Muscat travel guide — Muscat tourism and travel information

Muscat travel guide

about Muscat

Muscat (مسقط), population 880,200 (2004), is the capital of Oman. The city region incorporates Al-Amerat, Al-Ghubra, Al-Khuwair, Al-Qurm, Al-Seeb, Azaibah, Bausher, Ghala, Madinat Qaboos, Mina Al-Fahal, Old Muscat, Mutrah, PDO, Quriyat, Ruwi, Shati Al-Qurm, Sidab, and Wattayah.

Despite its rather moderate population for the country's largest and capital city, Muscat is a well-planned and spread-out city that covers an approximate area of 1500 sqkm. Because of this much of the city is empty and open to future development. There are pockets of dense residential and commercial districts however but these are in concentrated locations. These can be split into three main groups:

West Muscat: Al-Seeb, Azhaiba, Bausher, Al-Ghubra and Ghala Central Muscat: Al-Khuwair, Madinat Qaboos, Shati-Al Qurm, Qurm and PDO East Muscat: Wattayah, Ruwi, Muttrah, Kalbuh, Old Muscat, Sidab and Al-Bustan

Muscat history

The first foreign presence in Muscat was in the form of the Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama , who landed in Oman on his way to India. The Portuguese retured in 1507 to sack and capture Muscat. In 1649, the Imam Sultan bin Saif defeated the Portuguese and drove them away east to Goa, India.

With the superior, captured warships of the Portuguese navy, the Imam established an empire that spanned from Zanzibar in the south to Guadar in Pakistan in the east. Slaves were brought in from Zanzibar and Balochistan to work in Oman. This was a period of relative stability and prosparity in Muscat and Oman.

The country was torn apart by strife and unrest upon the death of the Imam in 1679. Muscat was then invaded by the Persians in 1737, albiet briefly, since Admad bin Said defeated them and was subsequently elected Imam.

In 1803, the Wahabbis of Saudi Arabia attacked Oman, but were repulsed by Sayyid Said bin Sultan. The sultan then set up a colony in the fertile areas of Zanzibar and essentially ruled Oman from a foreign island. Later, in 1853, the sultan transferred the title of "capital" of Oman to Zanzibar. Thus began to decline of the fortunes of Muscat and Oman.

In 1913, Sultan Taimur became sultan and the territory was renamed "Muscat and Oman" with the Sultan ruling Muscat and the Imam ruling Oman. After Indian Independence in 1947, the sultan , with the help of the British, defeated the Imam, unified Oman and took command of the Buraimi oasis.

The Dofar War began in 1964 which sought the expulsion of the British from Oman. Six years later, Prince Qaboos bin Said, son of Sultan Taimur staged a palace coup and claimed the throne. The old sultan was flown to London by the British Royal Air Force. The coup, staged by Prince Qaboos, with his close friend and confidant Tim Landon at his side, was the beginning of a new consolidated, modern sultanate.

Sultan Qaboos bin Said instituted land and social reforms, and though autocratic, ruled Oman with a liberal vision that saw the an overall improvement in educational standards of its citizenary, cultural and economic development and overall consolidation of the sultanate.

Near cities to Muscat

• Sharjah travel guide 370 km
• Umm al travel guide 380 km
• Dubai travel guide 380 km
• Abu Dhabi travel guide 440 km
• Bandar Anzali travel guide 460 km
• Bandar Abbas travel guide 460 km
• Bam travel guide 610 km
• Lar travel guide 620 km
• Zahedan travel guide 690 km
• Doha travel guide 740 km

Near webcams to Muscat

• Dubai webcam 380 km
• Dubai webcam 380 km
• Dubai webcam 380 km
• Abu Dhabi Corniche webcam 440 km
• Karachi webcam 860 km
• U.S. School webcam 1 200 km
• Tehran webcam 1 500 km
• Kingston - Portmore webcam 2 000 km
• Jerevan webcam 2 300 km
• Boston webcam 2 400 km

back to top

Muscat travel services

cheap flights to Muscat

• book cheap flights to Muscat »
• book cheap flights to Oman »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Muscat, cheap flights Muscat, also available cheap airline tickets to Oman and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Muscat deals also available.

cheap Muscat hotels

• book cheap hotels to Muscat »
• book cheap hotels to Oman »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Muscat, Oman hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Muscat hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Muscat vacations

• book Muscat vacations »
• book Oman vacations »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Muscat, Oman vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Muscat vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Muscat

• book cheap car rental in Muscat »
• book cheap car rentals in Oman »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Muscat, car hire in Oman and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Muscat car hire deals also available.

Muscat travel insurance

• Muscat cheap travel insurance »
• cheap travel insurance for Oman »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Muscat, accident health Muscat travel insurance, all using our online Muscat travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in Oman. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Muscat real estate

• Muscat real estate guide »
• real estate listings in Oman »

City Travel Guide comes with Muscat real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Muscat property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Oman, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Muscat.

back to top

Muscat travel books

Muscat travel guide books

• Muscat travel guide books »
• Oman travel guide books »

Muscat maps and atlases

• Muscat maps and atlases »
• Oman maps and atlases »

back to top