A guide to flexible private serviced offices, furnished, fitted and managed offices and office space for rent in Muscat, as well as general information that may be useful if you are considering renting office space in the city.
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History & Geography
The capital of Oman is flanked to the north and west by the deep waters of the Gulf of Oman and to the east by the plains of Al Batinah. Muscat is also in close proximity to the Al Hajar Mountains, which run along the country’s coastline. The landscape surrounding the city is rocky and mountainous with scant vegetation. Muscat is an ancient city, first mentioned by Ptolemy in the 1st century, who referenced it as an important port. In the 3rd century, Muscat fell to the Sassanids, a late incarnation of the Persian Empire, but continued in its role as a regional trading hub. Over the ensuing centuries, the city changed several times between different tribes and factions, but grew ever more important and powerful. In 1507, the Portuguese captured and pillaged the city, and Muscat remained under Portuguese rule for over a century. In 1650, the Portuguese were expelled, and the Al Bu Sa’id dynasty came to power, and has remained Oman’s rulers since. Muscat continued to grow and cemented its role as the premier trading centre and port of the region. In the 19th century, Said bin Sultan, then ruler of Muscat, signed a treaty with US President Andrew Jackson, confirming the city as the premier naval power in the region. During the early 20th century, Muscat was twice attacked by tribes from the interior, but both times the British brokered a ceasefire. In 1970, Qaboos bin Said staged a bloodless coup against his father, Said bin Taimur. Then, with British assistance, he put down a rebellion in the Dhofar region of the country. Under Qaboos, Muscat and Oman were both developed substantially. Infrastructure was extended, and a new international airport was built in the Seeb district of Muscat. Today, the city is one of the most modern in the region, with a dynamic economy and modern infrastructure.
Economy
Historically, Muscat’s economy has been based on trade, and that remains true today. Oman exports a number of materials and goods, including dates, fish, and mother-of-pearl. A bulwark of the economy is Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), which is one of the largest employers in the country. PDO produced an average of approximately 658,000 barrels of crude oil per day in 2023, and major shareholders include the Government of Oman and Shell plc; other shareholders include TotalEnergies and Partex.
Most Omani trading companies are based in Muscat, the largest being Suhail Bahwan Group. With diverse business interests including agriculture, construction, engineering, information technology, manufacturing, oil and gas services and telecommunications, its trading partners include BMW, Rolls-Royce, Seiko, and Toshiba, to name a few. The country’s main stock exchange, the Muscat Securities Market, is also located in the city. Due to Oman’s geographical position, Muscat’s port is the main hub between the Persian Gulf, India, and the Far East. Approximately 1.6 million tonnes go through the harbour every year. Recently, however, the Jebel Ali Free Zone, established in Dubai, has begun to challenge Muscat for the mantle of the region’s premier trading hub. Expatriates make up about 60 per cent of the workforce in Muscat, with many working in the engineering sector.
In April 2026, Savills reported that economists had revised Oman’s 2026 GDP growth forecast down to 1.9 per cent, due to regional disruptions linked to the Iran conflict, which started in March 2026.
However, it was noted that Oman was viewed as one of the least-exposed economies in the region, as evidenced by the continued operation of ports and a relatively limited impact compared with airspace disruptions elsewhere.
It was also forecast that Oman’s public finances would benefit in 2026 due to uninterrupted exports and high energy prices. However, it was also noted that Oman would not be immune to the effects of disrupted global supply chains, which would contribute to rising costs and reinforce inflationary pressures.
In May 2026, it was confirmed that a trade deal between the UK and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) had been closed.
The deal would remove tariffs totalling an estimated £580 million on British exports to the group of six Gulf states that includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The UK government advised that the deal would be worth £3.7 billion to the UK economy and would make it easier for British firms to expand and partner in the Gulf, thereby supporting jobs.
Culture & Tourism
Oman doesn’t have the tourism industry that its neighbour, Dubai, has, but it’s a wonderful destination in its own right for tourists and visitors. Muscat itself has a number of buildings and sites of interest. Foremost among these is Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, built in 2001. It’s a grand edifice, built from 300,000 tonnes of Indian sandstone and has a central dome rising 50 metres from ground level. The city also boasts a number of museums, the premier of which is the Museum of Omani Heritage. There is also the Oman Children’s Museum, the National Museum of Oman, the Omani Oil & Gas Exhibition Centre, and the Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum. The Royal Opera House was finished in 2011 and is situated in Muscat’s Shati Al-Qurm district. Muscat also has a retail industry large enough to satisfy any shopper. The main shopping area in the city is the Al Qurum Commercial Area. The Old Palace and Old Muscat are also popular destinations for visitors. Muscat has several five-star hotels, many of which are situated along the coast and have miles of pristine sandy beaches. One of the premier among these is the Al Bustan Palace Hotel.
Transport
Muscat is served by Muscat International Airport, which is about 16 miles from the centre of Muscat itself. The airport has many international and domestic connections and is the headquarters of Oman Air, the country’s national airline and a hub for SalamAir, Oman’s first budget airline. The aisport served approximately 13.25 million passengers in 2025. Muscat itself has no metro or subway, but it does have a comprehensive bus system. Many residents travel by the local buses, which are inexpensive and efficient. The city is also served by a large taxi fleet. Fares are set by negotiation rather than by a meter. Oman has a sizable network of highways that provide access to all cities and towns in the country.
Occupancy rates in Muscat declined substantially from 2008, and in 2013, they had yet to recover. However, around 2013, the government expanded access to foreign investment, and a number of new projects were launched.
In 2013, many companies chose to construct their own office space away from traditional office areas, such as the central business district and the more expensive Al Khuwair area, which is close to government offices.
After the final quarter of 2025, Savills reported that the Muscat office market remained stable across all its major submarkets in Q4. Office rent stayed firm at OMR 2.0 and OMR 3.5 per square metre per month in the CBD and Qurum, respectively. Al Khuwair and Shatti Al Qurum also held firm, with prime office rent at OMR 4.5 and OMR 6.0 per square metre per month. There were also no changes in the average office rental rates in Ghubrah and Azaiba, with rents remaining at OMR 5.5 and OMR 6.0 per square metre per month.
After the first quarter of 2026, Savills reported that the Muscat office market had remained stable and that office rents across all of Muscat’s submarkets remained at the same level as they had been in the last quarter of the previous year.
As in many office markets globally, the flexible office space and workspace market in Muscat continues to grow. Both international and local office providers and flexible workspace operators offer a range of agile alternatives to leased office space.
These alternatives include private serviced offices, furnished, fitted and managed offices and coworking desk space options.
These are available on short-term contracts that provide options to up or downsize mid-term in line with changing business needs and are available with all-inclusive pricing, so the rent covers overheads such as utilities, furnishings, cleaning, reception services and other items that would be managed and paid for separately by the occupier if leasing office space in the conventional way.
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