If one has to ask what Al Amerat used to look like a few years back, the answer would definitely be that it’s nowhere near how it looks like right now.
In fact, a quick chat with someone who has been in Oman for around 15 years said that Al Amerat was a wasteland — an empty piece of property that has barely anything on it. It was hard to imagine that it would become the living, breathing town that it is right now filled with different activities and with business centres flourishing in every corner.
In the last ten years, there has been non-stop development in the area and a quick drive on what people popularly call as the “Snake Road” which eventually leads to this place behind the Bausher mountains, one will find a stunning evening view — glittering, dancing lights that declares that Al Amerat has achieved so much especially in the development front.
I’ve passed through Al Amerat many times on my way to Quriyat but it didn’t occur to me to stop by and explore the area.
On the evening of August 14, 2015, I’ve meet Sunita Koshal, a businesswoman who’ve decided, together with her partners, that setting up a business in Al Amerat is a great idea. While the potential of the area is yet to be fully exploited, they thought that they would lead the pack and set up their very own before other businesses come down pouring in.
Right now, Al Amerat has also become the preferred destinations for expats who’ve come to Oman with their families. Not only are the properties affordable, its accessibility to Muscat has made it a good alternative especially for those looking for peaceful homes that are not too far from the city centre.
“We are taking advantage of its potential. Every corner of Al Amerat now, you would see these communities growing. Putting up a restaurant that could be an option for people’s dining experience sounded like a great idea,” Sunita shared.
All that spice
August 14 was Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day and it was no coincidence that Hello Karachi has its formal launching on the same day.
The vibrant family restaurant has been operational in the last few weeks but Sunita’s team thought that opening it on the same day as Pakistan’s Independence Day would give more meaning to what they were all about.
“One of the things we noticed is that the area around here has a huge population of Omanis, Balochis, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Nepalis who all have deep love for spicy food. We wanted to cater to that preference but we also want to elevate their dining experience,” Sunita said.
“We made sure that our prices are friendly and comfortable. We also made sure that we have the best of what Pakistani food can offer. Other than the biryanis and barbeques, we also have our own unique dishes which caters to different tastes,” she added.
“Our chef who prepares our food also have a very good background working for one of Oman’s popular hotels. We maintain high quality and we’d like that to resonate well with everyone dining here,” she said.
For someone who didn’t like spicy food, Hello Karachi’s food offering actually came as a surprise to this writer.
“You can definitely request our chef to the level of spice you want in your food. Since our soft opening a few weeks back, feedbacks had really been good,” she said.
Growing in number
As of now, there are still limited attractions in Al Amerat. It has started to generate buzz because the yearly Muscat Festival is being conducted here.
Despite lacking in shopping amenities, Al Amerat’s food scene is starting to pick up. And for those who don’t mind the 15 to 20-minute drive, Hello Karachi is definitely an option worth checking out. But other than this Pakistani speciality restaurant, smaller cafes and restaurants are also popping up.
“Right now, I’ve noted about 10 popular smaller eateries offering shawarma, biryani and other traditional Arabic food in the area. They all just came in the last five years. You won’t get hungry here,” shared Sayeda, an expat who lives with her family in the area.
“We also noted some popular brands coming in. It won’t be long and we are expecting fast food franchises to also come,” she added.
“If Amerat becomes a food destination, that would definitely be unique. I would like to see that happening. Maybe we need more speciality restaurants being put up here,” she said.
“I won’t mind the drive as long as the food is good. After all, that’s the main reason why you go to a restaurant — because the food they have is something you can’t do in your home,” Rene, an expat living in Qurum, said.
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