Shopping in Oman

The City Centre Mall is a hot favourite with Muscat’s residents, a place where families can relax, eat, shop and play. The mall has several internationally known food and coffee chains operating within such as Chilli’s restaurant, Starbucks and Costa Coffee. A large food court serves a variety of cuisines and fast food to suit every palate. Cosmetics, ready-to-wear for men and women, and accessories are but some of the items on sale here. City Centre Mall is located in the Al Seeb area, close to the airport. Ask your Oman Hotel for more information about the shopping scene in your specific area!

Bhaja is among the latest additions to Muscat’s shopping landscape. Its huge area comprises three floors. It’s a complete, one-stop shopping-cum-entertainment complex housing retail outlets, a children’s recreation space, a multiplex, food court, 10-pin bowling alley, and a well stocked supermarket. There’s also an Internet café and a pharmacy to complete the picture. The best part is, all of this comes at affordable prices!

If you’re wondering what things to buy in Oman for your family and friends back home, and you’re all for nurturing the local cultures and traditions, the best gifts come in the form of folk art and crafts. Look out for charming woven baskets, the indigenous kelims or wool carpets, wall hangings and the somewhat primitive local pottery. A memorable Oman souvenir to take home would be some frankincense and myrrh!

Gold is always a worthwhile buy in the Gulf countries. The precious metal is slightly more expensive in Oman than in other Arab cities like Bahrain or the UAE; however, it’s still a bargain when compared to prices in Europe or Japan. Jewellery is sold by weight, based on the London spot price, plus around 10% extra. Legally, the lowest quality gold that shops can sell is 18 carat. You’ll find though, that most shops will stock 21 or 22 carat jewellery.

Shops in Muscat open early, around 09:00 hrs and close at 13:00 hrs. A prolonged lunch break is the norm, keeping in view the extreme heat of the afternoon hours. They open for business again at 16:00 hrs and shut down at about 21:00 hrs, depending on the type of shop and its location. In general, most shops follow these timings between Saturday and Thursday. On Fridays, shops open only in the evenings. The Sultan Centre, a supermarket-cum-department store is an exception as it stays open round the clock. Travel agents, airline officers, private medical practitioners and dentists close for business on Thursday afternoon and reopen on Saturday.

While browsing around, you might like to remember that the small shops found in souks are open to bargaining. Don’t hesitate to ask for discounts or “last price” even in some of the fancier looking shops. It’s only the supermarkets and more modern shopping centres that charge fixed prices; everyone else is ready for a good-natured session of haggling!

After all the shopping you've done, the next best thing is to endulge in some traditional Omani cuisine at one of the many Oman Restaurants.