Muscat ranks in world’s top 10 most beautiful cruise ports

Muscat’s Port Sultan Qaboos in Oman has captured global acclaim, earning a spot as the ninth most beautiful cruise port in the world according to a new eye-tracking study by AllClear travel insurance.

Muscat shares its ninth-place ranking with Ege Port in Kusadasi, Turkiye, both scoring 74 out of 100, while Valletta’s Unesco-listed Grand Harbour in Malta secured the top spot.

The findings, based on eye-tracking technology that measured how rapidly and for how long travellers focused on each destination, put Muscat as the only Middle Eastern port in the top 20.

Muscat’s Port Sultan Qaboos is increasingly a jumping off point for Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean itineraries, drawing more cruise lines as lines such as Celestyal and MSC ramp up regional sailings and new entrants such as Aroya Cruises prepare to debut.

Arriving into Muscat by sea is a striking experience. The port is dramatically framed by the craggy Al Hajar Mountains, with sweeping coastal views setting the stage for whitewashed buildings scattered along the waterfront.