FBOs at Muscat International Airport OOMS MCT

Airport security

Muscat currently operates under elevated regional security conditions, with multiple governments — including the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom — issuing formal advisories urging travelers to reconsider travel to Oman due to active terrorism risk and the potential for drone and missile activity stemming from ongoing Iran-related hostilities.

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Muscat as a medium-threat location for terrorism, and a verified mass-casualty terrorist attack occurred in the city in 2024, with Islamic State claiming responsibility.

Crime directed at individuals in Muscat is assessed as low-threat, with violent crime rare, though petty theft targeting visitors in crowded areas has been noted.

Muscat International Airport is Oman's principal international hub and a major commercial gateway serving wide-body long-haul and regional traffic.

As a major international hub, it is subject to Omani civil aviation security requirements consistent with ICAO standards, and the airport's own published guidance confirms that all departing passengers and their baggage undergo security screening prior to entering the restricted departure area, with electrical items subject to additional scrutiny.

No publicly available official classification tier specific to this facility has been documented, but operational security posture at a hub of this designation in the current regional threat environment should be treated as heightened.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

• Hours: H24 — airport of entry
• customs and immigration operational in line with H24 airport operations Oman Customs enforcement is strict
• all goods must comply with prohibited-items regulations and duty-free allowances
• documentation for restricted agricultural and other controlled products required
• delays and confiscation possible for non-compliance
• Muslim travellers may not import alcohol
• non-Muslim travellers are permitted up to 2 litres of alcohol purchased at duty-free
• some prescription and over-the-counter medications permitted abroad may be prohibited in Oman and must be declared

Ground corridor

• Ground transport risk in Muscat is primarily characterised by traffic safety concerns and low opportunistic crime rather than civil unrest
• the city itself has not been directly affected by regional conflict, though the broader security environment requires vigilance. The airport is located approximately 32 km from central Muscat via a modern dual-carriageway corridor that is generally considered a reliable travel route
• no specific high-risk transit zones have been identified along this corridor. Official metered taxi services operating from the designated ground-level pickup area are the standard surface option and are considered generally reliable, with unregulated or informal operators best avoided
• pre-arranged vehicles through vetted transport or professional drivers coordinated by a ground support team are advisable for principal or elevated-risk travellers. Given the active regional conflict environment, travellers should maintain situational awareness at all times, avoid areas near military or government installations, monitor official guidance continuously, and ensure contingency departure plans do not rely solely on commercial aviation.

City threat summary

Muscat currently operates under elevated regional security conditions, with multiple governments — including the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom — issuing formal advisories urging travelers to reconsider travel to Oman due to active terrorism risk and the potential for drone and missile activity stemming from ongoing Iran-related hostilities.

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Muscat as a medium-threat location for terrorism, and a verified mass-casualty terrorist attack occurred in the city in 2024, with Islamic State claiming responsibility.

Crime directed at individuals in Muscat is assessed as low-threat, with violent crime rare, though petty theft targeting visitors in crowded areas has been noted.

Country overview

Oman faces a substantially elevated security environment following the onset of U.S.–Iran hostilities in February 2026, during which Iranian drones and missiles struck Omani port facilities, industrial sites, and vessels in Omani waters.

A fragile memorandum of understanding reached on June 17, 2026 has reduced but not eliminated the threat, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining disrupted and the U.S. Embassy Muscat issuing a Security Alert as recently as October 8, 2026 urging heightened vigilance and awareness of potential flight cancellations and airspace closures.

Oman simultaneously plays a central diplomatic role as the primary mediator between Washington and Tehran, most recently hosting indirect talks in Geneva in early October 2026, a posture that provides some protective insulation but does not eliminate its exposure to regional escalation.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Muscat OOMS HIGH
• Salalah OOSA HIGH