MUSCAT

Muscat Muscat is located in

northeast Muscat, at the Tropic of Cancer passes south of the area.

The meaning of Muscat is Sweet aromatic grape used for raisins and wine.

History

The Portuguese maintained a hold on Muscat for over a century,

despite challenges from Persia and a bombardment of the town by the 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-Yaribi as Imam of Muscat in 1624 changed

the balance of power again in the region, from the Persians and the Portuguese to local Muscatis.

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.[15] A civilian war, and repeated incursions by the Persian

About Muscat

"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 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."

Climate

The climate is tropical, with very hot and generally humid weather year-round.

Muscat features a hot, with long and very hot summers and warm "winters". The climate generally is very hot, with temperatures reaching as high as 40°C (104°F) in the summer.

In Muscat

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

Beaches of Muscat along with its cliffs attracts tourists from all over the world!

Visit Muscat

Al Bustan Palace Muscat Qurum Beach 

Al Q The corniche –

Muttrahurum Muscat Clock Tower, MBD,

Ruwi

Economy

Muscat's economy, like that of Muscat, 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 Muscati artefacts.

Petroleum Development Muscat (PDO) has been central to Muscat's economy

since at least 1962 and is the country's second largest employer, after the government.

PDO's major shareholders include Royal Dutch/Shell, Total, and Partex and its production

is estimated to be about 720,000 barrels per day (114,000 m3/d). Muscat also has major

trading companies such as 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;

The private Health Care sector of Muscat,Muscat has numerous hospitals and clinics.

Religion

Islam is the predominant religion in the city, with most followers being Ibadi Muslims. Non-Muslims are allowed to practice their religion, but may not proselytize publicly or distribute religious literature.

KIMS Oman Hospital ,DarsaitMuscat Private Hospital, GhubrahAl Nahda Hospital, GhubrahSultan Qaboos University Hospital, Al HamriyaAl Shatti Hospital, Shatti al Qurum

Health

By taxiMaxi taxis (vans, known throughout the expat community as baisa busses) ply the highway from Seeb to the corniche area. The charge is 100 baisa from corniche area to the church round about and another 100 baisa from the church round about to Wadi Adai.By carThere are many rent-a-car services available in the city. An international driving licence is required for renting out a car. Most of the Car Rentals have offices at the airport arrivals terminal

Transport

Education

This article surveys the current status of librarian ship in the Sultanate of Muscat Similar to any other develop ing country, Muscat faces problems in librarianship, such as shortage of professional librarians, lack of well-equipped li braries, and the absence of a professional library organisation. The article deals with the various types of existing libraries in the Sultanate, with emphasis on the Sultan Qaboos University Libraries, the largest in the country It also reviews the foundation of the Librarianship and Documentation Depart ment at Sultan Qaboos University and discusses other infor mal training programmes for librarians.

 Tourism

Theres alot to be done to improve tourism in Muscat, Private sectore should be more active in this,More advertising and promotions to be done.the main thing is try to explain to ppl how tourism is important to us. Muscat doesnt want to be too Open like Dubai, it wants to keep its culuture and here Culturle tourism is good, also at the same time to be more open (In terms of business). Now Muscat is trying to improve through these new projects like the Sawadi resourt, Jassah resourt, seeb water front, and some others. Many things to be done. 

Traditional

Muscat Festival in both Naseem and Al Qurum parks is still on so the other night MOP and I headed down to Al Qurum. Alas, as usual it was fun parking and we had to do so a good ways away from the event, and I forgot my camera in the car (so all these pics are from Oman TV). I didn't want to go back for it as we arrived later in the evening anyways