Joanna James
Once a thriving hub of the Silk Road, Oman has an undeniable bazaar vibe. Shopping or just browsing in Oman is an unforgettable experience. Today, traditional souks and extravagant malls offer rich retail therapy to travellers to this desert nation.
This grand mall is located not too far from most hotels in Muscat. You can reach the City Center of Muscat within 15 minutes from hotels like the Avani Muscat Hotel. City Center Muscat houses over 140 retail stores. Browse for clothing brands, beautiful home décor, cosmetics and electronic gadgets at the mall. If you’re travelling with kids, there is a children's entertainment area. Alternatively, you can catch a movie at the theatre. When the hunger pangs begin, you can grab a coffee or even sit down to a lavish meal at one of the restaurants. This mall is open from 10 am to 10 pm from Saturday to Wednesday and from 10 am to 12 pm on Thursdays and Fridays.
Oman Avenues Mall is perhaps the largest in the country. This one is famous for fashion stores for high-end brands. There is also the matter of fine dining at the mall. And, the mall’s architecture itself is spectacular. You can visit this mall for half a day’s relaxation and fun with your holiday party. This mall is fit for a luxurious shopping experience. Take your time to try on different outfits and find matching accessories. Then linger over a ritzy lunch of your own choosing at one of the high-end restaurants. You’ll come out feeling rejuvenated and pampered. Oman Avenues Mall opens at 8 am and closes around 11:30 pm.
Exit the luxury malls to visit Muscat’s lively fish market. The vendors sell fresh catch daily. You can walk through piles of gleaming silverfish and other seafood. The variety of fish includes tuna, kingfish huge prawns and squid. Watch the vendors and buyers haggle over fish, and how they cut and clean seafood with dexterity and precision. The floors tend to be wet, hence wear practical footwear and walk cautiously.
This is your place to get your hands on handmade Omani products. Omani Heritage Gallery is a not-for-profit organization. They help local artists craft beautiful traditional handicrafts, paint Omani life, sculpt and weave exquisite artwork. You can find antique silver bookmarks, embroidered cushions as well as handbags, wallets and jewellery. The artisan products are in the pricier range, but the workmanship and details you get with these goods more than compensate for that. The gallery is a perfect spot to spend an hour or so savouring stunning creations and buy some souvenirs to take back home. You’ll come out feeling all the more richer for the experience itself.
Muttrah Souq is one of the most popular traditional-style shops in Oman. They’ve designed it much like a traditional Arabic market from yesteryears (apart from the timber roof). There are vibrant shops all over the souq, selling Bedu jewellery, perfume, gold, handicrafts, frankincense and myrrh. In the night, the souq comes alive with lamps shimmering onto wooden walls, and the fragrant air emitting a bit of age-old magic. Local Omanis call this souq the ‘Market of Darkness’ because of the narrow alleys and streets that extend like a maze. You can buy exquisite gold and silver jewellry, get lost in the perfumed air much like an ancient Bazar. Tuck into a bit of Omani Halwa to step back in time and be an explorer in Arabia for a moment in time.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
