Muscat International — Mwasalat Route 1
Muscat International (MCT) to Muscat — Updated 2026
Muscat International (MCT) — Oman's main gateway — sits 32km west of the city's tourist heart in Muttrah + Old Muscat, connected to the city by Mwasalat public buses. The primary connection is Route 1, running 24 hours a day every 30 minutes from a dedicated bus bay at the airport to Ruwi (central Muscat) and terminating at Al Waljat. Fare is OMR 0.500 (about USD 1.30) — remarkable value for a Gulf capital. From Ruwi you can transfer to Route 4 for Old Muscat + the Sultan Qaboos Mosque area. For direct-to-hotel service, Otaxi (Oman's official taxi app, similar to Uber) charges OMR 8-15 (USD 21-39) to central Muscat, and Careem (which also operates in Oman) is similar. Both apps use the airport's designated ride-hail pickup zone. Official Muscat airport taxis (orange-and-white) charge OMR 12-20 flat depending on destination — noticeably more than the apps and often require negotiation. For long-distance travel, Mwasalat runs a coach service from a station in Ruwi to Salalah (10 hours, OMR 5-8) — you can't catch it at the airport directly. Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muttrah Souq, and the Corniche are all reachable by Route 1 + a short onward hop.
Mwasalat Route 1 stops
| Station / Stop | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MCT Arrivals — Bus Bay 2 | 0 min | Dedicated Mwasalat stop outside T1 |
| Al Khuwair | ~25 min | Business + hotel district |
| Ministries area | ~35 min | Government + Al Ghubrah |
| Ruwi (central Muscat) | 45-60 min | Business + shopping centre, transfer for Muttrah |
| Al Waljat (terminus) | 55-70 min | Muttrah connection, Corniche 10 min taxi |
| Muttrah Souq (via Route 4 transfer) | + 15 min | Old Muscat tourist area |
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Mwasalat Route 1 vs alternatives
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mwasalat Route 1 | OMR 0.50 | 45-60 min | Best value. 24/7 service, English signage. |
| Otaxi (app) | OMR 8-15 | 25-45 min | App-based, transparent fare. |
| Careem (app) | OMR 9-16 | 25-45 min | Same coverage as Otaxi. |
| Airport taxi (orange/white) | OMR 12-20 flat | 25-45 min | Kiosk in arrivals, sometimes negotiate. |
| Marmul long-distance to Salalah | OMR 5-8 | 10h | From Ruwi (not airport direct). |
| Rental car (Budget/Sixt) | OMR 15-25/day | 25 min | Kiosks in arrivals; petrol OMR 0.23/L. |
FAQ
How much is the Muscat airport bus?+
OMR 0.500 (about USD 1.30) for Mwasalat Route 1 to Ruwi + Al Waljat. Buy the ticket from the driver — cash Omani rials preferred; card readers rolled out on newer buses in 2025 accept Nol/Mwasalat contactless. This is one of the cheapest airport-to-city public buses in the Gulf.
Does the Muscat airport bus run at night?+
Yes — Route 1 is genuinely 24/7 with a 30-minute frequency day + night. Muscat is one of very few Middle Eastern airports with all-night public transport. For arrivals at 03:00 or 04:00, Route 1 is the reliable + cheap option; buses have air conditioning and secure luggage area.
How do I get to Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque from the airport?+
Mwasalat Route 1 from the airport to Al Ghubrah stop (~40 min, OMR 0.50), then a 10-minute taxi (OMR 2-3) to the mosque — total under 1 hour, ~OMR 3. Alternatively Otaxi direct from the airport OMR 6-10 (25-35 min). The mosque is open 08:30-11:00 for non-Muslim visitors except Friday.
Otaxi or Careem in Muscat — which is better?+
Both are widely used with similar pricing (Otaxi is slightly cheaper, ~10-15% less on average). Otaxi has better local coverage + more accepted for airport pickups. Careem is more polished if you already use it elsewhere in the Gulf. Both have designated pickup zones at MCT and accept card payment in-app.
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