Roundabouts in Oman

 

Driving in Oman is straightforward (it is actually straight forward since most roads go straight through desert areas). However, on major highways, you may run into roundabouts (I know it seems strange to slow down for roundabout while driving at 120km/h). They are important benchmarks when asking for directions. In Muscat for instance, everybody uses Ruwi or Al Gubrah roundabout as useful starting point to give detailed directions.

They all have a name, I mean an official one, like "Barka roundabout". However, they are also widely known through they nickname : the "clocktower R/A" in A'Seeb or the "coffee pot R/A" in Fujairah (UAE). The nickname usually comes from the symbol erected in the center of the roundabout.

Some roundabouts are simply gorgeous. Here are few examples, these pictures were taken on the road from Barka to the border post with Sharjah (UAE):