Highlights of the Day
A day of crossing borders, cultures, and expectations. From the ancient oasis of Al Ain to curtain-cloaked lunch stalls, Oman border humor, mountain drives, and a golden fortress Rozna restaurant — Oman made a grand first impression. It’s quieter, older, and more rugged than the UAE, yet no less warm.
I can’t wait to discover more tomorrow.
Logistics
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Muscat Qurum
Transportation: Rental Car
🛣 Crossing Borders: From the UAE to Oman
Today, we drove out of the UAE and into another Arabian country — Muscat, the capital of Oman. On the way, we made a stop at Al Ain, a historic oasis city near the Omani border.
In the middle of the desert, it’s hard to believe there’s a city blessed with abundant underground water. From the moment we entered, it felt rich — not in the flashy, modern sense, but with the quiet dignity of a place that has thrived for generations.
At the oasis, we were surrounded by tall date palms, dense and green — a scene so lush, it felt like we had stepped into the tropics. Sadly, we only had time for a short stroll before hitting the road again.
🍜 Lunch Behind the Curtain: A Not-So-Memorable Meal
For lunch, we randomly picked a Chinese restaurant nearby. To our surprise, it was our first time eating behind a curtain — quite literally. It made us realize that social openness here isn’t quite the same as in larger cities.
As for the food… let’s just say it was forgettable. Chicken, shrimp, fish — everything came battered in a thick coat of flour and deep-fried. No matter what you ordered, it all tasted the same. Just something to fill the stomach.
🛂 The Border Gauntlet: UAE to Oman
Back on the road toward Oman, we reached the first border checkpoint. We handed over our passports, car rental documents, and Oman e-visas (no visa required for UAE, but Oman needs one). The officer said a lot in Arabic — we didn’t understand, and they didn’t understand us either — so we just paid what was asked.
We thought we were done — but it turned out we had only paid to exit the UAE! A first for us: paying to leave a country.
A bit farther ahead, we encountered another checkpoint. This time, a security officer walked around the car. It was Oman’s Ministry of Safety Inspection.
Finally, we reached the actual Omani entry checkpoint. We handed over all our documents again, only to be asked: “Do you have the card?”
We were confused. The officer pulled a plastic card from a drawer and said, “This one.” Panic set in — had we lost something important?
Just as we were scrambling, the officer suddenly pulled out a piece of paper from our rental documents and said, “This is it.”
Relieved, we were about to move on when he suddenly raised his voice and shouted, “What is this? What is this?”
Still flustered, I blurted out, “It’s a piece of paper.”
He stared for a second… then laughed. Maybe he thought I wasn’t wrong after all. That bit of awkward humor somehow defused a very tense moment. 😊
🏞 Entering Oman: A Land of Rolling Hills
Crossing the border felt like entering another world. The UAE is dominated by skyscrapers or vast desert — but Oman greeted us with rolling hills and rocky ridges. We drove through the mountains for over three hours before finally arriving in Muscat.
🏰 Dinner Like Royalty at Rozna
We chose Rozna, a well-known local restaurant, for dinner.
As our car approached the restaurant, I genuinely felt like I was arriving at a fortress. The massive stone walls shimmered under the golden light of sunset, glowing softly as if brushed with gold. It stood there in the corner of the desert city — majestic and quietly commanding.
Inside, the restaurant opened up into a grand central hall, filled with long tables and benches, bustling yet orderly.
After checking in at the front desk, a smiling gentleman approached us: “You’ll be dining on the second floor. It’s more peaceful up there.”
We climbed the stairs and looked down from the railing — the tall ceiling and full view of the hall below formed a truly breathtaking scene, reminiscent of a Middle Eastern palace.
🍖 Whole Lamb & Ramadan Evenings
Dinner was a buffet — a long table filled with everything from salads to stews, beef, and grilled chicken.
But the highlight? A whole roasted lamb laid out at the end. I’d heard about Arab traditions of roasting whole lambs, but this was the first time I’d seen one in real life!
While we dined on the second floor, I noticed that most of the local diners were seated downstairs. Later, we learned that during Ramadan, dinner — especially the Iftar meal after sundown — is the most important time of day. It’s also a prime time for gathering with family and friends.
Because of the large crowds and limited staff, many restaurants serve buffet-style dinners during Ramadan to ensure everyone eats promptly after a full day of fasting.
📵 T-Mobile Goes Silent in Oman
One last surprise of the day: our T-Mobile phones, which worked just fine in all the other Arab countries, had zero signal in Oman.
Thankfully, my sister and brother-in-law’s China-based phones worked well, or we might have truly been stranded!
🌍 What’s Next?
Stay tuned for Day 9 as we visit Muscat, the capital of Oman!
Have you ever visited Oman? What part amazed you the most?
Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them!
If you’d like to learn more about the itinerary, please click the button below to download a free copy of the customizable itinerary.
