Asia · capital city
What Is the Capital of Oman?
Muscat
The capital of Oman is Muscat. About 1.7 million people live in the Muscat urban area — 30% of the country's population.
1.7 million
Urban area population
UTC+4
Time zone
23.62°N
Latitude · 58.58°E
Yes
Largest city
Muscat at a glance
Name origin
The name derives from the Arabic name for the city, Masqat, which is said to mean "hidden" and refers to the range of hills that isolate the port city from the rest of the country.
Time zone
UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
23 37 N, 58 35 E · IANA time zone Asia/Muscat
Location of Oman
Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and the UAE
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Sanaa, Yemen — 1,764 kmCapitals closest to Muscat
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — 438 km
Doha, Qatar — 737 km
Manama, Bahrain — 859 km
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — 1,211 km
Kuwait City, Kuwait — 1,234 km
Tehran, Iran — 1,510 km
Kabul, Afghanistan — 1,589 km
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan — 1,594 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Muscat
What is the capital of Oman?
The capital of Oman is Muscat. About 1.7 million people live in the Muscat urban area — 30% of the country's population.
Is Muscat the largest city in Oman?
Yes — Muscat is also the largest urban area of Oman (1.7 million).
What time zone is Muscat in?
Muscat is on UTC+4 — UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Muscat come from?
The name derives from the Arabic name for the city, Masqat, which is said to mean "hidden" and refers to the range of hills that isolate the port city from the rest of the country.
Which capital is closest to Muscat?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) is the closest, 438 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).