Muscat Governorate (Geographical Location)
Muscat is the capital of the Sultanate of Oman and its political and economic center. Throughout different periods of history, it has witnessed its distinctive commercial position in the Gulf region and the Indian Ocean due to its strategic location, which made it an important center that contributed to the activation of commercial activities. It is located on the Sea of Oman and is connected from the east to the Eastern Hajar Mountains and the governorates of South and North Al Sharqiyah, and from the west to the South Al Batinah Governorate, and from the south to the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate. Its geographical location also qualified it to be the political, economic, and administrative center of the country during the prosperous era of the modern Oman Renaissance under the reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said - may God rest his soul.
The Muscat Governorate is considered one of the most important governorates in the Sultanate of Oman, which has a total of eleven governorates, and is classified as the highest in terms of population density among the governorates. Throughout its illustrious history, it has had strategic importance due to its distinctive geographical location and its historical and cultural role. It is the pulsating heart of Oman in terms of political, economic, social, and cultural activity, and includes six Wilayahs: Muscat, Muttrah, Bowsher, Seeb, Al Amerat, and Qurayyat. (Each will be discussed later on.) The Muscat Governorate covers an area of approximately 4,000 square kilometers.
The governorate also represents a vital hub for economic, commercial, and tourist activity in the Sultanate, whether at the local level or in the Sultanate`s relations with other countries. This is achieved through the presence of numerous factories, banks, international hotels, commercial centers, natural parks, scientific centers, historical museums, and environmental landmarks.
Muscat Governorate (Governmental Institution)
Muscat was named "the Capital Governorate" in 1960, and at that time, it included the city of Muscat, the village of Seeb, and passed through the towns of Yiti, Qantab, and Haramil, ending with the village of Al-Sifa. However, the Governorate of Al-Mudhaibi was administratively independent of Muscat, and the Governor of Al-Mudhaibi at that time was directly responsible for supervising the wilayats of Al-Batinah or the coastal area from the wilayat of Al-Seeb to the wilayat of Shinas. Meanwhile, the wilayats of Bawshar, Qurayyat, and Al-Amrat were under the supervision of the Interior Governor, Mr. Ahmed bin Ibrahim. This administrative subordination was due to the difficulty of communication and transportation means at that time. The first to hold the position of "Capital Governor" was Mr. Shihab bin Faisal. The name "Capital Governorate" remained in place until 1988 when His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, may God rest his soul, issued Royal Decree No. (88/30) on April 2, changing the name from "Capital" to "Muscat," in an effort to preserve the historical significance of the name Muscat, which is considered one of the symbols of Omani heritage and civilization.
With the issuance of Royal Decree No. (91/6) and its amendments adopting the administrative division of the country, the Governorate of Muscat became home to Muscat, Muttrah, Seeb, Bowsher, Al Amerat, and Quriyat within its administrative boundaries. This division included the annexation of Al Quriyat Governorate, which was previously under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior, to the Governorate, and the renaming of Muscat Governorate as one of the governorates under the Governorate of Muscat, according to Royal Decree No. (91/87) amendment in the annex accompanying Royal Decree No. (91/6). On December 10, 1991, the Governor of Muscat was appointed with the rank of Minister of State and granted membership in the Council of Ministers under Royal Decree No. (91/108).
The Governorate of Muscat is one of the administrative entities of the state that has many responsibilities. It is responsible for serving citizens and residents within its administrative borders, and works to promote their interests and submit their service requests to government agencies to be included in the country`s future plans. It also strives to foster friendly relations between communities and individuals, and to contribute to maintaining social cohesion. In addition, the governorate provides many essential services within its administrative divisions, whether at the level of the general diwan of the governorate or the offices of the governors. The governorate also has an active participation in many committees formed by various state agencies that are concerned with serving citizens. It oversees the committee for the marine year, which serves fishermen and works to develop their profession. It also considers their disputes according to the customs and traditions of fishing methods. This committee is permanent and has a historical depth, and is formed by a decision of the Minister of State and the Governorate of Muscat. It includes a number of officials representing various government agencies, such as the police and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Wealth, as well as representatives of fishermen.
The governorate has a prominent contribution in many developmental and social studies conducted by specialized entities in the state, in addition to its constant participation in national and religious events and celebrations. The offices of the governors, which are affiliated with the governorate, play an active role in promoting the development process in the regions and supervising the care of citizens` interests and raising their demands to the relevant authorities through continuous coordination and joint cooperation with various government agencies in the governorate, with the aim of achieving the public interest and serving citizens. The offices of the governors oversee many committees headed by the governors themselves, and include heads of government departments, representatives of the public and private sectors, and work to study the needs of the region and submit proposals regarding development services and projects to the relevant authorities in the state, for consideration of the possibility of including them in the plans of ministries and administrative units of the state apparatus.