke in public from dawn to sunset. U.S. citizens residing or transiting through Oman are asked to be sensitive to local customs and be discreet when eating, drinking, or smoking during daylight, and to dress conservatively. U.S. citizens are also advised to avoid driving, as much as possible, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. when Omanis will be anxious to get home to rest after a shortened workday or to break the fast at the end of the day, respectively.
During Ramadan, American Citizens Services hours will be available by appointment only between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday and between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. Appointments are available online and may be accessed here. When visiting the embassy, please bring two forms of government-issued identification with photographs, as you will need to leave one with the security guards while inside the building.
Non-immigrant visa services during Ramadan will be available from 8:00 to 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The official visa information website of the U.S. Embassy in Oman has moved here. For assistance with visa applications, other inquiries, scheduling online appointments, paying application fees, and determining the status of visas and passports, please direct your email correspondence to Customer Support. To talk to a customer service agent, please dial (968) 2466 7735. Note: English and Standard Arabic speaking customer service agents are available 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local Omani time and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Eastern Standard Time in the United States. The center is closed on Omani national holidays, as observed by the U.S. Embassy in Oman.
Non-immigrant passport & visa pass back will be available from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
***************************************************************
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Oman enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
Regularly monitor the State Department’s website, where you can find current Travel Warnings, Travel Alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Oman. For additional information on safe travel, refer to the “Traveler’s Checklist” on the State Department’s website.
Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to have travel information at your fingertips.
The U.S. Embassy in Muscat is located at Jameat A’Duwal Al Arabiya Street in the diplomatic area of Shatti al Qurum in the capital city of Muscat; the mailing address is Consular Section, P.O. Box 202, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos 115, Sultanate of Oman. American Citizens Services are available by appointment; to schedule an appointment, please visit our website. When visiting the embassy, please bring two forms of government-issued identification with photographs, as you will need to leave one with the security guards while inside the building.
If you are a U.S. citizen in need of urgent assistance, the emergency number for the U.S. Embassy is +968 2464-3400. For After Hours Emergency, please call Tel: +968 2464-3400 and ask to speak to the duty officer.
Consular Section
US Embassy Muscat
