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Seeb is located on the main road from Muscat to the UAE, about 35km from the main commercial areas of the city. The area has become a lot more popular since the openings of Muscat’s biggest two shopping malls: Muscat City Centre and Markaz Al Bahja. Both malls have some major tenants, such as Carrefour, Monsoon, Mothercare and Early Learning Centre in Muscat City Centre, and Marks & Spencer, Toys R Us and ID Design in Markaz Al Bahja. If it’s too hot to play outside, kids will enjoy the excitement of the huge indoor play area in Markaz Al Bahja, and there is also a cinema in this mall.
Perhaps because of its proximity to the airport, Seeb is where many business travellers end up. The Oman International Exhibition Centre (www.omanexhibitions.com) hosts many interesting trade and consumer exhibitions throughout the year. The Golden Tulip Seeb Hotel is right next door.
As you travel from Seeb to Muscat, you’ll see the Grand Sultan Qaboos Mosque on the right hand side of the road just after Seeb. Apart from being a breathtaking example of Islamic architecture, it also offers non-Muslims a rare opportunity to enter a working mosque. Tours of the mosque are available between 08:00 and 11:00, Saturdays to Wednesdays. It is one of the largest mosques in the Arab world, with the point of its highest minaret reaching almost 100 metres, and it is well worth visiting. If you do go on the tour, make sure that your clothing is appropriate – men should wear long trousers and women should be modestly dressed (trousers or long skirts, and long-sleeved, loose-fitting blouses). There have been reports of women being turned away if there is any danger of their long, flowing skirts blowing up in the wind! |