Skift Take
Muscat is the ying to Dubai’s yang. Oman's roadmap doesn’t focus on glitzy mega-projects but rather sustainable growth and cultural preservation.
On Experience
Colin Nagy is a marketing strategist and writes on customer-centric experiences and innovation across the luxury sector, hotels, aviation, and beyond.
You can read all of his writing here.
In the hypergrowth world of the modern Gulf, Oman stands in stark contrast to its neighbors. Dubai in the UAE and Riyadh in Saudi buzz with frenetic energy, driven by an influx of expats and new graduates from Africa and India. But Oman moves to a different rhythm — one of calm deliberation and cultural preservation.
The difference is clear the moment you land at Muscat’s new airport. A 45-minute flight from Dubai's bustle, it is the embodiment of Oman's approach: modern, efficient, yet subdued. This juxtaposition is no accident.
Like many of its neighbors in the Gulf, Oman has laid out a roadmap for growth. But it doesn’t focus on glitzy mega-projects. Oman's Vision 2040 emphasizes human-centric development, sustainable growth, cultural prese