Salalah Oman Road Trip From Dubai
Salalah is the capital city of southern Oman's Dhofar province.The Khareef,an annual monsoon, transforms the desert terrain into a lush,green landscape and creates seasonal waterfalls.
Considering it’s a straight, flat journey through a sparse desert with views of nothing much, it’s little wonder that the road from Dubai to Salalah isn’t exactly well travelled.That, and the fact that it’s about 1,200 kilometres one way.
So for convenience we split our journey.we travelled to Nizwa Oman from Dubai.we started at 9am in the morning reached Niswa around evening 3.30.The distance to Niswa from Dubai is only 4 hours and 40 minutes to 5-48 minutes depends on traffic .but we got delayed in some places thats why we reached little late.
we have stayed in Niswa for one night and next day morning 7am we started from Niswa oman and reached Salalah around4.30pm.
Documents required traveling to Salalah -Oman from UAE by road
• Your's and your dependent’s / co-passenger’s passports
• Your driving license + registration card (Mulkiya)
• Car insurance document.
Visa requirements:
• If you are a UAE residence visa holder, you Can apply for E visa or you will get visa on arrival at the Oman border provided you have below mentioned mandatory documents.
• Valid residence visa of UAE (Your UAE visa should be in professional category – Other categories may get rejected)
• Valid passport (Not less than six months).For Companions / Drivers / Maids Labor card and valid passport ( not less than 3 months )
• Insurance document for your car in Oman (Apply for orange card in your vehicle insurance company before leaving ,it will take one or two days to issue and its free and its a must to travel.if not you can apply in the UAE-OMAN border check post, they will charge an amount for that.for 8 days they charged us150dhs)
Currency in Salalah:
The local currency is Omani Riyal. However almost all the places UAE Dirhams are accepted.but keep a debit card or credit card with you many places its a must.
Few points to ponder for those who intended to drive.
1.Dubai to Niswa distance:-5 hr 48 min (520.8 km) via Route 21.
2.Niswa ,Oman to Salalah,Oman distance is 8 hr 25 min (876.2 km) via Route 31.
3.you can go directly from Dubai to Salalah Oman the distance is 12 hr 11 min (1,221.7 km) via Route 31(But be ready for 14-15 hours straight journey )
4.you can go salalah through another route its:-Dubai-Ibiri-Salalah Road
Dubai to Ibri 3 hr 22 min (287.8 km) via Al Ain - Dubai Rd/E66 and Route 21
ibri to salalah distance :-9 hr 11 min (940.5 km) via Route 31(Follow Route 29 to Route 31 in
2 hr 17 min (217 km),it’s a single carriageway. People usually prefer root 31 )thenFollow Route 31 to 6 hr 33 min (720 km)to reach salalah.
1. Keep in mind that you need to travel almost1,300 kilometers from Abu Dhabi/Dubai to reach Salalah.If you are traveling straight,start your journey early in the morning(3-4 am) .Many people are traveling by using sedan cars,an SUV/4X4 is not a must but we recommend a SUV/4X4 considering your comfort to travel a long 14 -15 hours continuous journey.
3. if possible avoid traveling at night.Many areas there is no street light through out the journey.Do the entire journey in Route 31 in day light since I consider it the most risky drive as there is no street light for more than 600 KMs.
4.if you are choosing ibri root please understand that its a single carriage way with lorries and trucks ,its better choose ibri to niswa to salalah,root 31 because till haima its a two way road with dividers and you can see less trucks and fast route to drive compared with the other route which google recommends.
5.you can experience cross winds and sand storms through out your journey especially till haima.
this is the main reason I suggest you to avoid night journey.just imagine with out street light driving at night with heavy sandstorm or cross wind,its horrible even day time.visibility will reduce and wind will hit your vehicle from all directions and it can cause accidents .
6.there will be trucks in the road be very careful while overtaking them because most of the SUV/Sedan/4x4 are traveling with a speed limit between 120-160 KM/HR you must be careful about haphazard overtaking methods of some other motorist.
7.After Haima there is no dividers on the road ,
The highway is also not fenced off but there are signs warning about the possibility of camels or sheep wandering to the other side to graze. So look out in the distance for camels strutting brazenly for the highway, and if you spot one, slow down and pass with caution.
8.. No need to worry on fuel stations, but whenever you see a fuel station fill your vehicle and go that is the best option.you have fuel station almost every 150 to 200 KMs,
10. we are travelling to another country so keep your passport, driving license and vehicle registration and other documents handy to avoid any delays.
