Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Extreme Temperatures
The major hazard of the region is undoubtedly the weather. At any time of year, the high temperatures of midday, com-
bined with high humidity, can quickly lead to heat exhaustion, sun stroke and serious burns. If you are travelling in the
summer, breaking down on an empty road without water can literally be life-threatening. You should bear this in mind
when planning a trip outside urban areas and think twice about travelling alone unless you are highly resourceful.
Avoiding problems is largely a matter of common sense: always carry more water than you think you'll need; cover
your head and neck; wear sunglasses; cover up, especially between 11am and 3pm; and avoid too much activity in the
summer months - in other words, do as the locals do!
Hazards at Sea
The waters of the Red Sea and the northern part of the Arabian Sea are usually calm and safe for swimming but it's
worth avoiding the following hazards:
Strong Currents
During the summer in eastern and southern Oman (July to September) and on the northern coast of
Yemen, huge swells occur making swimming very dangerous. Every year there are casualties associated with the strong
tides and powerful undercurrents. On some stretches of the normally quieter Gulf and Red Sea coasts, lifeguards using
internationally recognised flags patrol the beach at weekends. Make sure you obey the red flag directives: in Dubai there
are frequent casualties with tourists being swept out to sea in unexpected currents.
Pollution
Litter affects many public beaches, despite the best efforts of local authorities, and tar can be a nuisance on a
few wild beaches, released from irresponsible tankers. The practice is illegal but hard to police. Occasionally, raw
sewage is illegally dumped in the sea to avoid queues and fees at sanitation depots.
Dangerous Marine Life
Common hazards of the sea include stonefish (with a highly venomous sting), stingrays, jelly-
fish (which deliver a fairly innocuous but persistent sting), highly toxic sea snakes, some cones (with beautiful shells the
handling of which can causes paralysis) and sharp coral (inflicting cuts that easily lead to infection in the climate).
These problems can be avoided by wearing shoes and a t-shirt when swimming (also useful against sunburn). Sharks are
common but only very rare incidents of aggressive behaviour have been reported and generally in predictable circum-
stances (such as in waters where fishermen are gutting fish).
Red Tide
This bloom of blood-coloured algae can affect the waters of the Gulf and Arabian Sea for months at a time
making swimming unappetising. It is not fully understood if these tides are harmful.
Hazards on Land
Most of the hazards of the desert are related to overexposure to the sun and the danger of getting caught in a flash flood.
This is when a wall of water rolls quickly across land too hard baked to absorb it, sweeping away everything that gets in
its path. The key strategy to staying safe is to avoid camping in wadis, don't approach the mountains during rains, don't
travel alone, and never cross roads where the water is flowing over the red marker signs.
There are a few other land hazards to watch out for such as poisonous plants (eg pink oleander in the wadis, the So-
dom's apples that strew the desert floor), camel spiders, scorpions that deliver a nasty but not fatal bite, large ants with
painful bites, and annoying clusters of mosquitoes and wasps at certain times of the year. Snakes are also common in the
region. Most problems can be avoided by wearing shoes and resisting the temptation to prod holes and overturn rocks.
