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89-589: The Hajar Mountains dominate the view from Muscat. The city lies on the Arabian Sea , along the Gulf of Oman, near the strategically important Straits 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. Ptolemy 's Map of Arabia identifies

178-574: A subspecies of Wadi Kharrar rock gecko ( Pristurus gallagheri ) are found only in Oman while Musandam leaf-toed gecko ( Asaccus caudivolvulus ), Gallagher's leaf-toed gecko ( Asaccus gallagheri ), Oman rock gecko ( Pristurus celerrimus ), Jayakar lizard ( Omanosaura jayakari ) and Oman blue-tailed lizard ( Omanosaura cyanura ) are found only in the Hajar. The endangered Arabian leopard ( Panthera pardus nimr ) had been recorded here, particularly in

267-580: A Portuguese fleet under Afonso de Albuquerque attacked the city, destroyed it, and then came back soon after to occupy it. The Ottomans attempted to intervene against the Portuguese presence, and four Ottoman ships bombarded the city in 1546. The city was again attacked by the Ottomans in 1552 as part of a broader conflict over the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. This time they attacked with

356-482: A SW-dipping subduction zone. The two culminations are separated by the Semail Gap. This is a prominent linear structure, trending NNE—SSW. However, it is still debated as to what this structure is. Different geologists claim that it is a left-lateral (sinistral) strike-slip fault , a normal fault , a lateral ramp, a monocline due to a blind thrust , or a fault with multiple phases of deformation. There

445-762: A bombardment of the town by the Ottoman Turks in 1546. The Turks twice captured Muscat from the Portuguese, in the Capture of Muscat (1552) and 1581–88. The election of Nasir bin Murshid Al-Ya'rubi as Imam of Oman in 1624 changed the balance of power again in the region, from the Persians and the Portuguese to local Omanis. Among the most important castles and forts in Muscat, the Al Jalali Fort and

534-485: A couple of offices around the city. It is also home to Galfar Engineering, headed by P. Mohammed Ali. The airline Oman Air has its head office on the grounds of Muscat International Airport . According to the 2003 census conducted by the Oman Ministry of National Economy, the population of Muscat is over 630,000, which included 370,000 males and 260,000 females. Muscat formed the second largest governorate in

623-580: A hospital in Muscat in the 19th century. Like the rest of Oman, Arabic is the predominant language of the city. In addition, English , Balochi , Sindhi , Swahili and Indian languages such as Bengali , Gujarati , Hindi , Konkani , Malayalam , Marathi , Odia , Tamil , Tulu , Telugu and Urdu are spoken by the residents of Muscat. Islam is the predominant religion in the city, with most followers being Ibadi Muslims . Non-Muslims are allowed to practise their religion, but may not proselytize publicly or distribute religious literature. In 2017

712-569: A larger fleet under Piri Reis and Seydi Ali Reis . Their ultimate objective was to seize the islands of Hormuz and Bahrain , in order to block Portuguese access to the Persian Gulf and thus reestablish Ottoman control of the Indian Ocean trade . The Ottoman force consisted in 4 galleons , 25 galleys , and 850 troops (according to Diogo do Couto , the Ottomans had 15 galleys and 1200 troops ). The recently built Fort Al-Mirani

801-628: A major role in the Omanis' ability to stay in contact with the civilisations of the ancient world. Sur was one of the most famous shipbuilding cities of the Indian Ocean. The Al Ghanja ship takes one whole year to build. Other types of Omani ship include As Sunbouq and Al Badan. In March 2016, archaeologists working off Al-Hallaniyah Island identified a shipwreck believed to be that of the Esmeralda from Vasco da Gama 's 1502–1503 fleet. The wreck

890-606: A middle Permian to Late Cretaceous sequence of continental shelf carbonates , which were deposited unconformably above the basement. Group three are a series of nappes ( allochthonous rocks) that were transported from the northeast to the southwest horizontally for more than 300 km (190 mi). This was a major tectonic event during the late Cretaceous . This process is called obduction , where Permian to middle Cretaceous continental slope-rise (shallow to deep marine) sedimentary rocks and late Cretaceous oceanic crust ( Semail ophiolite ) were thrust (obducted) above

979-486: A much shallower depth to basement in the Hajar Mountains and a deeper depth to basement in the foreland basin to the west. This has implications on economic geology such as the mining for precious minerals and the extraction of oil and gas. The late Cretaceous obduction event created the proto-Hajar Mountains. However, this topography subsided and shallow marine sedimentation covered the region, beginning in

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1068-576: A new port conceived initially by Sa‘id bin Taimur, was developed during the early days of Qaboos' rule. Similarly, a new international airport was developed in Muscat's Seeb district. A complex of offices, warehouses, shops and homes transformed the old village of Ruwi in Muttrah into a commercial district. The first five-year development plan in 1976 emphasised infrastructural development of Muscat, which provided new opportunities for trade and tourism in

1157-550: A number of endemic species. The vegetation changes with altitude, the mountains are covered with shrubland at lower elevations, growing richer and then becoming woodland, including wild olive and fig trees between 3,630 and 8,250 ft (1,110 and 2,510 metres), and then higher still there are junipers . Fruit trees such as pomegranate and apricot are grown in the cooler valleys and in places there are rocky outcrops with little vegetation. The flora shows similarities with mountain areas of nearby Iran , as well as with areas along

1246-480: A single day. The climate generally is very hot and also very humid in the summer, with temperatures sometimes reaching as high as 45 °C or 113 °F. Muscat's economy, like that of Oman, is dominated by trade. The more traditional exports of the city included dates , mother of pearl , and fish. Many of the souks of Muttrah sell these items and traditional Omani artefacts. Petroleum Development Oman has been central to Muscat's economy since at least 1962 and

1335-601: A taxi. Taxis also generally take passengers to locations out of the city, including Sohar , Buraimi and Dubai . Outwardly, Oman shares many of the cultural characteristics of its Arab neighbours, particularly those in the Gulf Cooperation Council . Despite these similarities, important factors make Oman unique in the Middle East. These result as much from geography and history as from culture and economics. The relatively recent and artificial nature of

1424-487: A treaty with U.S. President Andrew Jackson 's representative Edmund Roberts on September 21, 1833. Having gained control over Zanzibar , in 1840 Said moved his capital to Stone Town , the ancient quarter of Zanzibar City ; however, after his death in 1856, control over Zanzibar was lost when it became an independent sultanate under his sixth son, Majid bin Said (1834/5–1870), while the third son, Thuwaini bin Said , became

1513-498: Is a plain as large as the square of Lisbon, all covered with salt pans. [T]here are orchards, gardens, and palm groves with wells for watering them by means of swipes and other engines. The harbour is small, shaped like a horse-shoe and sheltered from every wind." — Afonso de Albuquerque , after the fall of Muscat, in 1507. Muscat's naval and military supremacy was re-established in the 19th century by Said bin Sultan , who signed

1602-592: Is a trading hub between the Persian Gulf , the Indian subcontinent and the Far East with an annual volume of about 1.6 million tons. However, the emergence of the Jebel Ali Free Zone in neighboring Dubai , United Arab Emirates , has made that port the premier maritime trading port of the region with about 44 million tons traded in cargo annually. Many infrastructural facilities are owned and operated by

1691-604: Is about 10 centimetres or 4 inches, falling mostly from December to April. In general, precipitation is scarce in Muscat, with the months May to November typically receiving only a trace of rainfall. However, in recent years, heavy precipitation events from tropical systems originating in the Arabian Sea have struck the city. Cyclone Gonu in June 2007 and Cyclone Phet in June 2010 affected the city with damaging winds and rainfall amounts exceeding 100 millimetres or 4 inches in just

1780-400: Is concern in the geological community that with the development of infrastructure these rocks that contain a great deal of information will be excavated and destroyed. The central section of the Hajar is the highest and wildest terrain in the country. Jabal Shams is the highest of the range, followed by Jebel Akhdar . The latter and the smaller Jebel Nakhl range are bounded on the east by

1869-425: Is limited to major roadways and point-to-point travel routes between Oman's major cities and towns. Taxis, also colour-coded orange and white, provide semi-personal transportation in the form of both individual hire and the same opportunistic roadway service as Baiza buses. Baiza buses and colour-coded orange-and-white taxis are unmetered, after several government initiatives to introduce meters were rejected. The fare

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1958-633: Is occurring at the Zagros fold and thrust belt west of the Musandam Peninsula . This collisional plate boundary transitions into a subduction zone , towards the east. Here, oceanic crust of the Arabian Plate is subducted northwards beneath Eurasia , called the Makran subduction zone . The Hajar Mountains are the product of polyphase mountain building . Uplift and deformation of

2047-459: Is set by way of negotiation , although taxi drivers usually adhere to certain unwritten rules for fares within the city. In many countries, one is advised to negotiate a fare with the driver before getting into a taxi. However, in Oman, asking for the fare beforehand often demonstrates a passenger's newness and unfamiliarity with the area. One should always find out the normally accepted fare for one's journey from one's hotel or host before looking for

2136-486: Is some debate over whether the topography of the Hajar Mountains is due to thin or thick-skinned tectonics (if basement rocks were faulted during collision to create uplift due to thrust faults). Recent Bouguer gravity and magnetotelluric geophysical data suggest deep basement faults that have been activated as thrust faults during the collisional event that obducted the Semail Ophiolite. This has resulted in

2225-582: Is synonymous with Oman ("hidden land"). But "Ov-man" (Omman), and the old Sumerian name Magan (Maa-kan) , means sea-people in Arabic. An inhabitant is a Muscatter , Muscatian , Muscatite or Muscatan . In 1793 AD the capital was transferred from Rustaq to Muscat. Evidence of communal activity in the area around Muscat dates back to the 6th millennium BC in Ras al-Hamra, where burial sites of fishermen have been found. The graves appear to be well formed and indicate

2314-739: Is the country's second largest employer, after the government. Its major shareholders include Shell , Total, and Partex and its production is estimated to be about 720,000 barrels per day (114,000 m/d). Muscat also has major trading companies such as the Suhail Bahwan Group, which is a trading partner for corporations such as Toshiba , Subaru , Seiko , Hewlett-Packard , General Motors , RAK Ceramics ; Saud Bahwan Group whose trading partners are Toyota , Daihatsu , KIA and Hertz Rent-a-Car ; Zubair Automotive whose trading partners include Mitsubishi , and Chrysler brands such as Dodge; and Moosa AbdulRahman Hassan which operates as one of

2403-427: Is well known for being sailing of many commercial ships and boats. Here also, the traditional boats of Arabian Peninsula named Dhows can be also seen. This port since many centuries have been a main commercial and financial centre in terms of its international maritime trade. Airport The main airport is Muscat International Airport (formerly known as Seeb International Airport) around 25 km (16 mi) from

2492-578: The Abbasids of Baghdad to conquer Oman. The Abbasids occupied the region until the 11th century, when they were driven out by the local Yahmad tribe. Power over Oman shifted from the Yahmad tribe to the Azdi Nabahinah clan, during whose rule, the people of coastal ports such as Muscat prospered from maritime trade and close alliances with the Indian subcontinent , at the cost of the alienation of

2581-550: The Al-Mirani Fort are the most prominent buildings left by the Portuguese. On August 16, 1648, the Imam dispatched an army to Muscat, which captured and demolished the high towers of the Portuguese, weakening their grip over the town. Decisively, in 1650, a small but determined body of the Imam's troops attacked the port at night, forcing an eventual Portuguese surrender on January 23, 1650. A civil war and repeated incursions by

2670-575: The Arabian Peninsula . South of Muscat, the volcanic rock strata are broken up and distorted, rising to a maximum height of 6,000 feet (1,800 m) in Al-Dakhiliyah , a region which includes Jebel Akhdar , the country's highest range. The hills in Muscat are mostly devoid of vegetation but are rich in iron . The halophytic sabkha type desert vegetation is predominant in Muscat. The Qurum Nature Reserve contains plants such as

2759-477: The Arabian Plate , reaching from the Musandam Peninsula through to the east coast of Oman . The range is about 100 km (62 mi) wide, with Jabal Shams being the highest peak at 3,009 m (9,872 ft) in the central region of the mountains. Currently, the Arabian Plate is moving north relative to the Eurasian Plate at 2–3 cm (0.79–1.18 in) per year. Continental collision

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2848-629: The Arthrocnemum Macrostachyum and Halopeplis Perfoliata . Coral reefs are common in Muscat. Acropora reefs exist in the sheltered bays of the satellite towns of Jussah and Khairan. Additionally, smaller Porites reef colonies exist in Khairan, which have fused to form a flat-top pavement that is visible at low tide. Crabs and spiny crayfish are found in the waters of the Muscat area, as are sardines and bonito . Glassfish are common in freshwater estuaries , such as

2937-734: The Assyrians of the Church of the East resulted in a significant Christian population living in the region, with a bishop being attested by 424 AD under the Metropolitan of Fars and Arabia. The rise of Islam saw the Syriac and Arabic-speaking Christian population eventually disappear. It is thought to have been brought back in by the Portuguese in 1507. Protestant missionaries established

3026-640: The Omani Aquarium and Marine Science and Fisheries Centre . The Bait Al Falaj Fort played an important role in Muscat's military history. Recent projects include an opera house which opened on October 14, 2011. One of the most notable new projects is the Oman National Museum. It is expected to be an architectural jewel along with the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque . Visitors are also encouraged to visit Old Muscat and

3115-535: The Paleocene . Paleocene to Eocene sedimentary rocks are found at 2,200 m (7,200 ft) above sea level within the Hajar, and are folded . This indicates that the present day topography formed after the late Eocene . The exact timing is debated, and various interpretations indicate the topography formed anywhere between the late Eocene through to the Miocene . The driving forces that formed

3204-677: The Red Sea in the Horn of Africa . For example, the tree Ceratonia oreothauma is found here and also in Somalia . A number of birds are found in the mountains including Egyptian and lappet-faced vultures ( Torgos tracheliotus ). Mammals include mountain gazelles ( Gazella gazella ) and the Arabian tahr ( Arabitragus jayakari ). Other endemic species include a number of geckos and lizards: Asaccus montanus , Asaccus platyrhynchus and

3293-484: The labour force , dominated by males, who accounted for 80% of the city's total labour. A majority of expatriates (34%) was in engineering-related occupations, while most Omanis worked in engineering, clerical, scientific or technical fields. The defense sector was the largest employer for Omanis, while construction, wholesale and retail trade employed the largest number of expatriates. The ethnic makeup of Muscat has historically been influenced by people not native to

3382-542: The mantle , and then exhumed back to the surface. This exhumation event created possibly the largest megasheath fold on Earth, the Wadi Mayh megasheath fold. The common view is that these eclogites were originally basic volcanic rocks within the leading edge of the continental crust of the Arabian Plate . This leading edge was then subducted by a NE-dipping subduction zone . However, some geologists have interpreted that these eclogites were subducted through

3471-500: The outlier of Jebel Hafeet , which measures 1,100–1,400 m (3,600–4,600 ft) in height. Due to its proximity to the main range, it may be treated as one of the Hajar Mountains, sensu lato . This mountain has ridges which stretch northwards to the city of Al Ain. The northernmost mountains of the Hajar range are found on the Musandam Peninsula. For this reason, the phrase Ru'us al-Jibal ("Heads of

3560-497: The state of Oman makes it difficult to describe a national culture; however, sufficient cultural heterogeneity exists within its national boundaries to make Oman distinct from other Arab States of the Persian Gulf. Oman's cultural diversity is greater than that of its Arab neighbours, given its historical expansion to the Swahili Coast and the Indian Ocean. Oman has a long tradition of shipbuilding, as maritime travel played

3649-533: The "Baiza" buses, so named for the lower denomination of the Omani rial , the baiza (an adaptation of the Indian lower denomination paisa ). These are relatively inexpensive and service all major roadways, as well as a wide and loose network of smaller byways in the greater Muscat metropolitan area, opportunistically dropping off and picking up passengers at any location. Less popular and slightly more expensive are large public buses, coloured red and green, whose service

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3738-517: The 1980s–1990s, attracting migrants from around the region. On June 6, 2007, Cyclone Gonu hit Muscat causing extensive damage to property, infrastructure and commercial activity. Early photographs of the city and harbour, taken in the early 20th century by German explorer and photographer, Hermann Burchardt , are now held at the Ethnological Museum of Berlin . Muscat is located in northeast Oman. The Tropic of Cancer passes south of

3827-577: The 3rd century AD, under the rule of Shapur I , while conversion to Islam occurred during the 7th century. Muscat's importance as a trading port continued to grow in the centuries that followed, under the influence of the Azd dynasty , a local tribe. The establishment of the First Imamate in the 9th century was the first step in consolidating disparate Omani tribal factions under the banner of an Ibadi state. However, tribal skirmishes continued, allowing

3916-541: The Arabian Peninsula. British Parliamentary papers dating back to the 19th century indicate the presence of a significant Hindu Gujarati merchants in the city. Indeed, four Hindu temples existed in Muscat ca. 1760. Christianity flourished in Oman (Bēṯ Mazūnāyē "land of the Maganites"; a name deriving from its Sumerian designation) from the late 4th century to the 7th century. Missionary activity by

4005-787: The Arabian passive margin began during the late cretaceous as the African-Arabian Plate began to subduct under the South Tethyan Oceanic Plate imitated at an intra oceanic subduction zone . This initiation may have been the result of plate rotation due to the breakup of Gondwana . Similar to the modern convergence of the Australian passive margin under Eurasian oceanic crust, Arabian passive margin sediments became highly deformed and shortened forming an imbricated thrust belt. This also coincided with

4094-553: The Eastern Hajar, for the protection of Arabian tahr and mountain gazelle. For visitors, there is a road into the mountains from the town of Birkat al-Mawz (on the road to Nizwa from Muscat) and a walking route through Wadi al-Muaydin to the Saiq Plateau. There are 11 marked trails/routes of varying intensity (between Grade 1 to 3) and duration (between 1.5 hours to 18 hours) published by Ministry of Tourism, Oman along

4183-530: The Elder 's reference to Amithoscuta to be Muscat . The origin of the word Muscat is disputed. Some authors claim that the word has Arabic origins – from moscha , meaning an inflated hide or skin . Other authors claim that the name Muscat means anchorage or the place of "letting fall the anchor" . Other derivations include muscat from Old Persian , meaning strong-scented , or from Arabic , meaning falling-place , or hidden . Cryptus Portus

4272-680: The Europeans in 1650. They were not affected by civil war that established the Al Bu Sa‘id dynasty and continued to prosper under Ahmad bin Said al-Busaidi . Important trade existed between the city and Thatta , and later, Kutch , expanding to other parts of India. During the second half of the 19th century, the fortunes of the Al Bu Sa‘id declined and friction with the Imams of the interior resurfaced. Muscat and Muttrah were attacked by tribes from

4361-485: The Hajar is also debated. Many geologists relate the Zagros Collision as the reason for the uplift forming the mountains, as currently the Musandam Peninsula (northwest corner of the mountain range) is uplifting due to this collision. However, Jabal Shams , the highest peak of the central mountains is over 300 km (190 mi) away from this zone. In addition, there is no major seismicity within

4450-430: The Hajar range. Some areas are inaccessible, and requires special equipment, as shown in a Steve Backshall TV documentary. Other notes: Capture of Muscat (1552) 23°36′31″N 58°35′31″E  /  23.60861°N 58.59194°E  / 23.60861; 58.59194 The capture of Muscat occurred in 1552, when an Ottoman fleet under Piri Reis attacked Old Muscat , in modern Oman , and plundered

4539-643: The Hajar, the Semail ophiolite is still intact. Oman also has one of the best exposed mega-sheath folds ever discovered, the Wadi Mayh sheath fold. Additionally, the relatively small outcrop of eclogite is important. Eclogite is rare on the Earths surface, as it is a rock that forms at high pressures deep within the crust or mantle . Geologists can learn about what is occurring in the Earths interior and tectonic processes from these rocks. There are also various fossil localities in Oman that need to be protected. There

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4628-589: The Mabela area of Muscat are Al Araimi Boulevard and Mall of Muscat. The Mall of Muscat is also home to the Oman Aquarium. Mall Of Oman , the largest shopping mall in Oman was opened in Summer 2021 housing over 100+ stores including Snow Oman , Vox Cinemas , an arcade (Magic Planet) and various food chains. Waterways Sultan Qaboos Port serves as one of the most important ports of Muscat Governorate , which

4717-585: The Mountains") is applied to them, or the peninsula itself. Despite being physically part of the western Hajar, they differ in geology and hydrology to the rest of the range. The highest point in the UAE is located at Jebel Jais near Ras Al Khaimah , which measures 1,911 m (6,270 ft) from sea level, but since the summit is on the Omani side, Jabal ar Rahrah , measuring over 1,691 m (1.051 miles), has

4806-683: The Old Palace. The main shopping district is situated in Al Qurum Commercial Area. However, shopping malls are found throughout the city. One of the largest malls in Oman is Oman Avenues Mall , located in Ghubra. The fourth largest mall is in Seeb , near the international airport, called City Centre Muscat , housing all major international brands and the largest Carrefour hypermarket. Two new megamalls opened during 2019 and 2020: in

4895-470: The Persian king Nader Shah in the 18th century destabilised the region, and further strained relations between the interior and Muscat. This power vacuum in Oman led to the emergence of the Al Bu Sa‘id dynasty , which has ruled Oman ever since. "Muscat is a large and very populous town, flanked on both sides with high mountains and the front is close to the water's edge; behind, towards the interior, there

4984-636: The Portuguese from attacking the Hijaz . The Ottomans again attacked the Portuguese possessions of the coast of India in 1553, with a raid on the Pearl Fishery Coast of South India around Tuticorin . They were assisted by the Marakkar Muslims of Malabar , and had the tacit agreement of Vittula Nayak of Madurai . 52 Portuguese were captured at Punnaikayal , and churches were burnt down. The Ottomans failed however in 1553 against

5073-408: The Qurum Nature Reserve. The Sultan Qaboos Street forms the main artery of Muscat, running west-to-east through the city. The street eventually becomes Al Nahdah Street near Al Wattayah. Several inter-city roads such as Nizwa Road and Al Amrat Road, intersect with Al Sultan Qaboos Road (in Rusail and Ruwi , respectively). Muttrah , with the Muscat Harbour, Corniche , and Mina Qaboos , is located in

5162-473: The Sultan of Oman. By the 19th century, a large Hindu merchant community in the port city dominated its commercial life. It is argued that their settlement at least since the fifteenth century; one of the reasons is that the Portuguese relied heavily on them to secure a trade monopoly in the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf area. The Sindhis were amongst the first during this era, followed by the Kutchis . The merchant community played an important role in expelling

5251-578: The Sultanate of Oman unveiled the Mushaf Muscat , an interactive calligraphic Quran following a brief from the Omani Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs . The city has numerous mosques including the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque , Ruwi Mosque, Saeed bin Taimoor and Zawawi Mosque . A few Shi'ite mosques also exist here. Muscat has a number of museums. These include Museum of Omani Heritage , National Museum of Oman , Oman Children's Museum , Bait Al Zubair , Oman Oil and Gas Exhibition Centre , Omani French Museum , Sultan's Armed Forces Museum and

5340-411: The Western Hajar ( Arabic : ٱلْحَجَر ٱلْغَرْبِي , romanized :  Al-Ḥajar Al-Gharbī ), also known as the " Oman proper ". Since Jabal Akhdar and mountains in its vicinity are west of the valley, they may be regarded as Western Hajar. In the region of Tawam , which includes the adjacent settlements of Al-Buraimi and Al Ain , on the border of Oman and the UAE Emirate of Abu Dhabi , lies

5429-432: The area of Khasab in northern part of the Musandam . Like the Ru'us al-Jibal , the area of Jebel Hafeet is noted for hosting rare flora and fauna. For example, in February 2019, an Arabian caracal was sighted here, and in March, a Blanford's fox , which has also been reported in the mountains of Ras Al-Khaimah. In September 2024 it was reported that the rare white-edged rock brown butterflies were spotted in

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5518-410: The area. The Hajar are extensively grazed by domestic goats, camels and donkeys and the landscape has been cleared in parts for urban areas and for mining, which has damaged both vegetation and water supplies and uprooted traditional rural land management behaviours. Poaching of wildlife is another issue. The Oman government has created the Wadi Sareen Reserve and an area of Jebel Qahwan-Jebal Sebtah in

5607-419: The area. It is bordered to its west by the plains of the Al Batinah Region and to its east by Ash Sharqiyah Region . The interior plains of Ad Dakhiliyah Region border Muscat to the south, while the Gulf of Oman forms the northern and western periphery of the city. The water along the coast of Muscat runs deep, forming two natural harbours , in Muttrah and Muscat. The Central Hajar Mountains run through

5696-544: The assistance of the British, Qaboos bin Said put an end to the Dhofar uprising and consolidated disparate tribal territories. He renamed the country the Sultanate of Oman (called Muscat and Oman hitherto), in an attempt to end to the interior's isolation from Muscat. Qaboos enlisted the services of capable Omanis to fill positions in his new government, drawing from such corporations as Petroleum Development Oman . New ministries for social services such as health and education were established. The construction of Mina Qaboos ,

5785-428: The central mountains, indicating that the mountains are not currently deforming, even though the Zagros collision is. This indicates that the uplift that created the present day topography occurred in the past, possibly before the initiation of the Zagros collision , by a mechanism that is not fully understood. Oman's geological record is extremely valuable to geologists, and needs to be preserved . It contains

5874-461: The city's business district of Ruwi and 15 to 20 km from the main residential localities of Al-Khuwair, Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos, Shati Al-Qurm and Al-Qurm. Muscat is the headquarters for the local Oman Air , which flies to several destinations within the Middle East , the Indian Subcontinent, East Africa and Europe. Road Transportation The Muscat area is well serviced by paved roads and dual-carriageway connects most major cities and towns in

5963-414: The country, after Al Batinah , accounting for 27% of the total population of Oman. As of 2003, Omanis constituted 60% of the total population of Muscat, while expatriates accounted for about 40%. The population density of the city was 162.1 per km. The governorate of Muscat comprises six wilayats : Muttrah , Bawshar, Seeb , Al Amrat, Muscat and Qurayyat . Seeb, located in the western section of

6052-429: The country. Since November 2015, Public transportation in Muscat has been revamped with a bus network connecting most important parts of the city with a fleet of modern Mwasalat (earlier Oman National Transport Company buses. Mwasalat buses procured from VDL of the Netherlands and MAN of Germany have several hi-tech features, including free Wi-Fi. Several forms of public transport are popular in Oman. Most popular are

6141-545: The emplacement of the Semail Ophiolite . By the early Maastrichtian , deformation ceased, and stable continental shelf conditions resumed. A second episode of deformation began during the Eocene Epoch around 45-40 Ma. This episode saw the reactivation of cretaceous thrust faults and the development of long and short wavelength folding of Paleocene marine sediments that infilled previous foredeep accommodation. Low temperature thermodchronometry of apatite grains has given ages to this deformation and subsequent exhumation of

6230-423: The existence of burial rituals. South of Muscat, remnants of Harappan pottery indicate some level of contact with the Indus Valley civilisation . Muscat's notability as a port was acknowledged as early as the 1st century AD by the Greek geographer Ptolemy , who referred to it as Cryptus Portus (the Hidden Port ), and by Pliny the Elder , who called it Amithoscuta . The port fell to a Sassanid invasion in

6319-463: The government of Oman. Omantel is the major telecommunications organization in Oman and provides local, long-distance and international dialing facilities and operates as the country's only ISP . Recent liberalization of the mobile telephone market has seen the establishment of a second provider, Ooredoo . Muscat is home to multibillion-dollar conglomerate CK Industries with their headquarters located in Ruwi . Ajman based Amtek Industries also have

6408-425: The governorate, was the most populous (with over 220,000 residents), while Muttrah had the highest number of expatriates (with over 100,000). Approximately 71% of the population was within the 15–64 age group, with the average Omani age being 23 years. About 10% of the population is illiterate , an improvement when compared to the 18% illiteracy rate recorded during the 1993 census. Expatriates accounted for over 60% of

6497-634: The highest peak in the UAE. The mountains bordering the Shamailiyyah ( شَمَيْلِيَّة ) coast on the Gulf of Oman, forming parts of the northern UAE Emirates of Sharjah , Ras Al-Khaimah and Fujairah , may also be called the Shumayliyyah ( شُمَيْلِيَّة ). In this region is Jebel Al-Ḥeben ( جَبَل ٱلْحبن ; 25°7′33″N 56°9′33″E  /  25.12583°N 56.15917°E  / 25.12583; 56.15917 ). The mountains are rich in plant life compared to most of Arabia, including

6586-455: The initials of Vincente Sodré, da Gama's maternal uncle and the commander of the Esmeralda ". Hajar Mountains The Hajar Mountains ( Arabic : جِبَال ٱلْحَجَر , romanized :  Jibāl al-Ḥajar , The Rocky Mountains or The Stone Mountains ) are one of the highest mountain ranges in the Arabian Peninsula , shared between northern Oman and eastern United Arab Emirates . Also known as "Oman Mountains", they separate

6675-657: The interior in 1895 and again in 1915. A tentative ceasefire was brokered by the British , which gave the interior more autonomy. However, conflicts among the disparate tribes of the interior, and with the Sultan of Muscat and Oman continued into the 1950s, and eventually escalated into the Dhofar Rebellion (1962). The rebellion forced the Sultan Said bin Taimur to seek the assistance of the British in quelling

6764-409: The low Samail Valley (which leads northeast to Muscat ). East of Samail are the Eastern Hajar ( Arabic : ٱلْحَجَر ٱلشَّرْقِي , romanized :  Al-Ḥajar Ash-Sharqī ), which run east (much closer to the coast) to the port city of Sur , almost at the easternmost point of Oman. The mountains to the west of Sama'il Valley, particularly those in Musandam Peninsula and the UAE, are known as

6853-506: The low coastal plain of Oman from the high desert plateau, and lie 50–100 km (31–62 miles) inland from the Gulf of Oman . Al ( اَلْ ) means "the", and Ḥajar ( حَجَر ) means "stone" or "rock". So al-Ḥajar ( اَلْحَجَر ) is named as "the stone" or "the rock". The Hajar Mountains extend for 700 kilometres (430 miles) through the UAE and Oman. They are located on the north-east corner of

6942-438: The most complete ophiolite on Earth, of which it is most famous for among geologists. The ophiolite sequence has spectacular pillow basalt (Geotimes pillow lava), as well as exposures of the fossil crust-mantle boundary ( moho ). Generally, ophiolites are obducted prior to continental collision , which highly deforms the structure of the original oceanic crust . However, because continental collision has not occurred in

7031-435: The mountain belt. Exhumation occurred in two states, first between 45 and 40 Ma and again from 20 to 15 Ma. This later unroofing could also be related to tectonic uplift in the nearby Zagros Mountains of Iran . The geology of the Hajar can be grouped into four major tectonostratigraphic groups. Group one are the pre- Permian basement rocks, a sedimentary sequence of clastics , carbonates and evaporites . Group two are

7120-518: The north-eastern coastline of the city, adjacent to the Gulf of Oman. Other coastal districts of Muscat include Darsait , Mina Al Fahal , Ras Al Hamar, Al Qurum Heights, Al Khuwair, and Al Seeb . Residential and commercial districts further inland include Al Hamriyah , Al Wadi Al Kabir , Ruwi , Al Wattayah, Madinat Qaboos , Al Azaiba and Al Ghubra . Muscat features a hot, arid climate ( Köppen climate classification BWh ) with long, sweltering summers and warm winters. Annual rainfall in Muscat

7209-509: The northern coastline of the city. Volcanic rocks , predominantly serpentinite and diorite are apparent in the Muscat area and extend along the Gulf of Oman coast for ten or twelve 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) from the district of Darsait to Yiti. Plutonic rocks constitute the hills and mountains of Muscat and span approximately 30 miles (48 km) from Darsait to Ras Jissah. These igneous rocks consists of serpentinite , greenstone , and basalt , typical of rocks in southeastern regions of

7298-600: The oldest automotive agencies in the entire region having been established in 1927. The private Health Care sector of Muscat, Oman has numerous hospitals and clinics. The Muscat Securities Market is the principal stock exchange of Oman. It is located in Central Business District of Muscat and it was established in 1988, and has since distinguished itself as a pioneer among its regional peers in terms of transparency and disclosure regulations and requirements. Mina'a Sultan Qaboos, Muscat's main trading port,

7387-416: The people of the interior of Oman. The Portuguese admiral Afonso de Albuquerque sailed to Muscat in 1507, in an attempt to establish trade relations. As he approached the harbour, his ships were fired on. He then decided to conquer Muscat. Most of the city burned to the ground during and after the fighting. The Portuguese maintained a hold on Muscat for over a century, despite challenges from Persia and

7476-479: The rocks from groups one and two. Lastly, group four are late Cretaceous to Miocene shallow marine and terrestrial sedimentary rocks that were deposited on top of all three previous groups. The high topography is around two major culminations: Jabal Akhdar and Saih Hatat, which are large scale anticlines . The Saih Hatat culmination contains eclogite in the northeast at As Sifah. These rocks were subducted to about 80 km (50 mi) depth into

7565-500: The territories of Cryptus Portus and Moscha Portus . Scholars are divided in opinion on which of the two is related to the city of Muscat . Similarly, Arrianus references Omana and Moscha in Voyage of Nearchus . Interpretations of Arrianus' work by William Vincent and Jean Baptiste Bourguignon d'Anville conclude that Omana was a reference to Oman , while Moscha referred to Muscat . Similarly, other scholars identify Pliny

7654-522: The town from the Portuguese . These events followed the important Ottoman defeat in the third siege of Diu in 1546, which put a stop to their attempts in India, but also the successful capture of Aden in 1548, which allowed the Ottomans to resist the Portuguese in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean . The city, once part of the Kingdom of Hormuz , had been in Portuguese hands since 1507, when

7743-471: The uprisings from the interior. The failed assassination attempt of April 26, 1966 on Said bin Taimur led to the further isolation of the Sultan, who had moved his residence from Muscat to Salalah , amidst the civilian armed conflict. On July 23, 1970, Qaboos bin Said , son of the Sultan, staged a bloodless coup d'état in the Salalah palace with the assistance of the British, and took over as ruler. With

7832-493: Was besieged for 18 days with one piece of Ottoman artillery brought on top of a ridge. Lacking food and water, the 60 Portuguese garrison and its commander, João de Lisboa , agreed to surrender, only to be taken as captives. The fort was captured and its fortifications destroyed. Soon however the Ottomans departed. Ultimately, they managed to occupy and control the coasts of Yemen , Aden , and Arabia , as far north as Basra , so as to facilitate their trade with India and block

7921-436: Was initially discovered in 1998. Later underwater excavations took place between 2013 and 2015 through a partnership between the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Culture and Blue Water Recoveries Ltd., a shipwreck recovery company. The vessel was identified through such artifacts as a "Portuguese coin minted for trade with India (one of only two coins of this type known to exist) and stone cannonballs engraved with what appear to be

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