Oman operates on Gulf Standard Time (GST), which is 4 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC+4). The entire country follows a single timezone and does not observe daylight saving time.
Muscat, the capital, along with Salalah, Sohar, and other cities all follow GST. Oman shares its timezone with the UAE, Mauritius, and parts of Russia (Samara Time).
Oman is one of the oldest independent states in the Arab world. The country has a unique exclave called Musandam, separated from the rest of Oman by the UAE. The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque's prayer carpet took 600 women 4 years to hand-weave. Oman was historically a major maritime power with an empire stretching to Zanzibar.