Baku vs Muscat
Baku and Muscat are level on the CIRA Index at 60. Baku grades better on 8 measures, Muscat on 10; the same 35 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- CIRA Index: Baku 60, Muscat 60
- OECD: Baku 55, Muscat 58
- UN Tourism: Baku 60, Muscat 56
- UNDRR: Baku 43, Muscat 49
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: Baku 65, Muscat 75
- Economy and jobs: Baku 69, Muscat 83
- Climate and hazards: Baku 40, Muscat 40
- Water and environment: Baku 50, Muscat 25
- Community and housing: Baku 75, Muscat 88
- Access and continuity: Baku 42, Muscat 54
Where Baku is stronger
- Largest foreign market: 13.6 % of international arrivals or nights (country figure) (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Activities of hotels and similar establishments in 2025, 2025). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
- Extreme heat days: 8.6 days a year at or above 35°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 5 and 15: grade 3/4.
- Tropical nights: 87.8 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). Between 60 and 100: grade 1/4.
- Water scarcity: low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 3/4.
- Wastewater safely treated: 50 % of domestic wastewater safely treated (State Program on Water Supply and Sanitation / Zavia / Azersu, 2024). Between 50 and 70: grade 1/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 297.2 kg per resident per year (country figure) (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan via ResearchGate, 2024). At or below 350: grade 4/4.
- Tourism intensity: 1.2 visitor nights per resident per year (State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Activities of hotels and similar establishments in 2025 & Demographic Indicators of Azerbaijan, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Access redundancy: 4 independent ways in: international airport, intercity rail, port, motorway (State Maritime and Port Agency of Azerbaijan & Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), 2026). At or above 4: grade 4/4.
Where Muscat is stronger
- Domestic share of nights: 43.1 % of nights by residents of the same country (country figure) (National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), published via Oman News Agency, Jan–Aug 2026). Between 35 and 45: grade 3/4.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 46.5 % average annual occupancy (country figure) (National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) / Oman News Agency, Jan–Aug 2026). Between 45 and 55: grade 1/4.
- Unemployment rate: 3.3 % of the labour force (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). At or below 5: grade 4/4.
- Income per head: 42,295 GDP per capita, USD PPP (country figure) (World Bank WDI, 2025). Between 30,000 and 45,000: grade 2/4.
- Wildfire and storm hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Country disaster risk: 2.3 INFORM Risk index, 0–10 (country figure) (INFORM Risk (European Commission JRC), INFORM Risk Mid 2026, 2026). Between 2 and 3.5: grade 3/4.
- Rent growth: 3 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Sands of Wealth / Savills Oman Research, 2025–2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- Early warning and emergency plan: An updated city plan with public early warning for heat, flood or fire (Oman Daily Observer / Civil Aviation Authority, 2025–2026). Grade 3/4.
- Government effectiveness: 63.7 World Bank WGI percentile rank, 0–100 (country figure) (World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, 2025). Between 60 and 80: grade 3/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism / Official Oman e-Government Services Portal, 2025–2026). Grade 2/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- Azerbaijan: #58 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- Oman: #62 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
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