MUSCAT: The Muscat Municipality has initiated field parking surveys at significant sites throughout the capital, commencing on September 14, 2025.
This initiative, which was revealed on the municipality’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, will last for three weeks and is a crucial part of Traffic Study 2025.
The objective of the study is to collect precise data on parking usage to aid in the creation of sustainable traffic management strategies in Muscat.
Given that congestion and a shortage of parking are among the city’s primary issues, officials indicate that the results will serve as a foundation for enhancing mobility and alleviating stress on urban infrastructure.
As a component of Traffic Study 2025, data will be gathered using two main approaches: an SMS-based origin-destination survey to document the daily journeys of road users and the duration of each trip, and a direct interview-based stated preference survey to evaluate preferred transportation modes along with the associated time and costs. Additionally, field teams will observe parking activities in various high-demand locations. The chosen sites include Al Seeb Souq, Al Barakat Street, Al Khoud Souq, Qurum Beach, Khuwair Commercial Area, Qurum Commercial Area, and Al Maha Street.
These locations were recognized for their significant traffic volume and high parking turnover during busy hours.
Muscat Municipality stated that the surveys are a crucial step towards making decisions based on data.
The findings will influence future traffic regulations, which may include enhancements to parking facilities, improved traffic flow, and the possible expansion of public transportation options.
The municipality emphasized that community involvement will be essential to ensure the study accurately represents actual travel patterns in Muscat. Road users are urged to collaborate with survey teams and participate in the survey in the upcoming weeks.
