Friday 18 / July / 2025
Muscat: Thai embassy officials have met government ministry advisors to discuss restrictions imposed on female Thai tourists coming to the Sultanate, according to a senior embassy official.
Restrictions on females from Thailand and some other Asian countries coming to Oman are now being enforced by the Royal Oman Police (ROP), after a vice clampdown led to the arrest of a number of Thai nationals.
Dozens of women – many of them Thai – were detained after an undercover operation mounted by police recently.
A total of 43 females were detained for prostitution on the streets around Bausher and Al Khuwair in Muscat. All of those arrested were in the Sultanate on tourist visas.
Officials announced the arrests and restrictions yesterday. Now, anyone from Thailand or some other Asian countries must show a return ticket and will only be given a 10-day visa, if they can show that they will be living in a four-star hotel or above during their stay here.
The visa cannot be extended and any female from Asia hoping to return to Oman quickly must now wait at least a month in their home country before re-applying.
Female tourists found breaching their tourist visas in Oman will also have their names added to an “unwanted to enter the country” list, the Royal Oman Police said.
The news has prompted Thailand’s embassy officials to meet with the ministry officials to discuss solutions.
Royal Oman Police had been monitoring the Al Khuwair and Bausher areas for some time after complaints from local residents about women selling sex on the streets there.
Undercover officers approached girls and when they offered their services arrests were made in 10 cases. The remaining 33 Thai nationals had been observed by police in the act of soliciting people on the streets in various other areas of Muscat, according to sources.
The ROP arrested the women in Wilayat Bausher in Muscat Governorate for practicing prostitution and violating the residency law.
Investigators, in cooperation with Special Tasks Police, raided several locations in Al Khuwair where 10 women were caught. The remaining 33 were arrested in three different locations.
The new rules on tourist visas followed the arrests of Asian tourists for allegedly being involved in human trafficking, prostitution and drug abuse crimes, the force said in a statement.
Hotel apartments and motels do not count, according to the new restrictions.
Under the new rules, the visa length has also been reduced to a maximum of ten days, non-extendable.
The nationals will not be allowed another tourist visa until a month after they return to their homeland. According to the Omani law, any person who makes a living from making someone practice prostitution will serve at least three months in jail and up to three years, and be fined between OMR20 and OMR100.
The same punishment applies to anyone who manages a brothel, or helps in managing it.
A spokeswoman for the Thai embassy in Oman said: “On our part, we support measures taken to curb illegal activities.
“With regard to the 4-star hotel booking and so on, so far the embassy hasn’t yet received any complaints on this matter.” She added that the Thai ambassador met with ministry officials on Tuesday and the issue was raised. The regulations will affect the number of inbound Thai tourists as they may lead some people to change their travel plans and go elsewhere, the spokesman added.
“As you know, the cost of travelling to Oman and booking 4-star hotels is pricey. Nevertheless, there are many Thai tourists who want to come and explore the beauty of Oman and their plans remain unchanged.
“I wish to emphasise that the Embassy has always been in regular contact with the ROP and other Omani authorities concerned. The ROP is keeping us up-to-date with the activities incurred.”
