National Museum of Oman — Attraction in Muscat

The National Museum of Oman is the Sultanate's flagship cultural institution, showcasing the nation's heritage from the earliest human settlement in the Oman Peninsula some two million years ago through to the present day. It is located in the heart of Muscat, on the hill of Al-Niam, and was opened to the public in 2016.

The museum is divided into six main galleries:

The Prehistory Gallery tells the story of Oman's earliest inhabitants, from the first hunter-gatherers to the development of agriculture and early civilizations. The Early Islam Gallery explores the spread of Islam in Oman and the development of Islamic culture and art in the region. The Omani Maritime History Gallery tells the story of Oman's maritime heritage, from the earliest fishing and trading vessels to the dhows that plied the Indian Ocean. The Omani Natural History Gallery showcases the diverse wildlife of Oman, from the Arabian leopard to the humpback whale. The Omani Modern History Gallery tells the story of Oman's recent history, from the reign of Sultan Qaboos bin Said to the present day. The Sultan Qaboos bin Said Gallery is dedicated to the life and work of the former Sultan, who ruled Oman for over 50 years.

The National Museum of Oman is a must-visit for anyone interested in learning about the history and culture of Oman. It is a beautifully designed museum with state-of-the-art exhibits that are sure to inform and entertain visitors of all ages.

Here are some other things to know about the National Museum of Oman:

It is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, from Saturday to Thursday. There is a free guided tour available in English, Arabic, and French. The museum is...

The total area of the museum is 13,700 square metres, including 4,000 square metres allocated for the 14 display halls—The Land and the People Gallery, Maritime History Gallery, Arms and Armour Gallery, Civilisation in the Making Gallery, Aflāj Gallery, Currency Gallery, Splendours of Islam Gallery, Oman and the World Gallery, Renaissance Gallery, and the Intangible Heritage Gallery among others.

Besides these, there is a dedicated gallery for temporary exhibitions with an area of 376 square meters, which has been designed in accordance with international regulations and standards for such facilities.

The museum also contains the first fully-equipped Learning Centre in the Sultanate, and the first conservation facility, designed in accordance with the standards established by the International Council of Museums. In addition, the museum embraces an integrated infrastructure for special needs, such as including some captions in Arabic Braille.

It also houses the first open plan storage concept (Collections Gallery), where visitors can watch and live through all the different stages that the artefacts go through from inventorying; documentation; initial examination, to pre-entering conservation.

Currently, the museum houses 12,583 artefacts, out of which 5,466 have been conserved and are on display, while 7,117 are still in stores.

The museum features 14 permanent galleries and a learning centre, conservation facilities, a cafe and...

I visited the National Museum of Oman, and it was a very interesting and educational experience. The museum is in Muscat and does a great job of showing Oman’s rich culture and history. The building is modern but also includes traditional Omani designs, making it both beautiful and welcoming. The museum itself feels spacious and well-planned, making it easy to explore and enjoy at your own pace.

Inside the museum, there were many different exhibits, from old artifacts to modern displays. The museum covers Oman’s history, starting from ancient times up to today. I especially enjoyed learning about Oman’s shipbuilding and navigation, which showed how important the sea has been to the country. The display of ancient ships and the tools sailors used really brought Oman’s maritime past to life.

The museum is very well organized, with interactive displays, videos, and models that make it fun and easy to understand. They’ve done a great job of keeping old items, like books, pottery, and traditional clothes, in excellent condition. The way everything is presented helps tell the story of Oman’s past clearly and engagingly.

What I liked most was the pride in Omani culture that you can feel throughout the museum. It’s a great place to learn more about Oman’s history and culture. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Muscat or anyone who wants to learn...