Cultural public square 'Marsa Plaza' opens at Al Mouj

Muscat: The capital's first public square, Marsa Plaza, located in the heart of Al Mouj Muscat, opened on Wednesday evening.

Built across 5,000 square metres, Marsa Plaza will be a dedicated platform for the vibrant youth of the nation to showcase their talents and for Omanis to celebrate and share their rich culture through various events including music and dance performances, as well as photography and art exhibits in the public square.

Situated at the end of The Walk, with a panoramic view over the marina and the rest of the development, Marsa Plaza will also serve as a natural corridor for people crossing paths between Al Mouj Marina, The Walk and other residential areas. Public spaces play a significant role in the social life of communities and this modern interpretation of a town square gives residents and visitors a unique space to gather and enjoy a world-class lifestyle experience.

With traditional Omani architectural influences, Marsa Plaza is bound together by a series of large scale overlapping canopies that shade the square and an excess of 2,000 square metres of outdoor and roof terraces. The canopy design, inspired by simple tectonics of traditional Omani architecture, reacts to the different sun conditions with screens of varying densities, making the leisure destination accessible year-round. Marsa Plaza is home to restaurants, outdoor cafes, an arena stage, a fountain area and beautifully landscaped pedestrian trails.

Nasser bin Masoud Al Sheibani, CEO of Al Mouj Muscat, said: “Marsa Plaza will provide a perfect setting and platform for Oman’s diverse artists to showcase their works, sharing and celebrating our rich Omani culture with both visitors and residents. In addition to culturally connecting people, I believe a year-round public outdoor space like ours will also encourage healthier lifestyles and promote happiness and more quality time spent together among families and friends.”

The five-star Kempinski Hotel Muscat also opened its doors in March, 2018 at Al Mouj.