Wondering if ATMs and places like restaurants shops in Oman easily take American Express or its better to get a Visa or Mastercard
Don’t count on Amex in Oman. Even in Muscat malls, some stores declined it. Souks, local eateries, and taxis wouldn’t touch it. ATMs didn’t work either. I used my Mastercard debit without any issues. Meals averaged 5 OMR, and my daily spend was about 30 OMR with tours. Amex only worked once at a high-end hotel. For Oman travel, Visa or Mastercard is the card you’ll need, not Amex.
Oman is stunning, but American Express is not widely accepted. Restaurants, taxis, and markets all preferred Visa removed link ATMs didn’t let me withdraw with Amex either. I budgeted around 25 OMR daily for food, car rental fuel, and attractions like Wahiba Sands trips. Visa worked perfectly everywhere, including hotels and petrol stations. Amex is really just a backup for larger resorts, but if you’re exploring Oman, Visa is essential.
I travelled across Oman with Amex and quickly realized it wasn’t going to work much. ATMs refused it, and smaller cafés in Nizwa and Sur only took Visa/Mastercard. I used Visa debit to withdraw rials without issue. Meals cost 3-5 OMR, and petrol was cheap, so I budgeted about 20-25 OMR per day. Amex worked at a resort in Muscat but nowhere else. Definitely carry Visa for smoother payments in Oman.
In Muscat, I could use Amex at a few upscale hotels and malls, but when I went to local souks or small restaurants, they only accepted Visa or Mastercard. ATMs from Bank Muscat and NBO didn’t process my Amex at all. Meals were around 4-6 OMR in casual places, and I budgeted about 25-30 OMR daily with taxis and sightseeing like Sultan Qaboos Mosque. Amex is fine for luxury settings, but Visa is far more reliable for everyday travel in Oman.