Muscat is a fantastic city and even if it’s a muslim country, people are tolerating the foreigner gay couples are there a few gay friendly hotels Muscat.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Oman face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Homosexuality in the Sultanate of Oman is illegal according to §§, 33 and 223 of the penal code and can be punished with a prison sentence of up to 3 years. In Oman, it is said that cases only get to court if “public scandal” is involved.
Muscat, Oman’s port capital, sits on the Gulf of Oman surrounded by mountains and desert. With history dating back to antiquity, it mixes high-rises and upscale shopping malls with clifftop landmarks such as the 16th-century Portuguese forts, Al Jalali and Mirani, looming over Muscat Harbor. Its modern, marble-clad Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, with 50m dome and prodigious Persian carpet, can accommodate 20,000 people.
Top attractions to visit in Muscat
Best day trips in Muscat:
- Wahiba Sands and Wadi Bani Khalid Desert Safari
- Full-Day Grand Canyon and Nizwa Tour by 4×4
- Private Muscat City Tour
- Private Tour to Jabal Shams Grand Canyon Balcony Walk
- Wahiba Wilderness
See more day trips in Muscat on GetYourGuide
1. The Chedi Muscat 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Muscat
This 5-star beachfront resort in Muscat is a 15-minute drive from Muscat International Airport. It has a with massage services, . Free WiFi is available throughout the entire property.
The air-conditioned rooms at The Chedi Muscat have a flat-screen TV, a private espresso machine and a work desk. Some rooms have a seating area.
The Chedi Muscat also features 6 restaurants where guests can enjoy Arabic, Asian, International and fusion cuisine. The restaurants have indoor and outdoor dining areas.
The Chedi Muscat’s spa offers an extensive variety of beauty rituals based on the holistic principles of aromatherapy, Ayurveda and herbalism.
A luxury resort with its own private beach near al Ghubra, The Chedi Muscat is located on an expansive 21 acres of land located approximately 20 minutes from Muscat’s old city. The resort features 158 rooms and suites with magnificent views of beautifully landscaped gardens, the surrounding Hajar mountains and the picturesque Gulf of Oman. Dining venues include six restaurants offering Arabic, Asian, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine.
Denniston Architects, spearheaded by renowned visionary Jean-Michel Gathy, is the creative mind behind The Chedi Muscat’s inspired designs while The Restaurant is a creation of Yasuhiro Koichi of design studio SPIN in Tokyo.
he hotel itself makes you feel like you are in a safe haven away from everything. Also, even though it is quite big, you have an impression of it all being quite intimate. The place is very cleverly designed. The staff is what makes this place as well: they are devoted to answer your every needs and are oh so nice. I might add that we came here as a gay couple on honeymoon.
On arrival, we were told that we were given a free upgrade to a suit as, having booked through booking.com and messed up a bit, we had to change a couple of things and that’s how they knew it was a special thing for us. How thoughtful of them! Oman is a very liberal and tolerant country and the people are proud of that. It is in a place you might overlook as thinking of safety but Oman really is different and safe and I would recommend it to everyone.
The Chedi, especially, is a once in a lifetime place that you have to experience. If you can stand the heat, go in the summer as it is their low season. Temperatures do average 45° but coming from Scotland we were looking for some sun so were not disappointed and found the place very quiet with very good prices.
The food can be a bit pricey but when you taste it you find that it is worth every penny! The main restaurant has 3 open kitchens where you can see the chefs in action cooking your meals and also a pastry kitchen where the pastry chefs are baking the most amazing desserts.
The main attractions for us though were the SPA and the long pool (103m). Just mind blowing!
We cannot recommend this place enough. It truly is something you have to see and experience to understand how great it is.
Location
Occupying a prime beachfront location, this exclusive 21-acre beach resort is located 20 minutes north of old Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, at Al Ghubra. The Chedi Muscat is ideally located for business and leisure travelers alike as the main tourist attractions, the financial center, three golf courses, and Muscat International Airport are only a 15-minute drive away.
Style
The minimalist design of this ultra-stylish resort was a revolutionary concept for the Middle East when the hotel opened in 2003, and its timeless decor remains an inspiration for resort architecture around the globe today.
The Chedi Muscat is a product of a countryman of mine, Denniston Architects and the multiple award-winning Belgian-born designer Jean-Michel Gathy, clearly approached the resort’s style from a culturally sensitive viewpoint. The minimalist lines of the low-rise buildings are accentuated by gardens of symmetrical simplicity, with lines of manicured hedges and ordered water ponds, creating a tranquil Zen calm. There are no fewer than 400 palm-trees throughout the grounds, each precisely planted to create artful arboreal symmetry.
Wandering around the 21 acres of spectacular resort grounds is a visual delight and your eyes will find awesome details every moment. The white exterior of the hotels pavilions blends perfectly in the lush greenery of the surrounding date palm gardens, and the maze of reflecting pools, falaj-inspired waterway, gorgeous fountains, and Moorish-style courtyards kept me entertained for the duration of my stay. At night, the gardens are enchantingly lit with candles and rope-lights.
Rooms
The Chedi Muscat offers 160 rooms and suites that are divided into ten room categories; Serai Rooms, Serai Sea View Rooms Serai Terrace Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Rooms Twin, Deluxe Club Rooms, Deluxe Club Terrace Rooms, Chedi Club Suites, Chedi Two Bedroom Suite and Chedi Four Bedroom Suite. Each room category has its own magnificent view of the water gardens, the Hajar mountain ranges, or the Gulf of Oman.
All 158 rooms and suites feature minibars stocked with complimentary tipples (beer in standard rooms; everything in suites). Bose Wave music systems, iPod docks, televisions, Nespresso machines and kettles discreetly furnish minimalist Japanese-style living spaces, in which bathrooms and walk-in wardrobes are combined in the standard rooms; separate en suites with sunken tubs preside in higher categories.
Marble, colored black and cream, and teak wood accessories, including Venetian blinds, create a soothing, neutral backdrop.
Room amenities at The Chedi Muscat include Acqua di Parma toiletries, a Nespresso coffee machine, fresh fruit upon arrival, and – highly appreciated – a minibar with complimentary soft drinks and beer.
The Chedi Club Suites are beyond your imagination and I highly recommend to go for it. Overlooking either the Hajar Mountains, the Gulf of Oman or one of the hotel’s many water features, the suites each have a private terrace or balcony, vast windows and high ceilings, as well as a bathroom with sunken bathtubs and twin sinks (placed at opposite ends of the room, thanks to the grand dimensions). What’s more, you’ll be in the Club, member benefits of which include return airport transfers, access to the lounge, daily afternoon tea and pre-dinner cocktails and canapés, free laundry and a free minibar that gets topped up every morning. This Suite is amongst my personal favorite rooms at any hotel world wide. Truly stunning!
Service & facilities
The Chedi Muscat shines with most friendly employees and dedicated service- a class on its own. The attentive employees here going to make your stay the most pleasant and memorable one as possible. Smiling faces wherever you walk – shows the hotel in managed very well and every unit knows how to deliver high end hospitality.
Restaurants
Embark on an irresistible voyage of dining pleasure at the Chedi Muscat with a choice of six restaurants, featuring Arabic, Asian, Indian, Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as seafood served at The Beach Restaurant. All dining options are sure to promise a memorable and incredible dining experience, with both outdoor and indoor seating options catering to every season. For a truly inspiring al fresco experience, guests can dine at the Beach Restaurant (open from mid-September to the end of May), a romantic beachfront patio where the creative seafood menu is accompanied by a sublime panorama of the Gulf of Oman.
The restaurant, with outdoor and indoor seating, open kitchens and a ceiling full of chandeliers, starts each day hosting a breakfast buffet. Expect Arabian and European favorites, from labneh and flat bread to sautéed mushrooms and beef sausages made with beef, and à la carte extras including eggs Benedict.
Lunch, dinner and drinks are also served here and different menus are available around each of the three pools, and liquid refreshments and pastries in the lobby lounge. From October to April, the Beach Restaurant sells Omani seafood, including wild lobster and tiger prawns with a choice of lemon beurre blanc, XO or tamarind sauce. The Arabian Courtyard puts on a Middle Eastern spread in a courtyard alongside an adjacent Shisha Lounge.
The Boutique at the Chedi Muscat offers a superb choice of limited edition art, fashion pieces and gifts that are exclusively available only at the hotel.
Pools and Spa
The three pools each have their own cabana serving drinks and food, with Mediterranean fare by the Chedi pool, Asian flavours at the Serai pool and Japanese-cum-Malaysian nourishment to help you reach the other end of the Long Pool.
Those looking for absolute tranquility will not be disappointed as The Chedi Muscat features two adults only areas where you will not be disturbed at all: only guest aged 16 years and above are allowed at the Chedi pool and the Long Pool.
The 700-square-metre Health Club, adjacent to The Long Pool is stocked with 30 pieces of top-range Technogym equipment from the Visio Web line and free weights, Power Plates, a Kinesis wall and a Pilates corner. High- and low-impact group exercise classes as well as personal training sessions are available to further ensure that fitness goals are achieved. A dedicated ladies only sauna and steam room as well as a sauna and steam room that is exclusively reserved for the gentlemen, complete the extensive offering of facilities at The Health Club at The Chedi Muscat.
Two floodlit tennis courts are available for all guests to use at no charge. Tennis rackets and balls are available at the gym at no charge. A tennis coach is also at hand in case guests wish to further improve their techniques; his services can be booked through the concierge and charged directly to the room.
The Chedi Muscat offers a fully serviced private beach of 370-metre with umbrellas, towels and daybeds.
The 800-square-metre spa is a true sanctuary with 13 fully self-contained spa suites including private changing facilities that are the epitome of understated elegance.
The Spa specializes in Balinese therapies, but also offers an extensive variety of beauty rituals based on the holistic principles of aromatherapy, Ayurveda and herbalism. The Spa is dedicated to pampering the body and mind, restoring spiritual balance and harmony and revitalizing all senses.
How much does a room costs at The Chedi Muscat ?
Prices start 390$/night for Serai Sea View Room.
The room comes with Gulf of Oman views and is decorated in Asian style minimalism with Omani details.The room features an open plan bathroom with a walk-in rain shower and bath products. Complimentary room amenities include 32-inch flat screen IPTV and in room Nespresso machine.
Benefits include: – Welcome drink – Daily breakfast buffet served at The Restaurant – Daily seasonal fresh fruits – Complimentary minibar (water, soft drinks and beer only), replenished once daily – Wi-Fi access in the room and most public areas – Access to computers in the Internet Room, subject to availability
Where to book online – The Chedi Muscat – Gay Friendly Hotels Muscat – you can find the best hotels deals in Muscat during The Muscat Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Muscat on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
2. Kempinski Hotel Muscat 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Oman
Nestled within the coastline community of Al Mouj and ‘the new heart of Muscat’, the five-star hotel will be an unparalleled luxury destination in Oman’s captivating capital.
Comprising 310 rooms and suites which all have a desk and a flat-screen TV. With a private bathroom equipped with a bath and free toiletries, certain rooms at Kempinski Hotel Muscat also have a balcony. Guest rooms will provide guests with a wardrobe and a coffee machine.
This upscale award-winning beachfront hotel along the Gulf of Oman is 15 minutes away from Muscat International Airport and a 5 minute drive from Al Mouj Golf Club. Polished rooms have free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and Nespresso machines, as well as tea and coffee making facilities. Upgraded rooms offer gulf views; some provide balconies or terraces.
Club rooms come with access to a private lounge offering breakfast and refreshments. Suites add separate living areas; some feature private pools. Food & Beverage outlets consist two award winning restaurants, an all-day-dining restaurant, a sports lounge, a beachfront lounge, a fully licensed bowling center and bars along with outdoor pools, a chic spa.
Great location in The Wave with walking distance to a cool social hub with a nice variety of shops and restaurants.
Close to the airport and the city but at the same time a nice and serene setting which keeps you disconnected!
Beautiful facility with a variety of spaces and a selection of restaurants and food from Indian to Thai and even a nice Sports Bar. Breakfast is great with so much options.
Top service with well trained and very friendly staff. What i appreciated is the openness and flexibility of the F&B staff as they are wiling to accommodate any special requests or changes in the food or menu!
Anticipation is always there and even the top managers are frequently available and come and check on your experience and offer the extra mile in order to enhance it!
I definitely recommend this hotel be it on a business trip or leisure as i feel the people is what makes this place unique.
l. Our superior room (city view) is the cheapest- but you feel like you are in a suite room. The room is spacious with opulent furnishings. It has a bathtub which honeymooners can put into good use. If not, you can swim in their infinity pool. Once you get up in the morning, you can go to THE KITCHEN. Not only do they serve a variety of dishes (Indian, Omani, Continental, etc), they are all delicious.
This is a real wonderful and satisfying experience staying in this hotel. First thing I liked about this hotel, it’s front view. The resort view is quite interesting with a blend of traditional stuffs and modern prompts, which I really liked. Then again hotel rooms are very cozy, comfortable also the Swimming pool and safe. This hotel has very good room service. All the working stuffs are very nice and they always approach with a beautiful smile, especially ( Buthaina) receptionist team.
The bedroom was absolutely beautiful with exquisite marble everywhere, enormous bathroom with free standing bath big enough for 2, enormous walk-in rainfall shower, touch controls for mood lighting, Nespresso coffee machine, large flat screen TV, the most comfortable King size bed with choice of pillows and so much more – just WOW
What immediately hits you is the attention to detail and superb build quality of everything in this hotel – it is such a tactile experience walking around this hotel – inspiration for upgrades to our home when we got back.
The staff were so friendly and accommodating making sure we were wanting for nothing – Oman was such a pleasant surprise to us after experiencing Dubai in the past – the Omani people are probably the friendliest of all the Arab states and don’t make you feel as though you are doing something wrong or inappropriate.
The pools are simply stunning, especially the infinity pool in the main courtyard and the beach beyond has the softest sand. No problem getting a sunbed and the pool attendant ensured we were set us up on arrival with towels neatly laid out, shade where we needed it and a supply of iced water in a nifty cool box.
How much does a room costs at Kempinski Hotel Muscat ?
Prices start 245$/night for Superior Double Room.
This double room has a soundproofing, sofa and tea/coffee maker.
Where to book online – Kempinski Hotel Muscat – Gay Friendly Hotels Muscat – you can find the best hotels deals in Muscat during The Muscat Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Muscat on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
3. W Muscat 5* – Gay Friendly Hotels Muscat Oman
Set in Shatti Al Qurum Beach Area in Muscat, W Muscat features an outdoor swimming pool.
All the rooms come with air conditioning and a flat screen TV with satellite channels. While some rooms boast sea views and others garden views, all rooms come with an electric kettle and coffee machine. The rooms are complete with a private bathroom with free toiletries, a bathrobe, two outdoor swimming pools and hair dryer.
W Muscat boasts five dining facilities, including CHAR that specializes in grilling and Harvest, a health driven seasonal restaurant.
W Muscat is a resort situated in the upbeat Shatti Al Qurum beachfront, offering an insider access to what’s up and coming in the city. Step inside one of our luxury hotel rooms and suites where Omani heritage meets contemporary design. All rooms offer breathtaking views of azure waters of the Gulf of Oman. Five tantalizing restaurants offer an exciting experience for every foodie.
This hotel has the WOW Factor!!!
It has a very stylish/modern reception, beautiful bedrooms with huge comfy beds, luxury bathroom, wonderful views, fabulous pool, very polite/attentive staff and first class customer service throughout the hotel!
We would highly recommended a stay at the beautiful W hotel!
Look forward to returning soon for another amazing stay.
Hotel
The W concept is modern and young.It is for you if you like lounge music (basically everywhere; beware; on Fridays it is pool party, so this is for modern music lovers only).
A highlight is most certainly the Siddharta Lounge (by Buddha Bar). Swimming in the Infinity Pool up there was one of my highlights. In the evening it is a “place to be”, young, DJ, great view to the ocean (rooftop bar).
Food and beverage
I really liked the breakfast. I don’t know what it is like if you stay here for longer, but the four times I had breakfast here (I arrived very early), I enjoyed it.
There is a beach right in front of the hotel. It is not a private beach and I saw hardly anyone swimming there or lying there. I did not care for I rather use the beach for walks, and for this it was perfect.
My highlight: the staff. No: the TALENT
Everybody, and I mean; EVERYBODY treated me exceptionally nice here. People seem to love their job.
The room we stayed was so fantastic that it is hard to describe, but was hard to want to leave it. You will want to though as the hotel offers so much. The pool area is large and designed in a way that makes your space private. They have a lounge that also has an infinity pool and is designed with a desert camp theme that is stunning. In all corners of this place are design features that highlight Omani landscape and culture.
As soon as you can after arrival, ask for one of the staff to take you on a tour to point out the design and architecture as you will be amazed at the thought that went into it as well as learning about Oman itself. Speaking of the staff/talent, there are people from 49 countries working there and not only are they all supremely well trained, but we learned a lot about their cultures at the same time. One of a kind.
How much does a room costs at W Muscat ?
Prices start 236$/night for Wonderful Room, Guest room, 2 Double, Sea view, Balcony.
Featuring views of the sea, this air-conditioned room has a balcony, sofa, mini-bar, desk and a safe.
Where to book online – W Muscat – Gay Friendly Hotels Muscat – you can find the best hotels deals in Muscat during The Muscat Festival which is celebrated with much enthusiasm in Muscat on Booking.com or Trip.com or Hotelscombined.com and see more reviews on TripAdvisor.
