Muscat is the capital of Oman, a low-rise coastal city of white buildings set between the Gulf of Oman and the rugged Hajar Mountains. Its old harbour district of Mutrah, the vast Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Royal Opera House and a string of quiet beaches make it one of the Gulf's most relaxed and culturally rooted capitals.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Frankincense (Omani luban)
Resin from Boswellia trees in Dhofar, burned on charcoal in a mabkhara; Omani luban is graded by colour, with pale silver-green hojari considered the finest
Price: OMR 1-10 per bag (approx USD 2.60-26)
Where: Mutrah Souq incense stalls, Mall of Oman and Muscat Grand Mall gift shops
Clay or metal incense burner (mabkhara)
Hand-decorated burner for luban and bukhoor, from simple clay to painted or silver-plated metal
Price: OMR 2-15 (approx USD 5-39)
Where: Mutrah Souq, craft shops in Mall of Oman
Omani halwa
Gelatinous sweet of sugar, ghee, rose water, saffron, cardamom and nuts, served with qahwa and sold in decorated boxes
Price: OMR 2-8 per box (approx USD 5-21)
Where: Mutrah Souq, supermarkets and Muscat Grand Mall
Omani dates and qahwa coffee
Packed dates (often stuffed with nuts) and cardamom-flavoured coffee blends make easy gifts to carry home
Price: OMR 1.5-6 (approx USD 4-16)
Where: Mutrah Souq, supermarkets in Qurum and Al Khuwair
Silver khanjar (Omani dagger)
Curved ceremonial dagger on Oman's national emblem; decorative souvenir versions are sold in the souq, while antique or hand-chased silver pieces cost far more
Price: OMR 25-500 and up (approx USD 65-1,300)
Where: Silver shops in Mutrah Souq
Traditional Omani silver jewellery
Heavy silver necklaces, bracelets and anklets in Bedouin and Nizwa styles, often sold by weight
Price: OMR 15-200 (approx USD 39-520)
Where: Mutrah Souq silver stalls
Kuma cap and mussar
Embroidered kuma caps and woollen mussar turbans worn by Omani men, a distinctive and lightweight souvenir
Price: OMR 5-30 (approx USD 13-78)
Where: Mutrah Souq textile and cap stalls
Pashmina scarves and shawls
Light shawls, scarves and Omani-patterned fabrics useful for mosque visits
Price: OMR 3-20 (approx USD 8-52)
Where: Mutrah Souq, Mall of Oman
Amouage and Omani attars
Amouage is Oman's luxury perfume house, and Omani oud and rose attars are sold in small bottles in the souq
Price: Attars OMR 3-30 (approx USD 8-78); Amouage bottles from about OMR 80 (approx USD 208)
Where: Amouage boutiques in Muscat malls, Mutrah Souq attar shops
Dhow models and woven baskets
Handmade wooden dhow models and palm-leaf baskets, light to pack and tied to Oman's seafaring heritage
Price: OMR 3-25 (approx USD 8-65)
Where: Mutrah Souq, souvenir shops on Mutrah Corniche
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Mall of Oman
Majid Al Futtaim's large three-level mall with international and Omani brands, cinemas, an aquarium and a large food court
Hours: Sat-Wed 10AM-10PM; Thu-Fri 10AM-12AM (verify at the website before visiting)
Muscat Grand Mall
Mid-size mall with more than 150 stores, from fashion to electronics, plus cinema, restaurants and an entertainment zone
Hours: Daily 8AM-12AM
Oman Avenues Mall
Upscale mall on Sultan Qaboos Street with international prestige brands, fine dining and an indoor amusement park, beside a Lulu Hypermarket
Hours: About 10AM-11PM daily; later on Thursday-Saturday (sources vary, verify before visiting)
Qurum City Centre (Qurum Complex)
Mid-market Qurum mall with about 80 stores, 11 dining outlets, a seven-screen VOX Cinemas, Magic Planet and a large Carrefour hypermarket
Hours: Sat-Wed 10AM-10PM; Thu-Fri 10AM-12AM
Al Mouj Muscat (The Wave) Marina and Boulevard
Waterfront marina district west of the city with cafes, restaurants, boutiques and a boulevard along the yacht marina, popular for evening strolls
Hours: Shops and cafes generally open late morning to late evening; confirm per venue