National Museum of Oman

Established by royal decree and opened to the world in 2016, the National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman in Old Muscat is the nation’s cultural repository and sovereign showcase of antiquity. Housed in a palatial contemporary building facing Al Alam Palace, the museum spans 13,700 square meters across 14 permanent exhibition halls showcasing more than 7,000 meticulously documented artifacts. The exhibits span from the Paleolithic era and ancient copper-mining civilization of Magan through the Frankincense trail, the arrival of Islam, the Portuguese maritime conflicts, the Omani Empire in East Africa (Zanzibar), and the modern renaissance. Highlight galleries include the Arms and Armor Hall featuring ceremonial khanjars, the Splendors of Islam Hall with rare Qur'anic manuscripts, and an immersive ultra-high-definition cinema presenting cinematic expeditions through Oman's rugged geography.