Language

The official language is Arabic although well-educated businesspeople speak English.

Value System and Relationships

Oman scores higher on the power distance index and lower on individualism. Family is important. Oman is the most westernized country on the Arabian peninsula.

Business climate

Business is hierarchical with a focus more on relationships and connections (“wasta”) than rules and regulations. Time is relative and punctuality is poor. Avoid doing business during the month of Ramadan. Titles and business cards are important. The business traveler should be patient, and aware of the chaotic traffic.

The Pew Global Attitudes Project is an interactive database that allows users to explore public opinion trends in 55 countries on topics ranging from attitudes towards the U.S. to peoples assessments of their own lives to views about globalization, democratization and extremism and other important issues.

Oman ranks as no. 41 (of 180 countries) on Transparency International’s 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index.