A short domestic-feeling hop rather than a long-haul detour: Muscat sits around 90 minutes from Dubai by direct flight, and January puts it in a genuinely pleasant 22 to 28°C range rather than the Gulf's punishing summer heat.
Mutrah Souk
Widely considered the best traditional souk in the Gulf: covered lanes selling frankincense, silverwork including the traditional Khanjar dagger, and rosewater, with a working-market feel rather than a purely tourist-facing one. The adjacent Mutrah Corniche runs along the harbour and is a genuinely pleasant evening walk on legs that don't want to work too hard.
Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
Oman's principal mosque, built on a scale that rewards a slow visit rather than a rushed one, with an interior carpet and chandelier that are themselves noted features of the building. As with the Abu Dhabi mosque, a modest dress code applies and visiting hours for non-worshippers are limited, so checking before travelling out is worth the five minutes it takes.
Where to Stay and Eat
Muscat is noticeably quieter and less built-up than Dubai, and hotels along the Corniche or in the Qurum area put a runner within easy reach of both the souk and the mosque without a car being essential for the whole trip.
Getting Back
Royal Jordanian and Oman Air both operate the Muscat-Dubai route; flights run multiple times daily, keeping the return leg as straightforward as the outbound one.