Travel advisory · OmanSome governments advise against all but essential travel to Oman.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Yemen border area · avoid all travel · Canada, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, US
- Duqm · avoid non-essential travel · France, US
- Musandam · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, France, US
Also named by one government: Strait of Hormuz and other sensitive maritime areas (New Zealand), High seas of the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea (Ireland), Salalah (France)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | Regional tensions | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Oct 23, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Avoid non-essential travel | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | Oct 29, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise increased caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| Ireland (Department of Foreign Affairs) | High Degree of Caution (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Increased caution across the whole country (zone de vigilance renforcée) (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Sharqiya Sands
Sharqiya Sands is a desert of sand dunes in eastern Oman, visited for dune drives, camel rides and nights in desert camps.
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Sharqiya Sands, also called the Wahiba Sands, is a desert of sand dunes in the Sharqiya region of eastern Oman. The dunes change color through the day, from pale yellow in the morning to deeper orange toward sunset, and the wind keeps reshaping them, so the same route can look different from one trip to the next. Bedouin families have long lived and herded animals in the area, and desert camps run by local operators are the usual place to stay.
Go for a stay built around the dunes rather than a city stop. Days suit dune driving with an experienced driver, camel rides and walks on the sand. Evenings suit dinner at a desert camp and stargazing, since the desert sits far from city lights. The cooler months, from September to April, are the best time to go. Plan at least one or two nights in the dunes for a first visit; a longer stay gives you slower days and more time to move at a relaxed pace.
Sharqiya Sands in five
- Visit between September and AprilThe ministry lists September to April as the best time for the Sharqiya Sands and describes winter as the camping season. Lowland summer heat runs 35 to 45 degrees C, so the dunes suit the cooler months.
- Hire an experienced driver or join a convoyFCDO says desert trips can be dangerous unless you are in a well-equipped 4WD, and advises convoys where possible, water, a phone and a copy of your plans left with someone.UK travel advice
- Choose a licensed operator or campThe ministry publishes lists of accommodation and tour operators for the Sands. Book one that supplies transport, water and a guide for dune driving.Ministry tour operators
- Respect Bedouin customsThe ministry asks visitors to respect the customs of the Bedouin tribes, to dress appropriately, use sunscreen and carry plenty of water.
- Add Bidiyah's forts and Wadi Bani KhalidThe ministry's North Al Sharqiyah guide lists Al Muntarib Fort, Bidiyah Museum and Al Wasil Fort, and names Wadi Bani Khalid, best from February to April, nearby.Hajar Mountains
Need to know
- Airport
- Muscat (MCT), then a road trip into the dunes
- Getting there
- By road; Bidiyah is the main village gateway
- Getting around
- A 4x4 with an experienced driver or a tour
- Best base
- A desert camp, or Bidiyah for a shorter visit
- Time needed
- One night in camp; two with Wadi Bani Khalid
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear1 rainy dayHigh25°Low18°Cool, campingJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, camping
- FebruaryClear0 rainy daysHigh27°Low19°Cool, campingFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, camping
- MarchClear2 rainy daysHigh31°Low22°WarmMarchClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- AprilClear2 rainy daysHigh35°Low26°HotAprilClear
Mixed
- High
- 35°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 19 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- MayClear1 rainy dayHigh39°Low29°Very hotMayClear
Poor
- High
- 39°
- Low
- 29°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh39°Low30°Extreme heatJuneClear
Poor
- High
- 39°
- Low
- 30°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Extreme heat
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh38°Low30°Extreme heatJulyClear
Poor
- High
- 38°
- Low
- 30°
- Precipitation
- 17 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Extreme heat
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh37°Low29°Very hotAugustClear
Poor
- High
- 37°
- Low
- 29°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Very hot
- SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh36°Low27°HotSeptemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 36°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- OctoberClear1 rainy dayHigh33°Low25°HotOctoberClear
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- NovemberClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low22°Warm, campingNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, camping
- DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low19°Cool, campingDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 5 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, camping
Average daily high and low in Bidiyah, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Sharqiya Sands
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 24°
- Humidity
- 31%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Sharqiya Sands
02:43 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today34°21°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 34°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed33°21°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu34°21°0%Thursday: Clear. High 34°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri33°21°0%Friday: Clear. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat33°21°0%Saturday: Clear. High 33°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun34°21°0%Sunday: Clear. High 34°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 12:08 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.3845 OMR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Wadi Bani KhalidEastern Hajar, a side tripPools and waterfalls in a fertile valley; the ministry lists February to April as best.
- Masirah Islandfarther along the coastTurtle beaches and seabirds, reached by ferry from Shannah.Read the guide
- Muscatthe usual starting pointThe capital, with the Grand Mosque and Mutrah.Read the guide
Before you go to Sharqiya Sands
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Sharqiya Sands, checked
- Ministry of Heritage and Tourism: best time to visit the Sharqiya Sands is September to April.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- UK FCDO: road trips to the desert can be dangerous unless you are in a well-equipped 4WD; travel in convoy if possible and take water and a phone.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- Ministry of Heritage and Tourism: winter hot air balloon rides run from Bidyah, with daily flights depending on the weather.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Plan around Sharqiya Sands
Turtle beaches farther down the coast
Read the guideHajar MountainsWadi Bani Khalid and the Eastern Hajar
Read the guideMuscatThe usual gateway to the east
Read the guideNizwa and the HajarFort town on the interior loop
Read the guideAll of OmanRegions, entry basics and money
Read the guideGetting aroundCar hire and transport notes
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for desert and road trips
Read the guideSharqiya Sands FAQ
Are the Sharqiya Sands the same as the Wahiba Sands?
Yes, the area is known by both names. The ministry calls it the Al Sharqiyah Sands and describes about 10,000 square kilometers of dunes that shift from pale yellow to orange through the day.
When is the best time to visit the Sharqiya Sands?
The ministry lists September to April, with winter as the camping season. Summer lowland heat runs 35 to 45 degrees C, so plan dune activities for the cooler months and early morning or evening.
Do you need a 4x4 in the Sharqiya Sands?
FCDO says desert road trips can be dangerous unless you are in a well-equipped four-wheel drive. Most visitors join an operator or hire an experienced driver rather than drive dunes alone.
What can you do in the Sharqiya Sands?
The ministry lists 4x4 dune driving, camel trekking, camping, Bedouin village visits, sandboarding and stargazing, with winter hot air balloon flights from Bidyah when the weather allows.
How many nights should you spend in the Sharqiya Sands?
One night in a camp gives you a sunset, a night sky and a sunrise. Add a second night if you want to visit Wadi Bani Khalid or the forts of Bidiyah without rushing.