Musandam: Khasab and the fjords

Musandam is a mountainous peninsula at the north-eastern tip of Arabia, looking across the Strait of Hormuz towards Iran. It belongs to Oman but is separated from the rest of the country by the United Arab Emirates, so you arrive either on a flight from Muscat or by road from the UAE. Several European foreign ministries advise against travel there. This page describes the region for information only, with no trip ideas while this advice remains in force.

Official travel advice

Foreign ministries do not all give the same advice for Musandam. Yours is in the "Travel advice" table on this page; our guide to the situation in Oman follows how it changes.

Day trips to Musandam sold in Dubai cross into Oman and fall under the same advice.

Getting there and border rules

By air from Muscat. Oman Air resumed Muscat-Khasab flights on 18 April 2026, with four a week at launch and a flight time of about 1 h 05. Oman's Civil Aviation Authority also referred to a SalamAir service in June 2026.

By road from the UAE. Two border posts lead into Musandam: Al Darah, from Ras Al Khaimah, towards Tibat and Khasab on the west coast; and Dibba, from Fujairah, with the Omani post at Wam on the east coast. The same rules, checked on 15 September 2026, apply at both:

• a passport valid for at least six months;
• the driver must be the vehicle's insurance holder, so rental cars are no longer allowed into Musandam;
• a fee of AED 30 (UAE dirhams), payable by card only.

If you come from mainland Oman through the UAE, an Omani eVisa (electronic visa) must be multiple-entry; otherwise a new 14-day visa is stamped at the border. A single-entry visa does not let you return to Oman after crossing the UAE. Our Oman visa guide covers the paperwork. Photographing border posts, police and military is forbidden.

A new 72 km road is being built from Khasab to Lima and Dibba. Three-quarters complete at the end of August 2026, it should cut the Khasab-Dibba drive to 55 minutes from about 2 h 30.

By sea. The state-owned National Ferries Company used to sail to Khasab from Shinas and Muscat. In October 2026 its website was offline and a ticket reseller listed the route with no sailings; no service could be confirmed.

Khasab and the fjords

Khasab, the main town, has the airport, the hotels and the boat departures. Its fort faces the Strait of Hormuz and dates from the early 17th century: built under Imam Nasir bin Murshid al-Ya'rubi and strengthened during the Portuguese occupation, it is square, with four corner towers and a round central tower. It opens daily from 8 am to 6 pm local time, with tickets on site. Bukha Fort, halfway along the road from Khasab to the Tibat border, overlooks the bay.

The coast is cut by khors, deep sea inlets between cliffs often likened to fjords. The longest is Khor Ash Sham, explored by dhow, the traditional wooden boat, from Khasab. In the middle lies Telegraph Island, a rocky islet where the British ran a relay station for their undersea telegraph cable from 1864 to 1868; ruins remain. Several Khasab operators run half-day and full-day dhow cruises with a swim stop and dolphin watching.

At the tip of the peninsula, the village of Kumzar can only be reached by sea. Khor Najd is the only khor you can drive to, preferably by 4x4, with a viewpoint above the water.

Mountains and heritage

Jebel Harim, the "mountain of women", is Musandam's highest peak at just over 2,000 m. The track to the top requires a 4x4, and there are petroglyphs, rock carvings, along the way. One three-hour trip from Khasab combines it with Sayh village and the Khor Najd viewpoint. The Madha Museum displays archaeological and heritage objects; Madha is a small Omani enclave inside the UAE.

Weather

At the Khasab station, average highs are 24.3 °C in January and 30 °C in November, but close to 40 °C from June to August. The sea ranges from 22.7 °C in February to 32.3 °C in August. Oman's Ministry of Heritage and Tourism gives October to April as the best period.

Hotels

The Sabaro selection includes two hotels in Musandam, both with prices on request.

• Atana Musandam Resort in Khasab, a few minutes from the airport and a 15-minute walk from the fort: 110 rooms and suites in an Omani village-style resort by the khor, with a pool, the Athila Spa and a dive centre offering courses, guided dives, boat trips and fishing.
• Six Senses Zighy Bay in Zighy Bay near Dibba on the east coast: private-pool villas between mountains and sea, a 1.6 km private beach and a spa with two hammams. Guests usually arrive from Dubai through the Dibba border post.