Bab Al Muthaib & Sur Muscat

Bab Al Muthaib, Al Muthaib Gate in English, is one of the gates of the old city of Muscat and is located to the West of Al Mirani Fort. It was inaugurated at the celebration of the Fourth National Day in 1974 AD, during the Oman’s Renaissance Period. The name “Al Muthaib” is derived from a type of gutter that was used to drain rainwater. Nearby are the remains of Sur Muscat, the historic wall built around the old city, which is believed to have been constructed before the Portuguese presence in the Sultanate of Oman. Sur Muscat was built in consideration of the terrain, taking advantage of the defensive capabilities of its topography. This ingenuity is also seen in the fortifications along the coast, two of which were repurposed to construct both Al Mirani and Al Jalali Forts.