Middle East

Oman in December

Ideal weather and peak demand around Christmas and New Year. Book desert camps and Musandam trips early.

BestWarm and sunny, Muscat highs near 79F (26C)

Muscat Oman — OmanPhoto: Domenico Convertini, CC BY-SA 2.0

The straight answer

December is one of the best months of the year to visit Oman. Ideal weather and peak demand around Christmas and New Year. Book desert camps and Musandam trips early.

Weather: Warm and sunny, Muscat highs near 79F (26C)
Crowds: 4 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What December is like in Oman

December has ideal weather: warm and sunny days, Muscat highs near 79F (26C), and cool desert and mountain nights. It is also peak demand, especially around Christmas and New Year, when European and Gulf holiday travelers arrive. Prices are at their highest and the best desert camps book up.

This month suits families on winter break and anyone who wants perfect weather and can plan ahead. Book early, especially for Musandam trips and the Wahiba Sands. If you can travel in early December or wait until February, you get the same weather with less pressure on prices.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Oman this month.

Perfect road-trip weather

Every region of northern Oman is comfortable, from the coast to the forts of Nizwa and Bahla.

Campfire nights in the sands

Cool evenings make a Wahiba Sands camp feel special, with dark skies full of stars.

Opera season in Muscat

The Royal Opera House is in its cooler-month season, a good evening plan in the city.

What to pack for December

A warm jacket for cold mountain nights
Layers for the desert, which cools fast after sunset
Comfortable walking shoes for forts and souqs
Modest clothing for mosques and villages

Our timing tip

Book the Grand Mosque for opening time on a weekday, before cruise ship tour buses arrive later in the morning.

Book Oman for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Oman
Opens a hotel search for Oman in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Oman
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Oman
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Oman for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

Shifts about 11 days earlier each year; check the current dates

Restaurants often close until sunset and opening hours shift. Eid brings busy roads and full hotels as Omanis travel.

Things to do in Oman

Full guide

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat

Open to non-Muslim visitors on weekday mornings, closed Fridays. Modest dress required, with head coverings for women.

Tickets and tours →

Royal Opera House Muscat

A striking building with a season that runs through the cooler months. Tours are available when there are no performances.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Wadi Shab

A hike and swim through a canyon to a hidden cave pool. Go early in the day and avoid Friday crowds.

Tickets and tours →

Nizwa Fort and souq

Friday morning brings the famous livestock market. The fort's round tower gives views over the date palms.

Tickets and tours →

Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar

Mountain hikes, canyon views, and terraced villages. A 4x4 is required for the Jebel Akhdar road.

Tickets and tours →

Wahiba Sands

Desert camps, dune driving, and sunset over the sands. Best from November through March.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Visit Wadi Shab and Wadi Bani Khalid early on a weekday. Fridays and Saturdays bring local families and tour groups from Muscat and Dubai.
Travel in November or March rather than late December to early January, when European and Gulf holiday demand peaks.
Avoid the Eid holidays for Salalah and the mountains, when domestic and Gulf visitors fill hotels and roads.
Book the Grand Mosque for opening time, before tour buses arrive from the cruise ships in winter.

Know before you go

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque is open to non-Muslim visitors only on weekday mornings, and closed to them on Fridays.
During Ramadan, most restaurants close until sunset, opening hours shorten, and public eating and drinking during daylight is not allowed. Hotels usually serve guests discreetly.
From May to September, many desert camps in the Wahiba Sands close or reduce operations due to heat.
Salalah's attractions, including waterfalls like Ayn Athum, run strongest during the khareef; outside it, the landscape is brown and dry.

Oman in December, quick answers

Is December a good time to visit Oman?

December is one of the best months of the year to visit Oman. Ideal weather and peak demand around Christmas and New Year. Book desert camps and Musandam trips early.

What is the weather like in Oman in December?

Warm and sunny, Muscat highs near 79F (26C).

Is Oman crowded in December?

Oman is busy in December, though mornings and late afternoons stay workable.

What is happening in Oman in December?

Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (shifts about 11 days earlier each year; check the current dates).