Port Sultan Qaboos is the largest port in Oman located in the city of Mutrah just west of Muscat. Formerly a primarily commercial hub, Port Sultan Qaboos now serves as an epicentre of cruise ships and passenger traffic. The port is situated purposefully in the Gulf of Oman on a main international shipping route.
Port Services Corporation operates the location, managing multiple facets including container, non-containerised cargo and cruise terminal services. The port is capable of handling cargo including but not limited to automobile, break-bulk, container, dry and liquid bulk. The container terminal boasts the ability to manage 350,000 TEU’s. The cruise terminal offers passenger lounges, an internet cafe and duty-free shopping.
Taxis and rental cars are the most popular forms of getting around the area. Buses provide transit to Ruwi from Muscat International Airport, where minibuses route to Muttrah City.
The development of Port Sultan Qaboos arose out of growing commerce between the two hubs of Mutrah and Muscat in the 18th century. The location was established under the rule of Sayyid Sultan bin Ahmed and continued by his son after his death. When maritime activity began to decline, tourism boomed, attributing to the shift from predominant commercial to cruise line operations.