Governorate of Muscat is situated on the Gulf of Oman at the south part of Al Batinah coast. It is confined between Gulf of Oman and the mountains of AI Hajr Al Sharyi. The Governorate is the most populous area of the Sultanate. The average density exceeds 24 times the average population density in the Sultanate.

      The Governorate consists of six wilayats: Muscat, Muttrah,Bowshar, A’Seeb, Al Amerat and Quriyat. Muscat is the capital of the Sultanate and the headquarters and the administrative apparatus of the state. It is an old city that played an important role as a commercial station since the early ages of Islam. It is also one of the most important trade centers because of its strategic and special location. It is famous for Al Jalali and Al Mirani forts.

      In Muscat and its wilayats we can observe this remarkable harmony between the ancient heritage and the modern contemporary features. You can see the old houses and markets, small shops and narrow roads, next to the modern markets, shops and wide streets. This preserves Oman’s historical and cultural identity on one hand and gives it at the same time the spirit of the age and modernization on the other hand.

Tourist Attractions

Wilayat Muscat

      The Wilayat of Muscat runs along the Gulf of Oman across a long mountain range which stretches from Bandar Najih adjacent to the Wilayat of Muttrah on the north western side between the villages of Muttrah and Riam. Here the villages and mountains of Muscat extend as far as the village of Al Sifa at the borders of the Wilayat of Quriyat in the south east.
     
      Muscat has nine villages attached to it, these being Sidab, Haramel, Al Bustan, Al Jussa, Qantab, Yankat, Yiti, Al Khayran Al Sifa and Sifat Al Sheikh.
     
      The city of Muscat is counted one of the older cities in history having been built at the outset of the Arab migrations which preceded and followed the destruction of the Maarib Dam. We can safely say that its history predates the arrival of Islam by several centuries.
     
      Muscat is distinguished by the presence of citadels, forts, towers, walls, gates and historical houses.
      The municipality of Al Sifa is home to Al Sifa Fort which overlooks the sea from its coastal position and backs onto a valley.
     
      The walls of the city of Muscat were its first line of defense in the fortification and protection of the city from attackers. The city is today encircled by a ditch of natural stone in place of a wall. The Omanis call this wall Al Hosn or the fortification. Other walls are still in existence around the city on two sides, the west and the south. The one that was erected in 1625 AD has round towers built into it. On the northern and eastern side of the city are the natural defense boundaries of the Gulf of Muscat and the eastern mountains.
     
      The walls of Muscat have three principal access points or gates: Bab Al Matha'eeb, the Greater Gate and the Lesser Gate.
     
      The first of these is in the western corner below the Al Mirani Fort. The second is at the extremity of the western rib of the wall and this one is the point of egress to most of the roads leading to the suburbs of Muscat and to the city of Muttrah. The third or Lesser Gate is mid-way along the southern rib of the wall and despite its name is also one of the principal entrances to the city.
     
      Muscat has five historical houses or residences. These are Jeriza, Al Sayed Nader, Al Sayed Abbas bin Faisal, Al Zawawi and the Omani-French Museum; while the Wilayat of Muscat also has 48 mosques.
     
      The villages of Al Jussa, Al Khayran and Al Sifa are coastal tourist resorts with clear blue seas and an appealing landscape of waves and rocks.
     
      The coast of Al Jussa has coconut palms and mala'eb trees as well as a number of historic monuments.
     
      The second stretch of coast, Al Khayran, is set between cliffs which nature has eroded into spiny outcrops that rise peg-like from the sea floor. Further along this coast are mangroves known as the ashjar al-qurum.
     
      The third stretch of coastline is at the village of Al Sifa east of the city of Muscat and adjacent to Quriyat. It is a serene and handsome shoreline which draws many locals and residents to this convenient pleasure spot at weekends.

 Wilayat A'Seeb

      Al Seeb lies to the west of the Wilayat of Bowshar, occupying an narrow strip of coastline along the rim of the Gulf of Oman for a distance of 50 kms. Its population is around 223,267 persons distributed among 24 villages and townships.

      The Wilayat incorporates a number of sites of historical interest, the most significant of these being the citadel of Al Khodh, Jifnin, Raseel, Al Kharas and Al Saleel Towers as well as the towers of Wadi Al Haya. It has two walls, one of which, Sur Jimma, proved useful in the defence of the township of Wadi Al Lawami 200 years ago. The second, Sur Al Rawia, known as Beit Al Rawia or Al Rawia House, consists of six chambers and a liwan. It was built some 150 years ago.
Beit Al Awad or Al Awad House is at Al Khodh. Founded in 1886 AD, it has a floor area of 1,200 sq. metres. Wilayat Al Seeb has around 140 mosques.

      One of the most significant sights in this Wilayat are the districts of Al Manuma, Al Khodh (interior), the coast of Al Hail, the Daymaniyat Islands, Al Khodh Park, Al Sahwa Tower Al Nasim Park, Al Mawalih, Al Maasila, Al Rusyail, Al Jirou, Al Jifnain, Al Mirorat and Al Bunoud.

Wilayat Muttrah

      This is a city of trade and enterprise, with its port and commercial quarter. Muttrah has a population of 154,316 living in eight residential districts: Muttrah City, Greater Muttrah, Al Wattia, Ruwi City, Wadi Addi, Annat, Qurum (east of the Nature Park) and the Port of Al Fahl.

      It is said that the name Muttrah (a place to throw something down) comes from the presence of an anchorage for ships (i.e "throw down the anchor").

      Another interpretation of the name is as of a place to "unload or put down goods or merchandise."

      The Wilayat of Muttrah is counted amongst the most important of the six Wilayats in Muscat Governorate, on account of its ancient historical and cultural standing; for it was Oman's ancient trading port and its suq was the principal source of the many and diverse goods relayed from the port to the other suqs of Oman. It is said that it was once also a fertile spot much cultivated with date palms and other trees, watered by aflaj and sweetwater wells from which the citizens, orchards and visiting ships were supplied.

      Muttrah boasts a number of archaeological and tourist landmarks in the shape of forts, walls, towers, aflaj and watercourses, as well as parks and gardens.

      Muttrah Fort, known popularly as Koot Muttrah is one of the most prominent of the 13 forts scattered throughout the Wilayat. It has six towers, built under the Portuguese during their occupation of Muscat after 1578. It was the seat of government during the rule of Sultan Said bin Sultan Al Bousaidi and occupies an elevated site on the mountain overlooking the Muttrah coast.
Amongst the other forts are: Al Rouja, Mattirah Al Fanateef, Jebel Kalbou, Luzum, Hukum, Al Reeh, Sanjouri, Al Gharifa, Bahwar, Beit Falaj and Shaji'aia.

      The most notable of the walls in this Wilayat the one which runs from the southern to the nortern mountain. Known as Sur Ruwi, it has a gate the centre which can with justification claim to Muscat's first access gate on the northern interiside. It was constructed to regulate access to tcapital when the Sultan bin Ahmed Al Bousaidi tothis as his seat of government.

      Muttrah has another three walls: Sur Al Lawati, Sur Muttrah Al Qadim (Old Muttrah), and Sur Jabarou.

      There are two towers, one of them on the highmountain at Zarafia which takes its name - BoZarafia - from this place. The other smaller tower situated at the highest point in the Wadi Khalfan.

      Two aflaj run through this distriFalaj Al Wattia. The other comes out of the ground at Wadi Al Kebir and passes beneath the Beit Al Falaj. Hence its name Falaj Al Falaj.

      Muttrah has a total of 16 Widian, the most.important of them Al Harath, Al Aseel, Al Naqa, Al Walja, Al Hamaria, Dar Seit, Maysah Al Awd and Wadi Al Kebir.

      It has three public gardens, in the Al Midan Al Tijari, Wadi Al Kebir and Riam quarters respectively; and two museums, the Armed Forces Museum and the National Museum, as well as the Islamic Library. In all there are 79 mosques in the cities and villages of the Wilayat.

Wilayat Bowsher

      Situated between the sea and the mountains south west of Muttrah, its population is 149,506 persons spread over its 43 towns and villages. The most noteworthy of these are: Al Khoweir, Sultan Qaboos City, Al Ghubra, Al Adheeba, Ghala, Al Aa'lam (Information City), Al Sarooj, Bowshar Al Qadima (Old Bowshar) Bowshar Bani Umran, Al Ansab Sanab, Al Hamam, Al Awabi and Al Misfah.

      Its archaeological remains and the ancient narratives suggest a history going back to the second millennium BC. It is also said –and it is likely to be true – that the name Bowshar is derived from the unrest witnessed by this district in the past, causing it to be called Abu Sharr (the Iniquitous One); until, when matters settled it was shortened to Bowshar.

      The Beit Al Kebir (Great House) is amongst its most significant monumental remains. This monument of many names is also known as Beit Al Sayeda Thoraya. Whatever its title it stands as a splendid historical testament, with its unique engravings and feats of design. It is composed of several lobbies and colonnaded galleries and is three storeys high.

      Also here are the stronghold and citadel of Al Fatah and the towers: Al Hammam, Sanb, Harat Al Awraa and the tower and Rawla and Sabla of Falaj Al Sham; the Al Sayed Barghash Wall, the two Bouqa of Al Ansab and Al Hammam, the old stone the old suq of Bowshar and Al Khab
Foremost among the old mosques are the Al Najar Mosque in the Bowshar Bani Umran Municipality which was erected in the thirteenth century AH, and the nearby Al Aweina Mosque, as well as the Sanb Mosque and 56 other lesser mosques scattered throughout the Wilayat.
 

Wilayat Quriyat

      Quriyat occupies a narrow strip of coastline along the Arabian Gulf, the Wilayat of Muscat to the north and to the south east the Eastern Region Wilayats of Sur. South west is Dimma and Al Ta'iyeen, also in the Eastern Region. Eastwards is the Arabian Gulf.

      The Wilayat has 29 villages and towns, including the town of Quriyat itself. These are Al Hajer, Al Wasta, Al Ma'ala, Al Jinan, AI Sahel Al Ainein, Killiat, Affa', Al Kerib, Al Ramla, Al Makhasrat, Al Shahbari, Dhaher Muhaisa, Hail Al Ghaf, Al Masfaa and the Municipalities of Daghmar, Mazar'ia Al Abraiyeen, Al Misfa'ah, Al Hiytan and Al Abayaa.

      The village of Dhabbab (meaning fog or mist) and Suq lie to the east of the Wilayat. The western villages are Sawaqim, Al Falij, Qatnit, Al Samir, Makhada, Al Haboubia, Seeh Al Basra or Seeh Al Gharizia, Al Ramitha, Hayfadh (Al Atb), Al Aafia, Al Salil, Al Fayadh, Al Tareef, Siy'a Al Alouwia, Ballal, Wadi Al Harim, Araqi, Siy'a AlHadaria, Al Qabel, Mawal and Taba.  The total population of all of these villages and their surrounds is 38,305.

      The name Quriyat is probably derived from Quriyat, the plural of the word qariya or village. It was settled by a number of tribes before the advent of Islam and another set of tribes arrived after Islam, between the sixth and eighth centuries AH. The inhabitants of Quriyat are distinguished by their retention of many ancient Omani customs and traditions and their pursuit of the crafts and trades of their forefathers inherited from past ages.

      The Wilayat is characterized by its undulating landscape of coastal plain and mountain and by an extended coastline with abundant fishing. It is renowned for its cultivations for it has both fertile soil and plentiful water supply. Some of its villages are high in the mountains and virtually inaccessible except by plane.

      The Wilayat has three strongholds, the most noteworthy of which is Quriyat Fort, built some 200 years ago in the era of Al Sayed Hamad bin Said Al Bousaidi who was Wali at the time.
Al Sahel Fort is on the coast, in contrast to Quriyat, which is inland. It was built under the Imam Naser bin Murshid Al Yarubi and was a base for the army commander in the reign of Seif bin Sultan Al Yarubi.

      The third fort is Dagh, built during the Portuguese occupation and rebuilt under Sultan Taymour bin Faisal, who erected three other citadels in this Wilayat. The most notable of these is the Al Bourj Citadel adjacent to Quriyat Fort. The others were Sirah on the Quriyat coast and Kharmuwa in the village of Al Jinnin.

      Quriyat has a multitude of strongholds and fortifi-cations - a total of 20 citadels, seven forts and 12 round towers. It has even more mosques, some 149, in all, along with 52 aflaj.

      Quriyat is famous for a number of natural beauty spots frequented by both local and foreign visitors. Wadi Dhaiyqa is a favourite weekend destination, with its refreshing setting of rushing water and towering palms beside clean beaches. Bimma, Fanas and Dhabbab are the best known of the beaches. Finally Ras Al Shajar, with its tame animals, is another of the better known tourist spots in Quriyat.

      This province has a varied climate which supports a diversity of cultivation, and Quriyat has dates palms of every variety known in the Sultanate. The village of Hail Al Ghaf is famous in its own right for its groves of mango which are said to be 200 years old. Some of these have a productivity of 14,000 fruit annually. Several varieties are grown, the commonest being Al Halqum, Bombay, Al Khokh and Al Kibd.

      There are vast citrus groves, predominantly of the Omani variety of lemon celebrated for its quality and abundance, but also of quince, oranges and mandarins.

      Other fruit trees visible throughout the province include guavas, papayas, mulberrie and lotus fruit - of both water and land varieties. These trees are abundant in the wadi and mountain areas. Common vegetable crops are tomatoes, onions, potatoes, cabbage and peppers. Field crops include clover, beans and plant fodder for the local herds of cows and sheep and goats and camels, gazelle and mountain goats; for here the inhabitants are greatly dependent on these herds to help them in raise their standard of living and increase their incomes by improving and expanding their herds. Crucial to this intent is the proper veterinary care of the animals which they achieve with the help of the Agricultural Developmental Centre and the veterinary clinics in the Wilayat of Quriyat.

Wilayat Al Amerat

      This Wilayat is situated south of Muttrah and south west of Quriyat. It runs south west along the direction of the watercourse of the Wadi Al Sireen at the end of Seeh. To the east is Muscat at the two towns of Marazeh and Yiti. To the west is Bowshar from which it is separated by a chain of mountains.

      Its population is 40,868 living in six principal villages: Al Amerat, the township of Al Hajer, the township of Jahlout, the township of Wadi Al Meeh, Wadi Al Sireen and the city of Nahda.

      The Wilayat of Al Amerat with its 81 mosques was known in the past as Al Fatah and elsewhere as Al Mutahadamat, until the transformations of the Renaissance period brought with them a new and more appropriate name.

      This Wilayat has both archaeological and tourist landmarks, the most noteworthy of which are the lead mines, the red ochre quarry, Beit Saharij, Wadi Sireen Nature Preserve, Wadi Al Meeh (Al Lajam) the Ghar Hadhadha Cave, the steep zigzag incline of Jebel Saqif and the Safah Al Bab well at the fool of the mountain.

      The district has 61 aflaj and 57 wadis or watercourses, with plentiful date palms, mango and lotus fruit. In recognition of its importance as an area of rich cultivation there is an agricultural guidance centre here which pursues active programmes in vegetable and fruit cropping and the distribution of seed to farmers.

Traditional Occupations

 Wilayat Muscat

      Fishing is one of the foremost traditional livelihoods in the Wilayat of Muscat, whose citizens are passionate in their love for fishing along the whole of its seacoast, so much so that the government has taken important steps to preserve this livelihood, and provided the fishermen of Sidab with a model fishing village which has the intended purpose of strengthening and increasing the townspeople's interaction with the sea and with marine life.

      Allied to the practice of fishing as a livelihood is the craft of sewing nets. Four other crafts are also pursued here: basket weaving, tree-felling, herding and folk medicine, in particular bone setting.
Muscat is also distinguished by three other traditional industries and these are: the crafting of gold and silver jewellery, the making of local Omani confectionery and carpentry.

Wilayat A'Seeb

      Amongst the traditional artisan crafts and skills are the weaving of palm fronds, Al Ghal, cloth weaving, the incense trade, marine crafts, garment making, gold and silver jewellery craft and fishing.

      The Wilayat also has a number of inherited traditional customs and practices, the most common of which is a local form of bullfighting, in a form that excludes injury of the animals, commonly practiced on holiday and leisure occasions. The spectator participants assemble, usually at a venue on the outskirts of the town, and form a human chain. The contest now begins, taking the form of a series races. The competitors run between two bulls, the race being umpired by a person competent in this task and referred to as the "Colonel." Meanwhile the human chain of spectators around the pitch follows the proceedings with intensity akin to that of soccer fans. The winning bull is feted throughout the Wilayat and can expect a better price in the market for his success.

      This Wilayat has its traditional occupations and customs too, among them camel racing, circumcision, Al Tabseel (date collection and processing), Al Judad, reciting the Qur'an, Al Taymina (recital of poems when child is one year old) and Al Halqa (pre-Eid souq) as well as celebration of the festive occasions and wedding feasts which abound in Oman. Popular games are snatchball, played with the fruit of the date palm, rope pulling, date palm shinning, singlestick fencing, jumping, Al Fakees, Al Darwaza, Al Lataj and, Al Karabia (traditional games). Al Ghouizia, Al Shell, Al Joum and Ain Al Sara'a.

Wilayat Muttrah

      Amongst the livelihoods still practised in this district are carpentry, gold and silver jewellery craft and fishing.
 
      The industries include halwa, plaited palm frond ropes, textiles, blacksmithing, silverwork, perfumes and the production of ambergris.

Willayat Bowsher

      Agriculture is the principal livelihood of the inhabitants of the villages of Bowshar, utilizing the waters of the aflaj which descend from the foot of the mountains to irrigate the scattered farms on the plain. This district has some 43 aflaj, most of them tarrying warm water.
     
      It has dozens of varieties of dates, these being he most significant crop of the district, along with citrus fruits, in particular lemons, seasonal crops and fodder.

      Fishing and herding are also major livelihoods sere, and traditional crafts practised include silver and gold jewellery and basket weaving.
 

Willayat Quriyat

      In this Wilayat a number of traditional industries are practised, foremost among them cloth weaving, gold and silverwork, boat building and maintanance, palm matting, tanning, coffee, palm frond weaving, blacksmithing, saddlework and ornamentation, the making of woollen garments, dressmaking and commercial patterns.

      Meanwhile the traditional livelihoods of fishing, commerce, collecting firewood, repairing firearms and ammunition, tailoring and dressmaking, raising camels and livestock, repairing water pumps, cupping and the barber's art are still pursued here.