Muscat

Muscat   Maskat, or Masqat , city (1993 pop. 533,774), capital of Oman, SE Arabia, on the Gulf of Oman. It is flanked by rugged mountains. Muscat, which has a fine harbor, was seized by the Portuguese Afonso de Albuquerque in 1508 and kept by Portugal until 1648. Persian princes held it until 1741, when it became the capital of Oman. Dates, dried fish, mother-of-pearl, and frankincense are exported, although much of Muscat's trade has been taken over by neighboring Matrah, which has better land communications.

muscat A grape variety widely used for wine making, not one of the classic varieties; mostly makes perfumed, sweet, white wines.

Muscat (Masqat, Maskat) Capital of Oman, on the Gulf of Oman, in the se Arabian Peninsula. The Portuguese held Muscat from 1508 to 1650, when it passed to Persia. After 1741 it became capital of Oman. In the 20th century, Muscat's rulers developed treaty relations with Britain. Industries: fish, dates, natural gas, chemicals. Pop. (2002 est.) 60,100; 776,300 (metropolitan).