destination one | MUSCAT
State of Calm Muscat flourishes in the prosperous and peaceful Sultanate of Oman. BY SHARON KING HOGE COASTAL STROLL: Muttrah Corniche PHOTO: © REJI ITTIACHAN DREAMSTIME.COM
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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 development 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 sensitive
globaltravelerusa.com
MARCH 2019
Strait 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. Persians, 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 buildings; Waterfront Muttrah, the harbor scene of shipping and cruise ship anchorages, upgrading 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 when
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.
