Muscat was recently rated among the cleanest cities and beautiful in the world, which for us the citizens and residents is not any number but a fact that we can be always be proud of.
As we gracefully accept international accolades through rankings and reports, one cannot ignore some of its critical grey areas.
The capital of the Sultanate of Oman is also one of the safest places in the world for both residents and tourists.
Muscat, today, has ingredients expected of any modern-day urban landscape such as a cosmopolitan population, green cover, cleanliness, smart infrastructure, tourism attractions, and one of the finest airports in the region.
The city is also known for relatively limited traffic woes and road pollution as studies claim that one can reach the most important hubs of the capital within 15 to 25 minutes.
According to the Numbeo Pollution Index which assesses a range of pollution-related characteristics such as air and water pollution, waste management, hygienic conditions, light and noise pollution, green areas, and overall comfort with pollution levels, Muscat has an impressive score of 36.2.
The report demonstrated the commitment of the Muscat authorities to encouraging a safe and environmentally responsible way of life for both locals and tourists.
Muscat also scores high in purity and cleanliness categories on air quality, drinking water quality and accessibility, garbage disposal satisfaction, quiet and no problem with night lights, and quality of green and parks, among others.
Muscat leads in the region with efforts to improve recycling programmes, lower carbon emissions, and support green initiatives.
It may be noted that the government has embarked on the development of new smart townships such as Downtown Al Khuwair, Sultan Haitham City, and Yiti, the Sustainable City, among others.
Despite being home to landmarks such as the Muttrah Souq, the cruise terminal, the Al Alam Palace, and the National Museum, a lot more can be done to improve avenues and basic facilities at tourist places.
While the Muscat Metro project has made good progress and its development is expected to be in parallel with that of the Sultan Haitham City, in particular, the public transport still cannot be called dependable as per international standards.
The same can be said of the taxi services despite key improvements in recent years.
It must be astonishing that the city does not have a decent water park despite being subject to above-moderate temperatures in most parts of the city.
So, while we can accept praise, we must just not stop here and relax but rather innovate more ideas to further make the city more attractive.
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