Oman is targeting further growth in its local cruise sector, introducing new visa categories for cruise ship passengers and crew that will make it easier for both to visit the country multiple times during a single cruise season.

Previously, every entry to Oman by visitors from countries requiring visas necessitated a new visa application, meaning that passengers aboard itineraries calling in the country more than once, and crew working aboard ships throughout the cruise season, would need new visas for every disembarkation.

Now, however, Lt Gen Hassan bin Mohsen al Shuraiqi, Inspector General of Police and Customs, has announced that Decision No 132/2024 will introduce new visa categories for cruise ship passengers and crew as part of amendments to the Executive Regulations of the Foreigners’ Residence Law.

The new regulations include ten-day, and one-month visit visas, both designed to facilitate easier access for visitors arriving by cruise ships. The ten-day visa, available upon request from the cruise ship agent, will be free and allows passengers and crew to stay in Oman for up to ten days, provided entry is made within 30 days of the issue of the visa.

A one-month visit visa is also available upon request from the cruise ship agent, allowing passengers and crew to stay in Oman for up to one month. As with the ten-day visa, entry must be made within 30 days of visa issue.

The decision, issued on September 3rd, will take effect from Monday and is expected to streamline the process for cruise ship visitors and support the growing cruise tourism sector in the sultanate.

Oman is primarily visited by cruise ships homeporting in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE. The vessels sail roundtrip itineraries to a range of destinations in the Arabian Gulf, including Muscat and Khasab in Oman. 

More than 140 cruise calls are scheduled for the upcoming 2024/25 Middle East cruise season, with MSC Euribia, Costa Smeralda, Mein Schiff 4, and AIDAprima all due to call in the sultanate multiple times during the season.

The resurgence in the cruise sector post-pandemic forms part of a wider period of growth for Oman’s tourism sector, which reported a 5 percent increase in 2024 compared to the previous year, which itself saw a 41% increase compared to 2022, which marked the COVID-19 recovery period.

Oman is also looking to capitalise on this growth with major cruise infrastructure projects, such as the redevelopment of the main port in Muscat into a dedicated cruise port, and a longer-term plan to transform its popular waterfront destination.