Getting Your Bearings
Seeb (also spelled As Seeb, As Sib, or Al-Seeb) is a coastal province just a few kilometres northwest of Muscat, and it is home to Muscat International Airport. That makes it the first place many visitors encounter in Oman — and often the place they return to between trips. The province is large and spread out, with distinct districts such as Al Khoudh, Al-Mabellah, Al-Hail, Al Mawaleh and Rusayl, so it helps to think of getting around as a series of short hops between areas rather than one compact city centre.
How Tourists Get Around
Public transport in Oman is limited, and Seeb is no exception. Buses generally connect main towns and cities rather than serving as a dense local network, so for most visitors the practical choice comes down to driving yourself, hiring a car with a driver, taking taxis, or joining organised tours. If you want the freedom to explore Wadi Al-Khoudh, the beaches, or the wider Muscat area on your own schedule, a car is by far the easiest option.
Rail, Metro and Tram
There is no rail, metro or tram network in Seeb or anywhere in Oman. Visitors should not expect to find trains or light rail as a way of getting around; plan your transport around road-based options instead.
Buses and Public Transport
- Inter-city buses link the major towns, operated mainly by the government-run Oman National Transport Company (ONTC), with a few private operators on the Muscat–Salalah route.
- Buses are reasonably fast and comfortable, but departures are infrequent — often only a couple a day — and departure points and times can be hard to track down. Look for the distinctive ONTC concrete bus shelters.
- Fares for most inter-city journeys are modest, with longer routes such as Muscat–Salalah costing considerably more.
- Micros, known locally as "baisa buses", are white-and-orange minivans that seat up to around fifteen passengers. They are the cheapest local transport and are found mainly in larger towns, especially around Muscat. Routes are unsigned and hard to work out, so ask locally. Outside Muscat, drivers are unlikely to speak much English.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
- Taxis are white and orange and are flagged down at the roadside. They are unmetered, so agree the fare before you set off and be prepared to bargain.
- As a rough guide, locals pay a small fare for trips within most cities, rising for longer journeys across Muscat; visitors are often quoted up to double, so negotiating matters.
- All taxi drivers are Omani, since the profession is reserved for nationals. You can expect basic English in Muscat, but Arabic only further afield.
- Shared taxis carrying three or four passengers who split the fare operate both within towns and on inter-town routes. The system is ad hoc, and pick-up points are best found by asking locally.
Walkability
Seeb is a sprawling, car-oriented province rather than a walking city, and the hot desert climate — very hot summers and warm winters, with little rain — makes long walks impractical for much of the year. Walking works well for short stretches within a single district or around a specific destination, but you should not plan to cover the distance between districts on foot. It is worth noting that the new Sultan Haitham City, inaugurated in Seeb in 2023, is being organised into walkable neighbourhoods, which points to a more pedestrian-friendly future for that part of the province.
Driving Yourself
- Driving is the easiest way to get around, and an extensive modern road network reaches most of the country. Two numbered roads link Seeb with the rest of the provinces: the Muscat Expressway (N1) and the N5.
- Drive on the right. Speed limits are higher on dual carriageways and single carriageways and lower in built-up areas, and cars have speed alarms that sound at highway speeds. Some highways have speed cameras.
- Watch for local hazards: vehicles driving without lights at night, sudden unindicated lane changes, livestock such as goats and camels, unmarked speed bumps in towns and villages, and flash floods that can cut roads within minutes. Signs reading "Stop when water is at red!" mean exactly that — stop when floodwater reaches the red paint on roadside poles.
- Penalties are strict. Running a red light carries a mandatory two-day jail term, seat belts are obligatory with an on-the-spot fine for non-use, and the law requires vehicles to be kept clean.
- If you have an accident, inform the police (emergency 9999) and leave the vehicle where it is until they arrive.
- Car rental is widely available: international agencies charge more per day, with 4WD costing extra, while local firms are cheaper. A collision-damage waiver is a small daily add-on. A national driving licence is usually sufficient, and most firms will not rent to drivers under 21.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Muscat International Airport sits in Seeb, on the site of the old Fort of Sibo, so arriving here already puts you in the province rather than at a distance from it. From the airport, the realistic options are a taxi or a pre-arranged transfer, a rental car collected on arrival, or a hotel or tour operator pickup. Because taxis are unmetered, agree the fare before you get in. If you are heading onward to Muscat or elsewhere in Oman, note that buses serve main towns rather than the airport-to-doorstep leg, so a taxi or hire car is the straightforward way to complete the journey.
Other Options
Oman has only two domestic air services, linking Muscat with Khasab in Musandam and with Salalah, and a single long-distance high-speed ferry connects Muscat with Khasab, operated by the National Ferries Company. Neither is a way of getting around Seeb itself, but both are worth knowing about if you plan to extend your trip beyond the capital area.