The insider's guide, from travelers who've actually been through.
Muscat International Airport is Oman’s main gateway, sitting about 32 km from the old city and roughly a 25-minute drive from the central Ruwi and Muttrah areas in normal traffic. Its large single terminal opened in March 2018, replacing the old one, and it is a genuinely impressive, modern building with 45 gates and Omani-heritage design touches throughout. It is the home hub of flag carrier Oman Air and a base for low-cost SalamAir, and it was named the world’s leading new airport shortly after opening. Muscat is spread out and has no train or metro, so getting around means a taxi, a transfer or the bus.
Before your layover here
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This is a comfortable, spacious airport that rewards a longer layover. There is a good spread of dining and shops, and the lounges are strong, including the Skytrax-rated Primeclass lounge on the upper level with a spa and rest rooms, plus Oman Air’s first and business class lounges. There is also an Aerotel transit hotel airside, bookable in short blocks with showers and a restaurant, which is ideal if you are between flights overnight. Free wifi runs for two hours; with a foreign number you may need to show your boarding pass at the flight information desk to log in.
If you stay airside in the transit zone, you do not need a visa, and short layovers are handled comfortably within the terminal. To leave the airport and see the city, you need to enter Oman, which requires a visa arranged in advance through the Royal Oman Police e-Visa system, since visa on arrival was discontinued in 2019. A separate transit visa valid up to 72 hours also exists. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity. The single modern terminal keeps connections straightforward.
Use the tools above to check whether your layover is long enough to leave, and how the transit, immigration, and security timings add up for MCT.
