Muscat Intl. Airport - Spotting Guide

Muscat Intl. Airport – Spotting Guide

January 3, 2019 - last modified on December 29, 2023

Muscat International Airport (MCT/OOMS) is the biggest and busiest gateway to and from Oman with its ~14 million passenger per year (by 2017), but the number of passengers is growing very fast year by year. The airport is located around 30km west of Muscat’s downtown and was opened back in 1973 as Seeb International Airport. The airport was used to handle a lot of military movements, especially during the Arabain wars, but these movements got less from time to time, that’s why the airport is mostly under civil Usage nowadays. In February 2008 the airport’s name was finally changed to the actual one -> Muscat International airport. It’s under a heavy extension works at the moment as there is being built a new terminal(part) and a runway.

MCT/OOMS is the main hub of national carrier Oman Air, which serves plenty destinations within Arabia, but also some in Asia, Africa and Europe. But apart from Oman Air, MCT is also used by a hand full of European, Arabian and Asian carriers as well.
Muscat Int’l airport only offers very few cargo activities (Cargolux and DHL by 2018) as well as a few military flights – the Royal Oman Air Force is operating kinda small base here with their C130s and A320s.

Written by Timo Frieg and some pictures provided by Oleksiy Naumov. Last change: December 2023 (Spot 6 added)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
08L/26R	4.000m Asphalt
08R/26L	3.584m Asphalt
Terminals
Terminal 1	Became the onliest terminal now as all flight to/from MCT were handed over to T1 with its opening.
Terminal 2	This one is being reconstructed at the moment to become useable for LCC as all flights were given over to the new Terminal 1.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not needed and not recommend to use as security is difficult here along the fence!
Car/Public Transport	Car is recommended as it’s much easier here and public transport is quite poor.
Restrooms	Around the airport there are some restaurants, shops and similar, where restrooms can be found. Apart from this, those can be found inside the terminal.
Drinks/Food	Around the airport there are some hotels, restaurants, shops and similar, where food can be found and grabed. Apart from this, food and drinks can be found inside the terminal.
Hotels	From the rooms facing north (4th floor up) at the Novotel Muscat Airport you can see all departures and arrivals on both runways with help of FR24 for reg’s. Taxiing aircraft on southern side of Terminal and Cargo Apron can be seen. Window opens but too far for decent photographs!
Season	The winter months are definetely better than the summer days due to heat haze and better weather/smoother light. Recommended season is from October-March. However, spring sees more airline variety than winter, so March is actually the best time of the year for spotting here. The runway direction is totall sh*tty in summer, because the sun is almost always exactly over the airplane (extreme hard shadows and sharp light from above) or on its nose/back.
Security	Spotting in the Arab countries is mostly nether really supported nor understood. Especially taking pictures evincing airport buildings or military aircraft and facilities may cause problems and punishment by the police or airport authorities. We will not be liable for any inconviniences with local authorities. Spotting at Muscat International Airport is at your own risk. Keep a LOW PROFILE wherever you are. Information regarding spotting in Oman: You are not allowed to take pictures of airport buildings/facilities and military aircraft/facilities in the Oman. Photographing civil aircraft is normally okay, but some authorities do not tolerate this as well. Our author hasn’t yet experienced any problems at Muscat which is attributable to extremely cautious behaviour and obeying of security tips. He was never afraid of the situation while spotting, but he was always very careful! Please always adjust your behaviour when travelling into the Middle East states including the Oman to avoid inconveniences with the police. General tip for spotting in the Middle East area: If you have a car stow your camera underneath the seat or in the glovebox of the car. Have a map with you to fake a glitch or for an alleged planning of a route. Actually Oman is more tolerable and moderner than other Arabian countries so you’ll probably have less problems here. +++ SPOTTING IS AT YOUR OWN RISK+++
Runway Usage
08L/26R	4000 x 60m. Used for all landings and departures.
08R/26L	Not used, as it is under construction now.

	Spot #1 – Parkinggarage
WHERE	This spot is located on the top floor of the “City Centre Muscat” shopping mall’s parking garage. You can easily enter the garage with your own car and drive up to the upper floors then. There you can search your favourite position depending on the favourite view and angle you wanna have -> for departures you may go/drive some meters into southern direction on the parking garage’s top floor to have a better angle. Once reached your spot then, park your car and hide your camera as long as possible – this is the best way to do spotting as you keep a low profile.

WHAT	Arrivals onto runway 08L as well as departures from runway 26R, but you may go away a bit to have a better angle.

TIME	From September to March all day, in April and August from late morning till early evening and from May till July only around high-noon, when the light is hardly and sharply from above.

MISC.	No ladder needed, enough parking possibilities around the spot as there is a mall nearby, where you can find everything like restrooms and stores for food/drinks. Regarding to some reports spotting is not okay here, but we never had problems here. We always HID OUR CAMERA AND HID INFRONT OF THE CCTV CAMERAS, probably that is why we never met any authorities here. Why to prefer this spot to spot #2? You won’t have heat haze that fast here and all needed facilities are very close, but therefore the angle is a bit worser.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-250mm A333 = 85mm / B738 = 150mm

26R Departures look like this:

08L Arrivals look like this:

	Spot #2 – Resting carparkarea
WHERE	This spot is located inside a normally rather calm and unnamed parking area. The area can be entered from the busy “Seeb street” (also called highway “1”). Just exit this busy street, when driving into northern direction along the airport’s western side, into an unnamed and calm street, which leads you to a roundabout after just a few meters. Take the second exit here and drive down this calm street then into northern direction until you reach a big resting/parking area -> the way is marked on the map as well. There is even a bus stop/terminal nearby called “AlMawalih”, which can be used to get to the spot or can be mentioned as final destination, when using a taxi – marked on the map as well.

WHAT	Arrivals onto runway 08L.

TIME	From September to March all day, in April and August from late morning till early evening and from May till July only around high-noon, when the light is hardly and sharply from above.

MISC.	No ladder needed, enough parking possibilities around the spot, but nothing really nearby like restrooms and stores. Nearest facility is the mall on the opposite streetside (west of this spot). You are close to the airport, be very careful here! Always HIDE YOUR CAMERA when standing here as some authorities may pass the spot – once a military car came here, but they just greeted and drove away again. Always stay friendly, smile and greet them, then they will (normally) just drive on and don’t care of you. This area isn’t crowded often, so you’ll stand out a bit, but actually won’t have problems as long as you KEEP A LOW PROFILE! Why to prefer this spot to spot #1? The angle is a bit better here, but therefore you’ll faster have heat haze here and you aren’t that near to needed facilities.

FOCAL LENGTH	100-300mm B77w = 120mm / A320 = 220mm / F100 = 260mm

The parking area itsself looks like THIS.

	Spot #3 – Terminaldriveway North
WHERE	This spot is located on the terminal’s driveway north of the main terminal entrance. It can be reached easily by foot, therefore just go up to the departure floor of terminal 1 and leave this one at its eastern end. Once you’re outside, you can search your favourite position along the driveway’s front up into northern direction. Try to stand away a bit from the driveway lanes just next to you to be safe as some drivers are quite wild and driving dangerously.

WHAT	You can see all activities on the apronpart infront of you as well as the ones on the taxiwaypart between apron and runway. You can also see the runway, but it’s quite far away, so spotting activities there is difficult.

TIME	Runway/taxiway: From September to March light is good all day, in April and August from late morning till early evening and from May till July only around high-noon, when the light is hardly and sharply from above. Apron: Depends on the angle, in which the aircraft (you wanna take shots of) is standing, but mostly better from sunrise till late midday. Spot is also good for night shots.

MISC.	Everything nearby like restrooms and stores inside the terminal facilities. Heat haze is a big problem on hot days here, especially for runway shots. You are close to the airport, be very careful here! Normally there are more people standing around here and taking pictures (mostly with their cellphone or similar), even if they aren’t spotting such “professional” with big cameras and lenses. So you will still stand out a bit, but not as extrem as if you would be alone there. Actually there will be/come nobody and ask you to leave normally.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm B38M on apron = 35mm / B738 on taxiway = 135mm / B738 on runway = ~250mm

	Spot #4 – Terminaldriveway South
WHERE	This spot is located on the terminal’s driveway south of the main terminal entrance. It can be reached easily by foot, therefore just go up to departure floor of terminal 1 and leave this one at its eastern end. Once you’re outside, you can search your favourite position along the driveway’s front down into southern direction. Try to stand away a bit from the driveway lanes just next to you to be safe as some drivers are quite wild and driving dangerously.

WHAT	You can see all activities on the apronpart infront of you as well as the ones on the taxiwaypart between apron and runway. You can also see the runway, but it’s quite far away, so spotting activities there is difficult – the runway isn’t really in Usage nowadays anyway.

TIME	Runway/taxiway: Only useable from April to August in the early morning or late evening. Apron: Depends on the angle, in which the aircraft (you wanna take shots of) is standing, but definetely better in the morning. Spot is also good for night shots.

MISC.	No ladder needed. Everything you need is inside the terminal facilities, like restrooms, shops or restaurants. Heat haze is a big problem on hot days here, especially for runway shots, but the runway isn’t really in Usage nowadays anyway. You are close to the airport, be very careful here! Normally there are more people standing around here and taking pictures (mostly with their cellphone or similar), even if they aren’t spotting such “professional” with big cameras and lenses. So you will still stand out a bit, but not as extrem as if you would be alone there. Actually there will be/come nobody and ask you to leave normally.

FOCAL LENGTH	18-300mm

The spot itsself looks like THIS.

	Spot #5 – Al Azaiba Public Park
WHERE	This spot is located in Al Azaiba Public Park, Muscat. To get there from city center, drive 18th November St, then turn right to Way 7017 and drive until the end of the street. If use public transport, you can get there by bus 08 from “Al Khuwair 33” stop. Get off on “Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society” stop (stop on demand), turn to the right and go towards the beach. You will see the park there.

WHAT	Landings on 26R

TIME	From September to March all day, in April and August from late morning till early evening and from May till July only around high-noon, when the light is hardly and sharply from above.

MISC.	There are restaurants and cafes around.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm, 260mm for A320 and E175, 155mm for A330

	Spot #6 – P1 Short Stay Parking
WHERE	Get on the P1- Short Stay Parking top floor. You can walk from terminal departure level. It is the north-eastern corner. There is a roof spending shade and a huge pillar to hide from the security cameras.

WHAT	You can shoot departures and touch downs for rwy 26R. If 08L is in use you can shoot the departures as well. Arrivals on 08L have already vacated the runway at this point. The taxiway V right in front is disturbed by lightpoles etc.

TIME	From September to March light is good all day, in April and August from late morning till early evening and from May till July only around high-noon, when the light is hardly and sharply from above.

MISC.	All you need is in the terminal. So far no issues with security or police, nonetheless it is advised to keep a low profile. Wait under the roof, keeping the pillar on your right protecting you from the cameras. From here you can observe the approach path. Step out for the shooting and keep to the wall as described in the picture. Then go back under the roof.

FOCAL LENGTH	Around 200mm for A320/737

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Troy Hartmann

2 years ago

I just spent 19hrs in Muscat, although I had no time to go to spotting sites listed, I was staying at Novotel Muscat Airport (Room 408 Airport View) You can see all departures and arrivals on both R08/26 with help of FR24 for reg’s. Taxiing aircraft on southern side of Terminal and Cargo Apron can be seen. Window opens but too far for decent photographs. Unfortunately a new hotel is being constructed next door so that may restrict views in the future?

Julian

Admin

Reply to Troy Hartmann

2 years ago

At least you can see the traffic from there. Best hotel so far at MCT.
Thanks, Julian

Abhinav

3 years ago

According to the guide i tried it, and the number 5th spot and the number 1 spot might be perfect other places are too close the the security guard and some places you are not allowed. Try keeping distance away from these area. The views and all are OK but the best time spotting is like about March because airline variety and movement are best at this time other time there are mostly and only Air India Express, Oman Air, Salam Air and sometimes Air India during march there are bit more traffic that usual. due to covid-19 pandemic airlines and airport have suffered a lot that’s all i gotta say.

Severin

Reply to Abhinav

3 years ago

Added an info to be aware of possible security risks and checks, but as we had no issues at all there, I did not deleted the spots or similar. I guess this is a fair solution, hope you agree.
Also added an info about the season.

Thanks
-Sev