Montasser Ibrahim Abdelghani
Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, College of Arts and Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman
Department of Geography, Minia University, Egypt.
Volume: 17 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 92-111 | September 2025 | https://doi.org/10.54940/ss83365813 | PDF
Received: 28/01/2023 | Revised: 13/09/2023 | Accepted: 01/10/2023
Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Abstract
Retail trade represents one of the most significant functions of urban centers and cities. In Muscat, this func-tion has undergone substantial transformations over the past few decades. These developments have been driven by several interrelated factors, including rapid urban expansion, population growth, and sustained eco-nomic progress. The research employs multiple methodological approaches, including field observation, analy-sis of satellite imagery, survey of land use maps for two major markets in Muscat, Al-Khoud and As-Seeb and detailed calculations of land use patterns. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was administered to samples of shoppers and pedestrians in the Al-Khoud and As-Seeb markets, as well as to shoppers in five shopping malls across the city. The findings reveal profound structural changes in Muscat’s retail trade sector, most notably the proliferation of traditional commercial streets, the establishment of numerous local markets, and the rapid emergence of large, multifunctional shopping malls. These transformations have had significant implications for consumer preferences and shopping behaviors.
Keywords
Retail trade, Urban development, Muscat (Oman), shopping malls, Souq, Consumer behavior.
How to Cite
Abdelghani, M. (2025). The Changes in Retail Trade Patterns in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman. Journal of Umm Al-Qura University for Social Sciences, 17(3), 92-111. https://doi.org/10.54940/ss83365813
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Copyright (c) 2025. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC)