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From
designer clothing to traditional Omani graments, Oman offers something
for every taste. The souks have handcrafted jewellery and antiques and a
colourful array of products and fodstuffs imported from all over the
Middle East and Southeast Asia. Merchants expedt to haggle and there are
bargains eveywhere.
Souqs
are good for buying vegetables, fruit and fish; Ruwi for all that is
modern; Muttrah souq for souvenirs and local crafts. The Heritage
Gallery in Shatti Al Qurm for handicrafts. MUTTRAH
SOUQ The main entrance to the souq is at the traffic lights on the corniche. To the left of the entrance is a café that sells tasty, fresh fruit drinks. This souq has been on this site for many hundreds of years. It is a labyrinth of ancient alleyways covered by palm roof and lit by lanterns.
FISH
SOUQ The fish souq is at the beginning of the corniche. Turn left at the Fish Roundabout as you enter Muttrah from the highway. The gleaming white building has archways open to the sea to catch the breeze. Outside on mats, extic spices, fruits and nuts are for sale. The colourful indoor fruit and vegetable market sells delicious local fruits like mango, pomegranate and lime. SOUQ
AL JUMA (FRIDAY MARKET) This
market in Wadi Kabir sells an amazing array of items, both new and
secod-hand. There is a bustling second hand car sales area. Fruit,
vegetables and meat are on sale. It starts around 7:30 a, until late in
the evening and is open for business on Thursdays and Fridays. It is on
the slip road at the foot of the mountains, on the left hand side of the
road after you pass through the Horse Gate, coming from Al Bustan. AL ARAIMI COMPLEX, Tel: 566180, Sat to Thursday 9:30-13:00 & 16:30-22:00 pm Friday 16:30-22:00 A variety of local and international products are on sale in this complex. Mexx, J.C, Penny and Versache are mongest its international outlets. A large and convenient car park adds to the attraction of shoppin. AL HARTHY COMPLEX, Tel: 564481, Sat to Thursday 9:30-13:00 & 17:00-22:00, Friday 17:00-22:00 The sheer size and architecture of this complex makes it worth a visit. There is also a post office and a well-planned children's amusement area. AL KHAMIS PLAZA, Tel: 562791 Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 16:30-22:00 pm Friday 16:30-22:00 A small but charming mall. There is Swiss coffee shop, beauty salon and children's play area. AL WADI CENTRE, Tel: 564787 Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 16:00-21:00 pm, Friday 16:00-21:00 children's play area. There is an excellent second-hand book shop. ALASFOOR PLAZA, Tel: 566217, Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 16:00-23:00 Friday 16:00-22:00 An exclusive shopping mall and residential complex with outlets for fashions, leather goods, books, jewellery, gifts and flowers. There is a French coffee shop. CAPITAL COMMERCIAL CENTER, Tel: 563672, Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 16:00-22:00 One of the longest standing centres with outlets for fabrics, gifts, bakery and wouq. Prisunic, the supermarket, is a main attraction with a wide range of European products including unusual foods. There are two coffee shops serving snacks. CITY PLAZA, Tel: 698988, Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 16:00-23:00, Friday 16:00-22:00 Located in Al Khawair, this is one of the newest shopping complexes in Muscat. On the ground floor there is the Baby Shop, Shoes City, Splash Life Style and Sports 4 All. Home Center occupies the entire first floor. JAWAHIR OMAN JEWELLERS, Tel: 565301, Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 17:00- 21:00 In the heart of Qurum opposite the All Araimi Complex. Jawahir carries a world renowned exclusive collection of fine jewellery, silverware, porcelain china and crystal. NASIB PLAZA, Tel: 705143, Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 16:00-23:00 Friday 16:00-22:00 Nasib Plaza is located in Ruwi with many elegant shops. SABCO CENTRE, Tel: 562761, Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 16:00-22:00 Friday 16:00-22:00 This is Qurm's first shopping mall. There is a coffee shop on the ground floor and an Omani souq that sells a mix of locally made and foreign items. Flowers, carpets, shoes, fabrics, jewellery, clothes, cakes, sweets and pet products are for sale. ZAKHER MALL, Tel: 695884, Sat to Thursday 9:00-13:00 & 16:00-23:00 Friday 16:00-22:00 Zakher Mall is located in Al-Khuwair. There are many outlets in this mall, the biggest being Al Fair Supermarket.
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