Muscat – There is growing demand among passengers for sleeper coaches to ease the strain of long-distance bus journeys across Oman and to neighbouring countries.

Responding to this, Mwasalat is preparing to introduce sleeper coaches, double-deckers and majlis-style buses as part of an overhaul of the national transport system.

A senior Mwasalat official said, “We are renovating the entire bus transport system. Soon, we will have majlis-style buses, double-deckers and sleeper classes.”

Sleeper class buses are expected to ease journeys on routes such as Muscat–Salalah and Muscat–Dubai. Passengers have long voiced the need for greater comfort on these trips, noting that existing seating offers limited space and support.

Salim Khan, who works as a painter and often travels to Salalah, said, “Ten hours feel like eternity in cramped seats. More space and the option to lie down would be a game-changer for passengers like me. It will be a little expensive but I do not mind spending for more comfort.”

For most travellers, cost is the main reason for preferring buses over flights, but comfort remains a challenge. Hamed al Amri, who works in the finance sector and often travels to Saudi Arabia for Umrah, said, “Flying is expensive, and I want to save money. I wouldn’t mind paying extra for a bus with proper sleeper facilities; it would make the journey much easier on my body. I also think about this when I take my elderly parents or relatives.”

Private transport operators have also acknowledged the gap in the market. Nasser al Hosni, CEO of Happy Line Transport, said, “There is a real need for sleeper buses in Oman; many other countries already have these in operation. But safety aspects need to be studied carefully before these are introduced.”

Anjali, a regular traveller to Dubai, said, “Routes like Dubai are long and exhausting. Many countries have sleeper coaches. I am ready to pay for comfort and additional services.”

The lack of sleeper buses has also been felt by the tourism sector. A senior official at a leading travel company said introducing such coaches could boost visitor numbers to Dhofar. “We often lose passengers once they learn how long the journey takes. Sleeper buses would help make long-distance travel accessible and comfortable, even for ordinary tourists.”