The Middle East is home to some of the tallest buildings in the world. The Burj Khalifa, for example, is a 163-story skyscraper in Dubai that extends 828 meters into the sky. Completed in 2010, the iconic structure is almost 200 meters taller than the world’s second tallest building, the Shanghai Tower. At 601 meters, the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Saudi Arabia is the world’s third tallest building. Buildings in Dubai, Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi are also among the 50 tallest in the world.
While several Middle Eastern countries have made it a priority to build large and imposing skyscrapers in recent years, Oman has largely ignored the vertical build philosophy. Rather than featuring glamorous high-rise buildings with glass windows, Oman is known for the natural beauty of its mountain landscape. Through his five-decade reign as sultan of Oman from 1970 to 2020, Qaboos bin Said al Said banned skyscrapers and instead prioritized road, hospital, and education infrastructure. As a result, the majority of the buildings in the country were constructed with Indian sandstone and reflect traditional Arabic values.
“Amid [this] craze of winning the contest for tallest building in the world, the cities of Oman, including Muscat, have resisted . . . going vertical,” wrote Vinod Nair for the Oman Observer in 2017. “Maybe it has been aided by a small population of 4.5 million for a country . . . the size of 300,000 square kilometers and enthusiasm to preserve the mountains spread across the length and breadth of the country.”
Still, Oman has more than a dozen buildings that are at least 30 meters tall and has built five that exceed that threshold since 2019. The following is a look at some of the tallest and most impressive structures in Oman.
1. Sheraton Oman Hotel
At 57 meters, the Sheraton Oman Hotel is the largest hotel and building in the country. Constructed in 1985, the 16-story tower overlooks Ruwi, the financial and business district of Muscat, and offers unimpeded views of the Al Hajar Mountains. The five-star hotel stands out as a relatively modern building compared to some of the sandstone structures in Muscat, especially in historical regions like Old Town. It was renovated, modernized, and reopened in 2016 after being closed for 10 years.
After renovations, the Sheraton Oman is now a 230-room hotel with 27 suites, nine meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa, and a 1,200-square-meter ballroom. The guest rooms are modern, in line with signature Sheraton amenities and services as well as distinct Omani artwork and other cultural items. Marriott International, the parent company of Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, operates three hotels in Oman and intends to open four more with more than 1,000 rooms combined over the next five years.
2. Hatat Complex
The Hatat Complex, also located in Muscat, is a 12-floor commercial and residential building that is more than 43 meters tall. It consists of two separate buildings, Complex A and Complex B, and boasts more than 13,000 square meters of commercial space in addition to 180 luxury residential apartments.
Apartments range in size from 163 to 234 square meters and feature air conditioning units and modern kitchens. Recreational facilities on site include swimming pools, steam rooms, squash and tennis courts, and a children’s play area. Commercial clients include banks, lawyers, insurance brokers, auditors, and travel agents.
3. Al Haffah House
Located in Salalah, the Al Haffah House is the largest building in Oman outside of Muscat. The hotel, constructed in 1987, is about 39 meters tall and offers a range of accommodations with modern and contemporary aesthetics. It also has several leisure facilities, banquet halls, a health club, and a swimming pool, as well as an on-site restaurant that offers buffet dining with food options from Arabic, Indian, Lebanese, and Chinese cuisines.
The Al Haffah House is within walking distance from the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which is among the most iconic and beautifully designed structures in the country and one of the most magnificent mosques in the world. The dome of the mosque extends 50 meters into the sky, and one of its five minarets is over 90 meters tall. Moreover, the mosque features the world’s largest chandelier and a 4,343-square-meter hand-woven carpet that is now the second-largest carpet in the world.
4. Al Bustan Palace Hotel
A Ritz-Carlton Hotel property, the Al Bustan Palace in Muscat is a somewhat secluded luxury resort with beachfront access to the Gulf of Oman. The lobby is an architectural wonder itself with a soaring domed ceiling and elaborately inlaid walls. The hotel also features the largest ballroom in Muscat with a capacity for 2,000 guests as well as programming and amenities for children and families. Built in 1985, the 10-story Al Bustan Palace Hotel is 36 meters tall.
The Others
Other buildings in Oman that exceed 30 feet include the Ramada Encore Wyndham Muscat Al Ghubrah, Royal Tulip Muscat, W Muscat, and A’Sinamar Hotel Apartment, all of which were constructed during the last three years.