Kempinski Hotel Muscat

Kempinski Hotel Muscat is the family beach resort of Al Mouj: 310 rooms and suites, a cascade pool, a supervised kids' club, a bowling alley and around ten restaurants and bars, some twenty minutes from Muscat International Airport. It belongs to Kempinski, the luxury hotel group founded in Germany.

The resort closest to the airport

Al Mouj, also known as The Wave, is a seafront district west of the capital, near the airport, and home to Al Mouj Golf; the hotel says the area runs along more than 6 km of coastline. The Kempinski is about 11 km and 20 minutes from the airport, the closest of Muscat's big resorts and handy after a night flight or before an early departure. The trade-off: old Muscat and Muttrah are half an hour or more by road, and the Grand Mosque about 20 minutes. See our Muscat page.

A family day

In the morning the children head to the supervised kids' club while parents enjoy the cascade pool and the beach. Lunch is at the Pool Bar, facing the Gulf of Oman, or Bangkok street food at Soi Soi. In the afternoon, a game at Cosmic Bowling, the hotel's bowling alley, or afternoon tea and French pastries at Amwaj Lounge. In the evening, the buffet at The Kitchen, then a stroll by the water.

The hotel regularly runs offers in which children use the kids' club at no extra charge. See also family.

Street, garden or sea: check the view before booking

All rooms have a shower and bathtub and floor-to-ceiling windows. The view drives the price, and the cheapest categories do not see the sea.

For a couple, the Grand Deluxe Sea View Room is the best balance: a private terrace and the sea. For a family of four, the Family Room combines two interconnecting rooms, one with a king bed and one with twins, but it faces the street.

Eleven relaxed places to eat and drink

Dining is varied and almost entirely casual:

• The Kitchen, an all-day buffet of Levantine, Asian and European dishes;
• Bukhara, North Indian cooking in a show kitchen, and Boulevard Tea House for speciality teas, lassis and Indian desserts;
• Soi Soi, Bangkok street food;
• Zale Club & Lounge, Mediterranean sharing platters and cocktails;
• Amwaj Lounge for afternoon tea; Café One for coffee and baked snacks;
• 1897 Cocktail Lounge, The Countdown Sports Lounge and Bar (live sport), the Pool Bar and Cosmic Bowling.

Dress is casual everywhere except Amwaj Lounge, Zale and 1897, which ask for smart casual.

Spa and fitness

Kempinski The Spa offers massages, facials and body treatments, plus wellness packages. The gym offers personalised training programmes.

Kempinski or St. Regis?

The two Al Mouj resorts are neighbours. The Kempinski is the more family-friendly and relaxed, with its kids' club, bowling and 45 m² rooms from about €410 a night with breakfast. The St. Regis Al Mouj goes for top-end luxury: round-the-clock butler service, duplex suites with private plunge pools, restaurants from big international names and golf views. Golfers have Al Mouj Golf, a Greg Norman-designed seaside course close to both hotels (see golf).

Price

In October 2026, for a two-night stay in March 2027, the cheapest room cost about €410 a night for two adults, breakfast included, free cancellation until 7 March 2027, taxes and fees included, with any local taxes extra.

Sabaro's view

Best for: families with children, couples who like a lively resort, travellers arriving late or leaving early.

Strengths: the kids' club and activities; the choice of casual restaurants; the short airport transfer; a score of 9.3 out of 10 on Booking.com (2,421 reviews), one of the best in Muscat.

Worth knowing: the entry-level rooms and the Family Room face the street or a courtyard; the historic centre is more than half an hour away; it is not the place for absolute peace and quiet.