Mascate

Mascate, known in English as Muscat, is the capital city of Oman and the administrative center of the Muscat Governorate. Located on the northeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula along the Gulf of Oman, Muscat serves as the country’s political, economic, and cultural hub.

Geographically, the city sits along a natural harbor with a historic core surrounding the old town and a later expansion into modern districts. The climate is hot desert, characterized by very hot summers, mild winters, and limited annual rainfall.

Muscat has long been a regional trading hub on the Indian Ocean. Its history includes periods of local dynastic rule and a notable Portuguese presence in the 16th century, during which fortifications such as Al Jalali and Al Mirani were constructed. Over the 19th and 20th centuries the city grew as Oman modernized, and it became the national capital following the unification of the country.

Today Muscat has a diversified economy centered on government administration, port and logistics activities, and expanding tourism. It hosts cultural institutions such as the Royal Opera House Muscat and the National Museum, and offers a waterfront setting with plazas, beaches, and a scenic Corniche.

Major sites include the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muttrah Corniche and Souq, Al Alam Palace, and the forts of Jalali and Mirani. The city also comprises modern districts such as Ruwi and Qurum, which blend administrative functions, business, and residential life.