MATRAH

also spelled Mutrah, or Muttrah, town in Oman, on the Gulf of Oman coast, just west of Muscat. Matrah has traditionally been the country's chief commercial centre and port. Port Qabus, the town's new port facilities, were completed during the 1970s. Port al-Fahl, 3 miles (5 km) to the west, is Oman's oil terminal and is connected by pipelines to the oil fields in the south. Matrah has a large fish market, selling fresh fish for domestic use and processing frozen fish for export. The town is a departure point for caravans traveling inland with fruit, fish, pearls, and other commodities. Shipbuilding and ship repair are also economically important. Pop. (early 1970s est.) 15,000.