Muscat Weather

January is one of Muscat's finest months — around 25°C/17°C (77°F/63°F), warm and sunny by day with mild evenings. Rain is rare (about 25mm over a couple of days), so days are bright and dry. This is peak season and the best time for everything Oman does well: wadi hikes (Wadi Shab, Wadi Bani Khalid), Wahiba Sands desert camping, the Mutrah Corniche, and walking the souq are all comfortable, without the brutal summer heat. The sea is cool but swimmable, and the mountains at Jebel Akhdar are crisp. The trade-off is demand. Hotel prices sit at their yearly high and the city is busy with winter-sun visitors, so book accommodation, desert camps, and popular restaurants ahead. Note: desert nights can be genuinely cold, so pack a warm layer for camping or the mountains. Carry a headscarf and fully modest clothing for the Grand Mosque, which doesn't lend robes.

February stays in the sweet spot — around 26°C/17°C (79°F/63°F), warm and reliably sunny with only the odd shower (about 20mm). Comfortable from morning to evening. It's prime time for everything outdoors: the Grand Mosque, Mutrah, the wadis, and a Wahiba Sands desert overnight, all without the heat that arrives later. The sea is warming and pleasant for swimming, and the mountains are at their best. As in January, this is high season, so expect busy sights and peak hotel prices — book ahead, especially desert camps. The light is excellent for photography, particularly the white marble of the Grand Mosque and the dunes at sunset. Note: the sun strengthens through the month, so use sunscreen even when the air feels mild. Desert nights are still cool — pack a layer, and modest clothing for cultural sites.

November in Muscat is the welcome return of the comfortable season — around 31°C/22°C (88°F/72°F), warm, sunny, and mostly dry (about 12mm). Evenings turn pleasantly cool. This is the start of the high season, and the weather is excellent for everything Oman offers: wadi hikes, Wahiba Sands camping, the mountains, the Corniche, and the souq are all comfortable again, and the sea is still warm enough to swim. It's one of the best months to visit. Oman National Day (November 18, marking the late Sultan Qaboos's birthday) brings decorations, flags, and a festive mood, along with a domestic-holiday surge — book around that date ahead. Hotel rates and crowds climb toward their winter peak through the month. Note: desert and mountain nights start to feel cool — pack a layer for camping. The Grand Mosque dress code still applies, so bring a headscarf and modest clothing.