Rent Car In Muscat – A Traveller’s Lifeline

The capital of Oman is a clean and modern city, with well-kept paved roads. You will find that as long as you stick to the speed limit and follow all regulations, driving through the city is easy and trouble-free. Hence before you start wandering the streets with your rent a car in Muscat, you should be aware of the basic laws, maps and directions.

Muscat is a moderately sized city and the main six-lane highway is very easy to navigate. The easiest way to find specific locations is to use the airport as a starting point. After it, all the roundabouts go in the following order: Azaiba, Ghubra (or Bowshar), Al Khuwair, Qurum, Wuttayah, Wadi Adai, Hamriya, Ruwi, Al Burj and Bait Al Falaj. Note this order and you won't have any trouble finding your way around the city.

You may, however, find some trouble understanding the maps due to three main reasons. The first one is that Arabic, when written in Latin alphabet uses phonetic spelling, so you may find different variations in the spelling of street names. Also, the city is full of roundabouts, which can create confusion in the map reading. Finally, you´ll see a lot of drawings around these roundabouts. Don’t let these symbols drive you crazy, they are quite easy to understand. They stand for the huge model sculptures, water fountains or monuments located in the roundabouts, which refer to the place where the roundabout is placed or to the name of the roundabout.  Residents who travel the roads regularly are known to have a favourite roundabout.

You should also be careful with the fines. Road rules in Oman can be really different from driving regulations in your home country. You will find a speed camera every 2km; don’t go by the inactive look they have, they all work properly and their tolerance is 19km per hour. Some time ago, speeding was a huge problem in Muscat, causing the government to build foot-over bridges and subways.

There is no tolerance for driving under the influence of alcohol and breaking the law will occur in severe penalties. Wearing seatbelts has been implemented as a rule due to different government campaigns to promote road safety. Remember to always carry your documentation, as you will have to produce it in the event of an accident.

Muscat is generally very hot, with temperatures reaching as high as 40°C (104°F) in the summer. The best choice for a car rental in Muscat would be a decent vehicle with AC. If you are staying inside the city limits, a saloon will do, and you’ll get it for a lower price. Outside Muscat, your best option is a 4x4 SUV.

For parking, lookout for the meters located in certain areas of Muscat, especially Qurum and Muttrah. Normally parking is free on Fridays. Driving a rent car in Muscat is pretty hassle-free and convenient and is a great way to see this beautiful city.

Tips for Pick up Car Hire in Oman

Renting a car in Oman is an amazing way of getting to know the country, as it gives you the freedom to explore the amazing places as you wish.  You’ll find a wide variety of choices depending on your itinerary. From a simple saloon car for wandering through the city to a top of the line 4x4 SUV for wadi or dune bashing, there is every kind of pick up car hire in Oman.

You can get a pick up car hire in Oman directly at Muscat International Airport, from the multiple car rental agencies at hotels or at their offices located in the capital area and beyond. If you need extras like bicycle racks or children’s car seats, be sure to book in advance.

After reaching Oman, you’ll want to explore the country right away, not spend your time trying to organize a car.  A good idea is to get the vehicle organized in advance, so you can land and drive away without wasting any time around the rental counter.

Pick up car hire in Oman can be tricky, so make sure to select the right car according to your plans. You might feel quite adventurous on your first visit and rent a huge 4x4 vehicle to drive it through the desert, but there is no need to spend so much money on a car. You can arrange desert safaris through travel agencies with specially customized desert vehicles and experienced drivers. Additionally, according to the regulations of many agencies, you may not even be allowed to drive outside the tarmac roads. Taking all this into consideration you can reduce your car rental budget by almost 50 percent.

You can also save a lot of money by cutting off the extras. For example, you won’t need a GPS navigation to get around Oman. It is quite easy to get around and paper maps are simple to follow. In addition, all the roads to the main cities are in good condition and well sign- posted.

Look out also for the ‘out of working office hours fee’. Avoid it by picking up your rental car during office hours in main cities or at airports where rental offices work 24x7. You can also save money if you refrain from one way car rentals. It is quite common for visitors to pick up a rental car in Oman, explore Muscat and then head to Dubai and drop off the car there. International car rental will make your car rental budget increase exponentially.

When planning your car rental budget, consider that the petrol cost in Oman is low, 12OR to fill a big 4x4 and 6 OR for a saloon car. When you pick up your rental car, it will be supplied with a full tank of fuel and must be returned the same way. You will be charged for missing fuel. Note that there are many speed cameras on the roads, so watch out for the speed limits if you want to fend off fines and admin fees.

Some car rental agencies include a pick-up service, which includes collecting you at your hotel and bringing you to the offices to fill out the forms. They might also provide Airport pick-ups and drop-offs, but it might involve an extra cost.

Oman has an ever-expanding network of roads and highways, around and even through the mountains, giving you endless possibilities to explore and discover the country. Make sure you arrange your pick up car rental in Oman before arriving, so you can start your road adventure without any delay.