A man dressed in traditional Middle Eastern attire holds a falcon on his gloved hand in an outdoor setting.

Neighboring Countries

Neighboring Countries

Written by: Nils Lindhorst Last updated at: May 21, 2025

Oman is a sultanate on the Arabian Peninsula. The borders of the country extend partially into the sea, but also onto the land. Oman has three direct neighboring states:

  • Saudi Arabia
  • The United Arab Emirates
  • Yemen

A country with a calming effect

Purely from the Geography perspective, Oman is thus situated in the middle of a powder keg. At the latest with the onset of the Arab Spring and the ongoing conflicts in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, peace in Oman's neighboring countries has largely disappeared. The only exception, which consistently radiates peace and prosperity, is the United Arab Emirates with its flagship cities, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is good that Oman plays a very defensive and peaceful role in this difficult region of the world. Over the last few years, Oman has frequently stepped in when it came to finding a mediator from among the Arab states for peace talks in the region.

Those who do not want to will not come into contact with the borders

Oman is comparable in size to the Federal Republic of Germany, but has only a fraction of Germany's population. Those visiting Oman do not need to come into contact with the border areas to Saudi Arabia or Yemen. A detour to the United Arab Emirates is possible if one is interested in the glitter and glamour world created by the sheikhs of the Emirates. But that is not necessarily required. The wonderful beaches of the sultanate, the small towns and villages, the tent villages of the Bedouins, and the oases of the country invite numerous excursions. Those who get to know Oman and come to love the people there will quickly lose interest in the loud neighbors who are constantly striving for new world records. Furthermore, one will quickly forget that behind Oman's well-secured borders in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, unfortunately, there are no such peace-loving and progress-minded governments in power as in Oman itself.

Discover Oman with experts who have called it their home

Your dream holiday, tailor-made by experts.

We don't just know Oman from books, we visit the country several times a year to experience the culture, landscape and people first-hand.

From your first enquiry to your return home, we are there for you personally - by phone, email or WhatsApp, whenever you need us. Our trips are as unique as you are: individually planned and provided with exclusive privileges and high-quality arrangements that will make your trip unforgettable.

You might also like this

Inside a vehicle looking out onto a curved paved road in a desert-like area with road signs and power lines.

Infrastructure

1 min read

The infrastructure in Oman is one of the factors that has contributed to the extreme economic growth and the upturn in the country in recent decades. The economic development of Oman goes hand in hand with the development in other countries that have benefited from oil discoveries in the Persian Gulf. In particular, the United Arab Emirates are comparable here, only with a significant difference: While each emirate is just a small country, Oman is almost the size of the Federal Republic of Germany. Developing a functioning infrastructure here,roads, railways and a public transport system is a...

A young woman in graduation attire standing outdoors among trees, smiling at the camera.

Universities

2 min read

Even at the time of his rise to power, Sultan Qaboos had a clear vision of how he wanted to make his country and its people future-proof. And indeed, in almost 50 years of governance, he succeeded in ushering in and advancing an era of development and modernization in Oman. Improving educational opportunities in the country is a key contributor to Oman's success. An important building block for this are the universities. The only state university in the country is Sultan Qaboos University, which was opened in 1986. Today, in addition to this, there are various private universities in the count...

Sunset over a town nestled between rugged mountains in Muscat, Oman.

The Regions of Oman

10 min read

Oman captivates travelers with a breathtaking variety of landscapes and cultures. Each region of the country has its own unique characteristics – from rugged mountains and idyllic coastlines to vast deserts and lush oases. In this article, we introduce you to four of Oman’s most fascinating regions, each offering an unparalleled travel experience....