U.S. Embassy issues shelter-in-place for Duqm and Salalah areas — effective March 9
The U.S. Embassy in Muscat maintains a shelter-in-place order for Duqm and restricts government personnel from traveling to Musandam Governorate and Masirah Island as of March 2026. The directive follows confirmed Iranian drone strikes on Duqm Port, with U.S. citizens advised to avoid these specific regions and complete the State Department crisis intake form at https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake for departure assistance if currently in affected areas.
Muscat and most of Oman remain accessible, with commercial flights operating normally. This article covers the geographic scope of restrictions, what shelter-in-place means operationally, and the steps U.S. travelers must take if caught in or planning trips to restricted zones.
The U.S. Embassy issued a shelter-in-place order for Duqm on March 9, 2026, following Iranian drone strikes on the port facility. The order remains active for Duqm city and immediate environs as of March 1, 2026, while restrictions lifted elsewhere in Oman.
U.S. government employees face ongoing travel bans to Musandam Governorate — the exclave bordering the Strait of Hormuz — and Masirah Island, located 60 km off the coast near Duqm. Embassy personnel in Muscat operate under a 50 km movement radius from the embassy compound.
U.S. citizens in affected areas should shelter in place with 72+ hours of food, water, and medications. Those requiring departure assistance must complete the crisis intake form; the State Department is coordinating commercial and government-assisted flights from Muscat.
Geographic scope: Duqm city, areas within 100 km of Salalah, Musandam Governorate, and Masirah Island. Muscat, Nizwa, and northern Oman tourist circuits remain accessible. Temporal scope: Restrictions ongoing with no fixed end date; monitor U.S. Embassy Muscat alerts for updates.
What the restrictions cover
The shelter-in-place order applies only to Duqm, a port city on Oman’s central coast that serves as a logistics hub for oil transshipment. The 100 km advisory around Salalah — Oman’s second-largest city — does not include a formal shelter order but warns U.S. citizens to avoid the area.
Musandam Governorate, separated from the rest of Oman by UAE territory, sits directly across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran. Masirah Island hosts a Royal Air Force of Oman base and lies adjacent to Duqm’s restricted zone.
| Location | Restriction type | Reason | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duqm city | Shelter-in-place | Confirmed drone strikes on port | Active |
| Within 100 km of Salalah | Avoid travel | Proximity to conflict zone | Advisory |
| Musandam Governorate | No U.S. gov personnel | Proximity to Iran | Active |
| Masirah Island | No U.S. gov personnel | Proximity to Duqm | Active |
| Muscat | 50 km radius for personnel | Operational security | Active |
The Department of State coordinates departure options via the crisis intake form at https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake. Americans in restricted zones should complete the form once and reply to confirmation emails for flight or bus assignments departing Muscat.
Commercial flights to Muscat International Airport (MCT) operate without disruption. Oman Air maintains service from North American hubs via European connections, while Qatar Airways offers one-stop routing through Doha.
How shelter-in-place works
A shelter-in-place order directs U.S. government personnel to remain indoors at their current location until the threat subsides or evacuation becomes feasible. For private U.S. citizens, the directive is advisory — compliance is strongly recommended but not legally enforceable.
The order assumes infrastructure remains functional: electricity, water, and mobile networks typically operate during drone strike threats, unlike natural disasters. The 72-hour supply recommendation accounts for potential follow-on strikes disrupting resupply convoys or commercial deliveries.
Travel insurance policies vary in coverage. Standard plans exclude “acts of war,” but some carriers classify government shelter orders as “civil authority” events triggering trip curtailment benefits. Allianz and World Nomads require documentation via State Department STEP enrollment before the incident to process claims.
The U.S. Embassy lifted Muscat’s shelter-in-place on March 15, 2026, but imposed a 50 km movement radius for personnel — a standard security posture during regional tensions. This restriction does not apply to private citizens, who may travel freely within Oman outside the four restricted zones.
Oman’s Yemen border area carries a separate Level 4 advisory due to terrorism and conflict spillover. The Dhofar region’s tourist areas around Salalah remain safe, but the border fence zone is off-limits.
Immediate actions for affected travelers
U.S. citizens currently in Duqm, within 100 km of Salalah, Musandam, or Masirah face elevated risk from follow-on drone activity and should prioritize departure.
- Complete the crisis intake form: Submit at https://mytravel.state.gov/s/crisis-intake with passport details, current location, and contact information. Reply to confirmation emails for flight assignments — do not submit multiple forms.
- Stock essentials: Secure 72+ hours of non-perishable food, bottled water (1 gallon per person daily), prescription medications, and cash. ATMs may go offline during infrastructure disruptions.
- Enroll in STEP: Register at https://step.state.gov for real-time embassy alerts. Enrollment documents your presence for insurance claims and consular assistance.
- Verify insurance coverage: Contact your carrier to confirm whether “civil authority” or “government evacuation” clauses apply. Request written confirmation before filing claims.
- Reroute travel plans: Cancel bookings to restricted zones. Muscat remains accessible via Oman Air, Qatar Airways, and Emirates with normal operations. Northern Oman circuits (Nizwa, Jebel Akhdar) face no restrictions.
Watch: U.S. Embassy Muscat security alerts at https://om.usembassy.gov for restriction updates. Shelter-in-place orders typically lift within 7-14 days if no follow-on activity occurs, but Duqm’s order has persisted since March 9 due to ongoing regional tensions.
Does this affect flights to Muscat International Airport?
No. Commercial flights to Muscat (MCT) operate without disruption. Oman Air maintains service from U.S. hubs via European connections, while Qatar Airways and Emirates offer one-stop routing through Doha and Dubai. Confirm with airlines that crew restrictions near Duqm do not affect your specific flight, but no cancellations have been reported as of March 2026.
What if I’m on a cruise docking at Salalah or Duqm?
Cruise lines typically alter itineraries when ports fall within advisory zones. Contact your operator directly — lines like Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises serving the Arabian Sea may substitute Muscat or skip Oman entirely. The 100 km Salalah advisory does not prohibit port calls, but operators assess risk independently. Refunds or onboard credits depend on your booking terms.
How does this impact travel insurance claims?
Claims for trip curtailment or cancellation depend on your policy’s “civil authority” or “government evacuation” clauses. Standard plans exclude “acts of war,” but some carriers classify shelter-in-place orders as covered events. Document your presence via STEP enrollment before the incident — retroactive claims face higher scrutiny. Allianz, World Nomads, and Travel Guard require written proof of government directives.
Are non-U.S. citizens affected by these restrictions?
No. The shelter-in-place order and travel bans apply only to U.S. government personnel and are advisory for U.S. citizens. Travelers from Canada, EU, Australia, and New Zealand should consult their own government advisories — Australia’s Smartraveller and Canada’s Travel.gc.ca issue separate risk assessments for Oman. Oman’s government has not imposed movement restrictions on foreign nationals.
Can I still visit northern Oman tourist sites?
Yes. Muscat, Nizwa, Jebel Akhdar, Wahiba Sands, and the Musandam fjords (accessible via UAE land border) remain open to tourists. The 50 km radius restriction applies only to U.S. Embassy personnel, not private citizens. Verify your travel insurance covers the broader Middle East region, as some policies exclude Gulf states during heightened tensions.
