Yesterday morning, I had to go to the insurance company here in Muscat to renew my car insurance, the same routine I used the 2 previous years. I took a day’s leave and in my tee shirt and shorts, went across Muscat to get it done. On obtaining my new insurance cover, I was given a certificate to take to the ROP (Royal Oman Police) traffic department, who would give me a new car registration card (Mulkia) which shows my car’s insured and I’m the owner etc. I went to the traffic police HQ compound, same as last year, but was told registrations were now in a different building round to the right. I went right around the compound and found nothing remotely like it and was eventually told by a cop I asked (I was now totally confused) that I had to get in my car and drive along the road then turn right. So I did. At the new venue, I went in and asked but they said it was not that building. I was told that I had to get in my car and drive along the road then turn right (again). So I did (again). Lo and behold (are biblical references allowed in an Islamic country ?) I arrived at the registration building. I queued for a “lucky number” (I got 199). The enunciator showed “120” as the latest current customer. So I sat down in the large seating area and waited – and waited – and waited. Very eventually, my spirits rose when I saw the number was now at 160 !

Then along came a policeman. He came up to me and said “I think you cannot complete your transaction now”. I was a bit taken aback but quietly asked why. He said I could not be served wearing shorts (even my long shorts) or tee shirt. I needed covered arms and legs to be served. This never happens in shops or any other location I know of. So, hoping I still had time before my name came up, I shot off home (about 30 minutes away), got changed into my office clothes and shot back again. I looked at the current number – 223 ! Curses ! So I took a fresh ticket – 348 !! Double curses !!!

When I did got served sometime that afternoon, the transaction only took less than 5 minutes.

Lesson learned – any dealings with Omani government departments, police, government-owned companies and utilities requires observance of Muslim sensitivities and culture, though outside of this, foreigners can virtually wear what they want. So – no shorts and obviously in the bare-knees department – no kilts too !!