MUSCAT : An overwhelming 97% of road users in Muscat depend on private vehicles for their daily mobility, with 70% of trips made in single-occupancy cars, according to the latest findings from the Muscat Area Traffic Study 2025.

The figures, described as among the most significant findings of the study, underscore the scale of car dependency in the capital and the mounting pressure on the road network as population and economic activity continue to grow.

The comprehensive study — the third edition of the strategic initiative was completed by Muscat Municipality as part of a long-term vision to deliver sustainable traffic solutions through 2045 .

The data paints a clear picture: private vehicle usage remains dominant across the Governorate, with single drivers accounting for the vast majority of daily movements.

Officials say this mobility pattern presents structural challenges that cannot be solved solely by widening roads or building new links.

The study stresses that long-term solutions must include:
• Expanding and enhancing public transport networks
• Promoting shared mobility and carpooling culture
• Introducing supportive regulatory and administrative measures
• Integrating digital traffic modelling for future forecasting

The findings reflect what urban planners increasingly identify as a behavioural challenge as much as an infrastructure one.

The scale of data collection was unprecedented. According to the press release, the study included:
• Surveys at 88 intersections and roundabouts
• Automated traffic counts at 54 locations
• Assessments covering 21 bridges and seven public parking sites
• Distribution of 250,000 travel destination surveys via SMS in four languages
• In-person interviews at more than 19 key locations across Muscat 

The results were used to build an integrated digital simulation model that will help forecast traffic movement through 2035 and 2045 .

Muscat among least congested Arab cities

While Muscat ranks among the least congested Arab cities in the 2024 and 2025 Numbeo Traffic Index and Oman ranks first regionally and eighth globally in road quality for three consecutive years (2023–2025), the capital’s geography presents unique engineering challenges .

Muscat stretches longitudinally from east to west, bordered by the Al Hajar mountain range to the south. Expanding or creating alternative routes often requires complex engineering works such as mountain cutting, slope stabilisation, wadi protection measures, and bridge and tunnel construction significantly raising infrastructure costs.

His Excellency Eng. Ahmed bin Said Al Amri, Chairman of Muscat Municipality, described the study as a strategic step toward sustainable urban planning grounded in scientific analysis.

He emphasised that traffic congestion is not being treated as a short-term issue, but rather through a 20-year framework that balances technical and economic feasibility while accounting for population growth and urban expansion.

The Municipality also acknowledged strong public participation in the survey process and stressed that traffic congestion is a shared responsibility, requiring behavioural change alongside infrastructure investment.

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