Public Spaces in Muscat During Ramadan Nights A Social Escape and Active Community Spaces
15/03/2026
Public spaces in the Muscat Governorate gain special importance during the month of Ramadan. Parks and walkways become active places where families and members of the community gather to spend time outside their homes. These areas attract large numbers of children in play zones, along with young people and older adults who enjoy walking along the tracks.
Alongside the city’s green and modern appearance they add, these facilities give families an opportunity to spend quality time together away from the routine of daily life. They also encourage a healthier lifestyle by providing a suitable environment for walking after iftar, supporting physical activity and promoting public health.
Walkways in Muscat: Spaces for Life and Activity
Walkways across Muscat experience increasing numbers of visitors during Ramadan. These urban paths become vibrant spaces that encourage walking and physical activity, as they are part of modern urban planning efforts aimed at improving quality of life and promoting healthy living.
One notable example is the Green Walk in Al-Mabaila, a modern urban project built on an area of more than 152,000 square metres. The project is an important addition to Muscat’s public facilities. It includes a sport walkway and a cycling path, as well as pedestrian bridges that make movement easier and safer. The walkway also features children’s play areas, outdoor exercise equipment, multi-use sports courts, and a skateboarding area. In addition, there are large green spaces and modern lighting systems. A number of restaurants, cafés, seating areas, and spaces for food trucks are also available, making the site a complete destination for both families and individuals.
Another distinctive urban project is the Golden Jubilee Walkway in Seeb, which covers around 84,400 square metres. It connects the areas of Al-Mawalih, Al-Hail, and Al-Khoud alongside Mazoon Street. The walkway includes a cycling track and rest areas with shaded seating and cafés. It also features green spaces, children’s play areas, and places for sports and recreational activities.
The Walkway at the Ministries District in Al-Khuwair Square combines modern urban design with Omani identity in a sustainable way. It includes green landscapes and well-prepared paths for walking and cycling, along with public seating areas and an upper-level café operated by Omani entrepreneurs. The site also provides service facilities and parking spaces. At the centre of the square stands a flagpole rising 126 metres high, carrying the national flag.
Community Voices: Experiences and Suggestions
Visitors’ opinions reflect the strong community engagement with these public facilities during Ramadan. Many people believe these facilities have become an important part of daily life during the holy month.
Ghadir Al-Umairiyah describes her experience visiting Muscat’s walking tracks during Ramadan as positive. She notes the development and services carried out at these sites, especially at Al-Hail Beach Walkway, Al-Muwalih Walkway, Al-Mubeila Walkway, and Sur Al-Hadid Walkway. Ghadir prefers visiting these places after Taraweeh prayers when the weather is cool and the place is calm. She also suggests adding Ramadan decorations and using smart technology to count steps and organise community challenges such as “10,000 Steps in Ramadan” to encourage healthy lifestyles.
Moza Ash`Shabibiyah says the calm atmosphere, appropriate lighting, and presence of families create a special atmosphere in public spaces during Ramadan. She highlights the importance of increasing seating areas and public restrooms, providing sufficient parking spaces, organising family-friendly events, and creating separate paths for walkers and cyclists.
Majid Al-Naabi explains that he prefers the walkways in South Al-Mabaila because of its wide spaces that are suitable for family gatherings. He often visits before iftar or after Taraweeh prayers. Majid also stresses the importance of improving supporting services such as restrooms, restaurants, cafés, and grocery shops to increase comfort and attract more visitors.
Jaifer Al-Balushi says he prefers visiting walking tracks before the Maghrib call to prayer in order to run or walk during the fasting hours. He believes these spaces help him maintain a healthy lifestyle. He also suggests expanding dedicated running and cycling tracks, planting more trees, and introducing smart solutions such as shading systems, cooling mist sprays for hot weather, and modern lighting to improve the visitor experience.
Towards a Greener Future
As part of the efforts to build up public walkways and open spaces in Muscat Governorate, work is continuing on the construction and rehabilitation of seven residential parks in several wilayahs. This step reflects a broader direction towards expanding green spaces and improving the urban landscape. The projects include parks in Al-Mubeila, South Al-Mubeila, Al-Wadi Al-Kabir in, Al-Amirat, Ar`Rawiyah Park, Al-Khairan Village Park, and Mahya Park in Qurayyat.
These parks will include integrated facilities such as children’s play areas, multi-purpose sports courts, seating and shaded areas, lighting, and various public services. Such projects demonstrate continued efforts to improve quality of life, support environmental sustainability, and create more vibrant and integrated residential neighbourhoods. Public spaces are therefore becoming a key element in urban development across Muscat Governorate.