Dubai to Muscat

Dubai will lead you into a historical sojourn like no other place in the world. The primary history of this city’s establishment is not that well documented; however, research suggests that this land is close to 4,000 years old. Modern Dubai has evolved from fishing populations, which existed along the coast of the Arabian Gulf during the 1830s. The Dubai Creek was an ancient port of trade, very busy during times of trade between Indus Valley and Mesopotamian civilizations. The historic finds that give us insight into this ancient city lie preserved as artefacts in the archaeological section of the Dubai Museum.

Dubai is the second largest emirate among the seven that exist as the United Arab Emirates. It is located on the southern shore of the Gulf. The city is known to house one of the world’s most curated experiences. A bustling metropolitan steeped in culture and tradition, Dubai is the epitome of the amalgamation of western luxury and mid-western morals. The region is characterized under “desert vegetation” for a reason, for the temperature here remains high all year long. Dubai enjoys a sub-tropical, arid climate. Large populations of expats live here, including Arab, Asians, and European.

How to reach Dubai

By Air – The main airport in Dubai is the Dubai International Airport. All major airlines fly to this airport on a daily basis. Emirates Airlines is the preferable and national carrier that operates flights to Dubai. The Sharjah International Airport is another important node here, although only a few airlines land and take off from there. A taxi ride from the airport to the main city costs about 50 Dirham.

By Bus – Daily buses connect Dubai to the other emirates. The Emirates Express plies on a frequented route from everywhere in the Emirates, including Sharjah, Ajman, Masafi, and Abu Dhabi.

By Road – One can drive from Oman to Dubai across the international borders without needing a permit or fee upon entering Dubai; however, an exit fee of 3,000 Omani Rial will be charged upon leaving Oman. Make sure you retain the slip as the receipt must be produced during the return trip.

What to do in Dubai

A few decades ago, Dubai was a land of strong winds carrying the desert soil over and about the vast cityscape. It used to be a land of sparsely scattered skyscrapers. Presently, however, it is a widely populated metropolitan, which houses post-modern tall buildings, and within the alleys, retains the charm of the Old Dubai Town. It is the perfect amalgamation of tradition and modernism. Explore the city, which is referred to as one of the most affluent in the world, soaking in the olden culture of the Arabs alongside the buzzing nightlife that’s on offer.

Whether scouring the city’s popular spots, like visiting the traditional establishments, modern architectural marvels, a man-made beach and the best flea markets in all of the Emirates, tourists to Dubai have a many options to choose from:

Burj Khalifa

Dubai Deira Fish Souk

The Dubai Mall

Old Souk

The Dubai Fountain

Palm Jumeirah

Dubai Creek

Naif Souk

Alserkal Art District in Al Quoz

The Grand Mosque

Kite Beach

Dubai Marina

The Desert

Meena Bazaar

Al Fahidi

IMG Worlds of Adventure, indoor theme park

The Dubai Canal

Madinat Jumeirah

Dubai Opera

The Walk at JBR

Dubai Safari

Jumeirah Beach

Marina Beach

Jumeirah Mosque

Many operators offer private safaris across the wildlife and desert attractions in the vicinity. For night safaris, tourists are taken to an area 20 minutes away from downtown Dubai.

Apart from safaris, ATV tours, camel rides in the dunes, and hot air balloon rides are also popular activities most enthusiasts.

Major Airports in and near Dubai

The main airport in Dubai is the Dubai International Airport. This airport connects Dubai to other emirates as well as major international destinations. All international flights to Dubai land here.

MakeMyTrip offers a wide range of flights to Dubai. One can easily use the website to book a flight to Dubai or from Dubai, with the major airport being a hub to domestic and international airlines. MakeMyTrip flights to Dubai can be availed at highly discounted rates during festivals and off seasons.

Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, has a character quite different from the other flashy emirate capitals. There are very few high rise buildings, and even the utilitarian edifices in the city reflect tradition using domes or Arab architecture style windows. The result is a stunningly beautiful and uniform city showcasing a fair blend of culture and modernization.

The Omani capital is famous for its sparkling souks and mouth-watering seafood, but something about Muscat that sets it apart from its neighbours is the cliff-top landmarks and thrilling terrains. Muscat means “safe anchorage,” and the sea plays an imperative role in the lives of the city residents, by helping sustain the fishing industry and providing opportunities for visitors to swim alongside the turtles in the lagoons. The economy of the country is dominated by trade, petroleum, and porting.

How to reach Muscat

By Air – The Muscat International Airport is the only international airport. Air India Express offers flights to Muscat from Amritsar, Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram. For travelling from outside of India, one can choose from operators like Oman Air, British Airways, Gulf Air, Lufthansa, and Emirates, depending upon where they are travelling from.

By Bus – One can hop on any of the buses by the Omar National Transport Company to travel to Muscat from Dubai or Abu Dhabi. There are a few other bus services that run to and from Muscat on a daily basis.

By Car – One can drive to Muscat from the United Arab Emirates, which takes about 6 hours. There is another route from Al Ghaydah, Yemen, which takes about 6 hours via the border-crossing at Sarfeit to Saraha, and another 10 hours to reach Muscat. There are many car rental services available in the city. One can use the driving license from their home country to drive around Muscat for up to 90 days.

What to do in Muscat

Muscat, the beautiful capital of the Sultanate of Oman, is a vibrant place to visit. It is embedded between the Arabian Sea and the rugged Hajar Mountains. The city is actually a collection of smaller towns that have grown together over time. The area of Muttrah, where most tourists gather, is surrounded by rocky outcrops surrounding a cosy port. The development of the Royal Opera House is another feather in the cap of the city’s contribution to the global cultural map. There are incredible places to visit and amazing things to do in Muscat. Some of them are as follows:

The Royal Opera House

Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque

The National Museum

Al Alam Palace

Marina Bandar Al Rowdha

Mutrah Souq

Bait Al Zubair

Sultan’s Palace

Mutrah Corniche

Ghalya Museum of Modern Art

Oman Grand Canyons

The Batinah Coast

Museum of Illusions

Muscat Gate Museum

Al Jalali Fort

Omani French Museum

Omani Children’s Museum

The Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum

Enjoy water sports

Eat at Al Angham Restaurant

Relax at some of Muscat’s secret beaches

Eat out at the streets of Ruwi

Go on a Muscat Hop-on Hop-off bus tour

Go on a Wahiba sands tour

Go on a dolphin cruise

Visit the Chedi

The many sightseeing options in the city will unravel its mysteries, and enthusiasts can opt from a wide range of tours provided by various operators. These tours to help the tourists to understand more about Muscat’s roots, and unveil the true beauty of the Omani capital.

Major Airports in and Around Muscat

The Muscat International Airport is the sole international airport that connects Muscat to the rest of the world. Oman Air is the primary carrier of Muscat. The other airlines that operate in Muscat include Air Arabia, Air India Express, British Airways, Egypt Air, Etihad, Emirates, Fly Dubai, Gulf Air, KLM, Quwait Airways, and Qatar Airways.

Make My Trip offers a wide range of flights to Muscat. One can easily log into the Make My Trip website or mobile app to browse through to book flights to and from Muscat. Make My Trip flights to Muscat are offered at huge discounts to first time users as well as the regular travellers. Season tickets can also be availed at a great discount while booking from Make My Trip.