Oman and Qatari Camo

Greetings from Oman. Although I've only been here over a month, I've been investigating the militaria scene here. The Sultan here cracked down on it a few years back. Things are difficult to come by and it seems that if nonmilitary people are caught in posssession or wearing issued items, it's a 200 Omani Riyal (about $560) fine. That said, I'm still trying my darndest to get ahold of some kit. I've got coworkers who are ex-military or who have relatives in the military. We'll see what happens. I've been told that like the US, each branch of the Omani military has their own camo. Can anyone confirm that? I've already seen troops wearing two different types. Awhile back on the way home from work, there were some Omani SF guys (I assume) in those WWII desert rats looking landrovers and they had a british DPM lookalike only it was orange,brown, and red.They also had a distinctive shamagh.
Today, I was at the bank. Last night, my ATM card was eaten by an ATM. So, I had to go and pick it up. Anyhow, I managed to sneak a shot of this Oman troop at the bank. Generally, I don't take photos in the bank, or of things military or police but this opportunity was just too good to pass up.



This is a really strange pattern. In a way, it reminds me of that Portugese stuff that they used in Africa.

For some reason, I've got a duplicate post below this one. Maybe the mods can deal with it. I was working in Qatar for about 20 months and I did find a place which makes and sells uniforms to the Qatari military. Unfortunately, they were a bit pricey for me and I didn't get to go back and have them made like I wanted to. However, I managed to snap a few shots of the mannequins in the shop. I apologize for the quality but I took them with my mobile.





This camo could be air force or it could be police. I'm not sure. I never had time to ask around.






This is their desert camo. I rather like it. The shop was also selling camelpaks and altama desert boots. It's interesting. I saw Qatari troops wearing this pattern and also a variation of the US "Chocolate Chip" pattern. Some definite standardization issues. Then again,what can you expect from a country where a PFC makes about $4500 US a month?!

Here is a hardly seeing picture of the omani temperate DPM

Hi Mark, nice photos,

specially the one in the bank. The orange omani uniforms you've seeing are their regular camouflage uniforms.
(similar to this?)


The dark green DPM is considered more rare and is associated to royal guards, but i'm not sure if other branches wear them as well. As for the variant on your picture, that's a new color to me, i don't think i've ever seeing this variation before. Maybe could be the colors on the photo, but it looks different from the example on the picture i posted.

Anyway thanks for the pictures and hopefully you'll be able to score some stuff, they have high quality material and their uniform look really cool.

cheers

danilo

The ones I saw the guys with the Range rovers wearing were different. Like orange and brown with black thrown in. It looked like dpm. I'm not sure what branch of the Omani military uses the pattern in the bank photo. I'll have to ask around. I've been off work for the last 5 days (it's Islamic New Year's) but hopefully on Sunday or Monday I can find out.

I LOVE the orange Omani DPM! It's so cool... I think if the British Army ever invaded Mars, that's what they'd wear.
Nice uniforms, everyone!

According to two of my Omani colleagues, the guy in the photo which I took is "Naval Shore Security".

Camo Fiend, if you think the orange dpm is crazy, you gotta see the Omani cops blue stuff. I was at the Asian Beach Games and saw alot of them.



Originally, I asked one of the guys at the entrance if I could take his photo and he didn't want, so this had to be taken on the sly. I like the way the Omanis don't blouse their trousers. Wonder where that came from.

I'd love to get my hands on a set of both; such neat patterns!

Wow, Gilles; what an impressive array of camo you've posted here!

overdyed
I don't know why!
Gilles

Nice picture of Omani infanteers there. The cammo colours are very closely linked to the Omani desert which has a very red/orange tinge. The shamags - worn in standard Omani turban style - is very oversized. Most are about a metre square these are nearer 1.75 square.

The wearing of any bits of uniform by civilians in Oman has always been an absolute no no. It used to get you looked up in Jelali for a few months. Ex-soldiers do wear their old shamag as a badge of honour - rather like belonging to the RBL.

Eddie

http://www.omzest.com/companies/oman-textile-mills-co-llc.html

http://www.omzest.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Camo-a.jpg

Oman Royal navy

For that I have understand, this pattern is used for the parade
Gilles

Qatar