Oman weather by month
The figures are rounded average highs and lows for Muscat on the coast and Ibra inland (1991–2020), older averages for the Saiq Plateau on Jebel Akhdar (about 2,000 m), and sea temperatures at Muscat.
- October: still hot. Muscat 35 °C by day and 25 °C at night; Ibra 37 °C and 22 °C; Saiq 21 °C and 13 °C. Sea 29 °C.
- November: the season starts. Muscat 30 °C and 21 °C; Ibra 31 °C and 18 °C; Saiq 16 °C and 7 °C. Sea 28 °C.
- December to February: the mildest months. Muscat 25–27 °C and 17–18 °C; Ibra 26–29 °C and 13–15 °C; Saiq 12–14 °C and 4–6 °C. Jebel Shams recorded −0.1 °C on 20 January 2026. Sea 23–25 °C. Most of Muscat's 73 mm of yearly rain falls from December to April.
- March: Muscat 29 °C and 20 °C; Ibra 33 °C and 18 °C. Sea 24 °C. The rose harvest on Jebel Akhdar starts in late March.
- April: hot inland. Muscat 35 °C and 25 °C; Ibra 38 °C and 23 °C. Sea 27 °C. The roses last until about early May.
- May to September: very hot. Muscat 36–40 °C and 27–30 °C; Ibra 40–43 °C by day. Sea 30–31 °C. Saiq 24–28 °C by day. Dhofar has the khareef from June to September.
Coast, desert and mountains: where to be when
On the coast you can swim all winter: the sea in Muscat is about 23–25 °C from December to March.
In the Wahiba Sands, November to February is usually the least windy time, with the clearest skies. Many desert camps close in summer: some from March, others only from June to August or September, so check with your camp. Our dunes-and-wadis route from Muscat fits this window.
In the mountains, winter nights are cold, so pack a warm jacket, a hat and warm socks. In summer the plateaus are far less hot: on 24 May 2026 Jebel Shams recorded a low of 14 °C while Sur reached 44.6 °C. Our mountain loop to Jebel Shams and Jebel Akhdar works best from October to April.
Dhofar and the khareef (June to September)
Salalah is about 1,000 km, or 11 hours' drive, from Muscat. The khareef monsoon brings cloud, mist and drizzle from June to September and turns the hills green; July and August get only about 43 hours of sunshine each. Dhofar Municipality ran the 2026 season from 21 June to 21 September.
It is Salalah's busiest time. The Royal Oman Police warns of fog and rain on the road to Salalah. Camels on the road are a bigger risk in the evening and at night. Waves reach about 3–5 m, and swimming is dangerous.
From October to April Salalah is dry, with average highs of about 27–32 °C. That is the time for our 20-day loop from Muscat to Salalah.
Ramadan, Eid and public holidays
Ramadan 2027 is expected to run from about 8 February to Eid al-Fitr on 9 or 10 March, and Eid al-Adha is expected around 16 May 2027. These are astronomical forecasts; Oman confirms each date by moon sighting.
Breaking the fast in public in daytime is punishable under Omani law, and visitors are asked to follow the same rule: the UK government advises not to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in daytime, even in your car. Most local restaurants close by day and open at sunset, but supermarkets stay open: shop in town and eat at your camp, away from other people. Some sights open for shorter hours.
National Day is a public holiday on 25 and 26 November 2026, and the weekend is Friday and Saturday. At Eid, the mountains and popular wadis such as Wadi Shab draw large crowds.
Turtle season at Ras al Jinz
Green turtles nest at Ras al Jinz all year. The reserve names May to September as the best time; in winter there are fewer turtles, but sightings are still common. Eggs hatch after about 55–60 days, and hatchlings can be seen into November.
Visits to the nesting beach are by guided tour only, at 21:00 or 5:00; book ahead. As of October 2026 the reserve lists OMR 12 per tourist adult and OMR 6 per child aged 6 to 12. Driving on the beach is banned, and camping and lights harm nesting turtles, so camp well away. Our south coast route via Ras al Jinz includes the tour.
Rain, flash floods and storms
Rain is rare but can be heavy. UK government advice warns that wadis can flood after heavy rain from October to March, and floods happen in other months too: in April 2024, flash floods killed at least 18 people, among them schoolchildren whose vehicle was swept away in a wadi.
Tropical storms usually form in May or June, or from September to November. Cyclone Mekunu hit near Salalah on 25 May 2018, Cyclone Shaheen came ashore on the northern coast on 3 October 2021, and Cyclone Keila reached the coast near Salalah on 2 November 2011, when its rain caused floods that killed 14 people in the north.
Check Oman Meteorology (met.caa.gov.om or its app) for forecasts and warnings. Never camp in a wadi bed or drive through flowing water, and stay out of wadis when heavy rain is forecast and for a day after.
Camping season: what it means for your rooftop tent
The camping season runs from October to April, and November to March is the mildest. From November to March, average nights are about 17–21 °C in Muscat and 13–18 °C in Ibra; at about 2,000 m they can be close to 0 °C from December to February. In October and April, nights inland stay above 20 °C; on the plateaus they are about 13 °C in October.
Days are short: in Muscat the sun sets at about 17:20 from November to mid-December and at about 17:40 in mid-January. Reach your camp in daylight.
In Muscat Governorate, camping is allowed only in places the municipality allows, at least 10 m back from the beach and 100 m from homes, and stays over 48 hours need a permit; fires on beaches are not allowed. Everywhere, keep away from villages, farms and private land, and take your rubbish with you. Our guide to wild camping rules in Oman covers the rest.
Every DuneTribe4x4 car has a rooftop tent for 2 adults (the Family tent, on one Wrangler and on the Prado, takes 2 adults + 2 children, or 3 adults) and the full kit: bed linen (sheets and a pillow for each traveller), an electric fridge with a separate freezer compartment, a gas stove and kitchen kit, a chair for each traveller and a table, an LED lantern, a BLUETTI power station (600 W, 320 Wh), a portable shower (21 L), a compressor, recovery boards, a recovery rope, a jump starter and a first-aid kit. For mountain nights from December to February, we provide sleeping bags on request: ask us for them before you travel. A ground tent for 2 more people is optional (price on request).
Prices, including 5% VAT: Jeep Wrangler 4-door OMR 55 a day; the Wrangler with the Family rooftop tent OMR 65 a day from 15 December 2026; Toyota Land Cruiser Prado 2024 OMR 75 a day, available from January 2027. The minimum rental is 3 days. Pick-up and return are at Muscat airport or your hotel or address in Muscat, at no extra cost, between 08:00 and 20:00. With seven days, see our one-week road trip from Muscat.