Monday 15 / September / 2025
MUSCAT: Muscat Municipality has launched field parking surveys at key locations across the capital, starting September 14, 2025.
The initiative, announced on the municipality’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, will continue for three weeks and forms a key component of Traffic Study 2025.
The study aims to gather accurate data on parking usage to support the development of sustainable traffic management solutions in Muscat.
With congestion and limited parking among the city’s major challenges, officials say the findings will provide the evidence base for improving mobility and easing pressure on urban infrastructure.
As part of Traffic Study 2025, data will be collected through two key methods: an SMS-based origin-destination survey to record the daily trips of road users and the time taken for each, and a direct interview-based stated preference survey to assess preferred modes of transportation along with the time and cost involved. In addition, field teams will monitor parking activity in several high-demand areas. The locations selected include Al Seeb Souq, Al Barakat Street, Al Khoud Souq, Qurum Beach, Khuwair Commercial Area, Qurum Commercial Area, and Al Maha Street.
These sites were identified for their heavy traffic flow and high parking turnover during peak hours.
Muscat Municipality said the surveys represent an important step towards data-driven decision making.
The results will help shape future traffic policies, including improvements to parking facilities, more efficient traffic circulation, and the potential expansion of public transport options.
The municipality added that community participation will be vital to ensure the study reflects real travel behaviour across Muscat. Road users are encouraged to cooperate with survey teams and take part in the survey over the coming weeks.
