Explore Muscat’s Residential Areas

AN OVERVIEW
Muscat’s popular residential areas are Shati Al Qurm, Qurm, Qurm Heights and Madinat As Sultan Qaboos. Shati Al Qurm is one of Muscat’s most desirable addresses, beautifully landscaped along the beach. Large elegant marble villas can be found here on leafy tranquil streets, many with a sea view and a beach.  Al Qurm and Qurm heights are also popular areas to live with spacious old villas full of character. The main shopping areas and other services are located here.

Similar large villas can be rented for relatively lower prices in the upcoming areas like Al Azaiba, Al Khuwair and Ghubrah.  

Madinat As Sultan Qaboos or MQ is an old residential area with a slightly European feel. It is currently undergoing a revamp with the addition of new residential buildings and a shopping complex. Centered around small shopping complexes, the area has a village atmosphere and many amenities. The houses found here are of a manageable size, some 20 to 30 years old. Being an older area built in times of reasonable land prices, the villas have large mature gardens. The grander villas found here are mostly lived in by locals. There are many Garden Courts for the social animal. The British School-Muscat, the American British academy (both multi cultural) and the French school are located here. There are also several nursery schools in the area making it a popular choice for families with young children. 

Housing in the Business Districts
Cheaper housing is found in Ruwi and Al Wuttayah, which is home to Muscat’s large Asian community. It is also referred to as CBD or the Central Business district so traffic can get pretty frantic. Other cheaper housing options are further out of town in Al Hail, Seeb to the west and Qantab in the East. These are a 30 – 40 minute drive from the commercial centre and are a good option for people who work close by. Some parts of Seeb are on the flight path and the many night flights may disturb the light sleeper.