Port Sultan Qaboos, adjacent to Muttrah, was Oman's main commercial port for decades before container traffic moved to larger modern facilities. The port's waterfront has been redeveloped into a marina and mixed-use area, with cruise ships now docking here when they call at Muscat. The setting retains a maritime character — the working infrastructure of cranes and warehouses is still visible alongside the marina berths — and the views back toward the Muttrah corniche and the mountains behind are among the better harbour panoramas in the city.
The redevelopment has brought restaurants, cafes, and retail outlets to the waterfront; the area tends to be liveliest when a cruise ship is in, which introduces a periodic pulse of visitors into an otherwise quiet stretch of the coast. On non-cruise days, it's a pleasant place for a waterfront walk, less crowded than the Muttrah corniche proper. The dhow harbour at the far end of Muttrah, where wooden vessels are still moored, is within easy walking distance.