Tuesday 16 / April / 2024
In the heart of the capital lies a beautiful, treasure — a place where shadowing mounts mingle with composed sea views, a place nestled between the Eastern Al Hajar mountains and the Sea of Oman. It is a touristic territory adorned with numerous museums and landmarks that echo the authentic history of Oman. It is the original city of Muscat, now known as Old Muscat.
An old city built 900 years ago, Old Muscat occupies a special place in the hearts of its residents, who enjoy waking up to the amazing sound of breaking waves, gazing at the ancient fortress of Al Mirani, which was built in 1588 by the Portuguese, and living amongst the best touristic attractions in Oman, including Al Alam palace; Al Zubair cultural museum, which is a home for old Omani khanjars and weapons inherited by the Zubair family; and Bait Al Muzna, a gallery that exhibits fine art paintings of local and international artists that opened in 2000 under the supervision of Sayyida Susan Al Said.
While it boasts all of the historic charm one would expect, it is also blessed with beautiful greenery, clean public parks, a network of well-developed roads, and all the necessary modern facilities.
Property Times had a quick chat with Wisal Al Hamidi, a media student who resides in the community of Helat Sidab, a great residential area of Old Muscat. For Wisal, the calm atmosphere sets Old Muscat apart from other capital cities and the thoughtfully planned area, filled with beautiful villas with inspiring cultural exteriors, makes it a beautiful place to come home to.
“Muscat might be old, but it has a sense of modernity,” said the student, adding that its markets, numerous shops, widely-spaced roads with little traffic make it a practical place to live as well.
The nearby beaches are an especially nice amenity for an area where rental prices are affordable enough for families with modest incomes. She is passionate about her neighbourhood, so we asked her to give us her top five reasons she loves living in Old Muscat.
1. A Reverse Commute
For those working in the Central Business District or Wadi Kabir, the area is less than ten minutes away. And for those who drive north to Al Khuwair and beyond, there is no traffic, as most commute in the opposite direction.
2. Ancient Sites, Modern Roads
It is one of the oldest places in Oman, filled with historic landmarks and museums, but it is amazingly modernised with wide, well-developed roads that provide a traffic-free setting, as well as proximity to hypermarkets and cafes.
3. Clean and Green
The streets of Old Muscat are graced with beautiful old trees that refresh the air and add to the relaxed, natural environment of the neighbourhood.
4. Surrounded by Beaches
Muscat City is directly on the coast and is minutes away from great swimming beaches in Sidab, and an easy drive to Qantab, Sifa, Al Khayran and Yiti.
5. Beautiful Villas
The houses are beautifully designed with traditional elements and most houses are planned and designed in an almost-identical manner, giving the area a beautiful, uniformly old fashioned look.
