56 globaltravelerusa.com MARCH 2019
destination one | MUSCAT
SITUATED ON THE ARABIAN PENINSULA, often
amid Middle East chaos and turmoil, Oman manages
to maintain a countenance of decorum and civility.
Evading military clashes between its neighboring
states, it implemented long-range plans for develop-
ment and emergence. Much of the activity focuses on
its capital city, Muscat.
Lying between the El Hajar Mountains and
the Arabian Sea, Muscat serves as the seat of the
country’s political, administrative and economic
systems and home to a third of the country’s 4.5
million residents. With its proximity to the sensitiveStrait of Hormuz, Muscat proved a historically
important trading port in the Gulf of Oman,
attracting foreign tradesmen and settlers who
came to trade in fishing and agriculture. Per-
sians, Spaniards and Ottomans were among
overseas travelers to ancient Muscat, admired
as “very elegant” by a 16th-century Portuguese
writer.
Muscat’s sprawling 1,400 square miles
divide into three principal urban areas: Muscat
proper, the original settlement and now an
enclave of restored historic homes and build-
ings; Waterfront Muttrah, the harbor scene of
shipping and cruise ship anchorages, upgrad-
ing to enhance its appeal to visiting tourists;
and the commercial district centered in Ruwi, a
cluster of high-rise apartments, office buildings
and headquarters of international companies.
Ruled since the 18th century by the Al Said
Dynasty, friction with imams of the interior
destabilized the sultanate until 1970 whenCOASTAL STROLL:
Muttrah Corniche
PHOTO: © REJI ITTIACHAN -
DREAMSTIME.COMState of Calm
Muscat flourishes in the prosperous and peaceful
Sultanate of Oman. BY SHARON KING HOGE
COMING
AND GOING
U.S. citizens must have
a valid passport with six
months validity and a visa.
No sponsor is required for
10-day, single-stay visas,
which can be obtained
online. Visas must be
used within a month of
approval; the fee is $62.OFFICIAL
LANGUAGE
Arabic is official; many
residents are familiar with
English. Hindi and Urdu
are common among the
sizeable Indian population.