cathedral
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Oman's main mosque featuring the world's second-largest hand-woven carpet and a spectacular Swarovski crystal chandelier.
2 km · about 5 min drive
AsiaOmanMuscat
Muscat
Muscat, Oman · Asia
About Muscat
Muscat is worth a stop: 30 minutes from Seeb, 2km from Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque.
Muscat is in Oman, with about 800,000 people. The nearest town is Seeb, about 24 km away.
Muscat ( MUSK-at, -ət, US also -aht; Arabic: مَسْقَط, romanized: Masqaṭ, pronounced [ˈmasqatˤ] ) is the capital and most populous city of Oman. It is the seat of the Governorate of Muscat. According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the population of the Muscat Governorate in 2022 wasRead more
1.72 million. The metropolitan area includes six provinces, called wilayat, and spans approximately 6,500 km2 (2,500 sq mi). The Hajar Mountains dominate the view from Muscat. The city lies on the Gulf of Oman, near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Low-lying white buildings are a typical feature of its architecture. The city's port district of Muttrah, with its corniche and harbour, are at the north-eastern edge of the city. Muscat's economy is dominated by trade, petroleum, liquified natural gas and porting.
Known since the early 1st century CE as a leading port for trade between the west and the east, Muscat was ruled successively by various indigenous tribes, as well as by foreign powers such as the Persians, the Portuguese Empire and the Ottoman Empire. In the 18th century, Muscat was a regional military power: its influence extended as far as East Africa and Zanzibar. As an important port town in the Gulf of Oman, Muscat attracted foreign traders and settlers such as the Persians, the Balochs and the Sindhis. Beginning in 1970, after the accession of Qaboos bin Said as the Sultan of Oman, Muscat experienced rapid infrastructural development; it developed a vibrant economy and became a multi-ethnic society. The Globalization and World Cities Research Network classifies Muscat as a Beta-level Global City.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Muscat?
Within an hour or so of Muscat: Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (2 km), Old Muscat (19 km).
Are there any good drives near Muscat?
The nearest famous roads are Wadi Bani Awf & Snake Canyon and Muscat to Sur Coastal Road (Route 17).
Where is Muscat?
Muscat is in Muscat, Oman, about 24 km from Seeb.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 797,000
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Oman
- Region
- Muscat
- Timezone
- Asia/Muscat
- Coordinates
- 23.5841, 58.4078
Tags
Worth the detour from Muscat
2 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Old Muscat
Oman's historic capital district with the stunning Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, royal palaces, and the atmospheric Mutrah Souq.
19 km · about 20 min drive
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