1968 IDP plus UK/EU licence
RequiredVisitors driving their own or a rental car need a 1968 Vienna Convention International Driving Permit alongside the original national licence; the 1949 IDP is not accepted.
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Country driving guide · 2026
Driving in Oman
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Oman: 8 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.
8
Required
4
Recommended
4
Good to know
Tick before you go
Pre-departure checklist for Oman
8 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1968 IDP plus UK/EU licence
Visitors driving their own or a rental car need a 1968 Vienna Convention International Driving Permit alongside the original national licence; the 1949 IDP is not accepted.
Passport with visa or eVisa
Carry passport with at least 6 months validity and an Oman eVisa (around OMR 5 / EUR 12 for 10 days) obtained via evisa.rop.gov.om before arrival.
Local third-party insurance
UK/EU green cards are not valid; buy Omani third-party motor insurance at the border (Orange Card scheme covers Oman and most GCC states): roughly OMR 20-40 per week.
Drive on the right
Oman drives on the right-hand side of the road, with left-hand-drive vehicles standard: UK right-hand-drive cars are legal but visibility for overtaking is poor.
Speed limits 120 / 100 / 40 km/h
Motorway 120 km/h (some stretches 140), rural roads 100 km/h, urban areas 40-60 km/h; speed cameras are dense and a 20 km/h buffer no longer applies since 2018.
Zero alcohol limit
BAC limit is 0.00 g/L: any detectable alcohol means arrest, heavy fines and likely jail; alcohol is not sold to non-residents outside licensed hotels.
Seatbelts and no phones
Front and rear seatbelts compulsory, handheld phone use carries a OMR 35 fine, and children under 4 must use a child seat (under-10s banned from the front).
Warning triangle and spare
Vehicles must carry a reflective warning triangle, a serviceable spare wheel and a basic first-aid kit; ROP checkpoints occasionally inspect these.
Documents
Passport with visa or eVisa
RequiredCarry passport with at least 6 months validity and an Oman eVisa (around OMR 5 / EUR 12 for 10 days) obtained via evisa.rop.gov.om before arrival.
Local third-party insurance
RequiredUK/EU green cards are not valid; buy Omani third-party motor insurance at the border (Orange Card scheme covers Oman and most GCC states): roughly OMR 20-40 per week.
V5C and owner's NOC for own car
RecommendedBring the V5C logbook; if the vehicle is financed or not in your name, a notarised letter of authorisation from the owner is required at GCC land borders.
Driving rules
Drive on the right
RequiredOman drives on the right-hand side of the road, with left-hand-drive vehicles standard: UK right-hand-drive cars are legal but visibility for overtaking is poor.
Speed limits 120 / 100 / 40 km/h
RequiredMotorway 120 km/h (some stretches 140), rural roads 100 km/h, urban areas 40-60 km/h; speed cameras are dense and a 20 km/h buffer no longer applies since 2018.
Zero alcohol limit
RequiredBAC limit is 0.00 g/L: any detectable alcohol means arrest, heavy fines and likely jail; alcohol is not sold to non-residents outside licensed hotels.
Seatbelts and no phones
RequiredFront and rear seatbelts compulsory, handheld phone use carries a OMR 35 fine, and children under 4 must use a child seat (under-10s banned from the front).
Emergency number 9999
Good to knowDial 9999 for police, ambulance and fire; the Royal Oman Police operate roadside patrols on main highways and English is widely understood.
Avoid driving in Ramadan twilight
RecommendedAccident rates spike in the hour before iftar during Ramadan as drivers rush home fasting; plan journeys to finish before sunset or start after the meal.
Tolls
No motorway tolls or vignette
Good to knowOman has no motorway tolls, vignette or e-toll system; all highways including the Muscat Expressway and Route 31 to Salalah are free to use.
Required equipment
Warning triangle and spare
RequiredVehicles must carry a reflective warning triangle, a serviceable spare wheel and a basic first-aid kit; ROP checkpoints occasionally inspect these.
Environment
4x4 needed off-tarmac
RecommendedWadi-bashing, the Empty Quarter and Jebel Akhdar's upper road (police checkpoint refuses 2WD past Birkat Al Mawz) all require a high-clearance 4x4 with low-range.
Khareef and flash floods
RecommendedSalalah's khareef monsoon (June-September) brings fog and slick roads; from October to April sudden wadi flash floods can sweep cars away: never cross flowing water.
Money
Omani Rial and fuel prices
Good to knowCurrency is the Omani Rial (1 OMR ~ EUR 2.40); petrol is heavily subsidised at around OMR 0.235/litre (~EUR 0.56), cards accepted at urban stations but carry cash for the interior.
Cash declaration OMR 6,000
Good to knowAmounts above OMR 6,000 (around EUR 14,000) must be declared at the border; tipping fuel attendants 100-200 baisa (EUR 0.25-0.50) is customary.
Plan your Oman road trip
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Drive on the right
RequiredOman drives on the right-hand side of the road, with left-hand-drive vehicles standard: UK right-hand-drive cars are legal but visibility for overtaking is poor.
Speed limits 120 / 100 / 40 km/h
RequiredMotorway 120 km/h (some stretches 140), rural roads 100 km/h, urban areas 40-60 km/h; speed cameras are dense and a 20 km/h buffer no longer applies since 2018.
Zero alcohol limit
RequiredBAC limit is 0.00 g/L: any detectable alcohol means arrest, heavy fines and likely jail; alcohol is not sold to non-residents outside licensed hotels.
Seatbelts and no phones
RequiredFront and rear seatbelts compulsory, handheld phone use carries a OMR 35 fine, and children under 4 must use a child seat (under-10s banned from the front).