Description of the attraction
The National Museum of Oman was established at the direction of the Sultan in 2013. His collections are housed in a building specially built for museum needs in front of the Royal Palace in Old Muscat, next to the Ali Musa Mosque. The construction of this palace cost the country $ 20 million. The first visitors were able to see the museum collections on July 30, 2016.
The National Museum of Oman is dedicated to the history of the Sultanate and the Oman Peninsula from ancient times to the present day. It has 7 thousand exhibits, which are displayed on an area of 4 thousand square meters. The exhibition galleries contain objects that tell about the ancient history of Oman, the history of the spread of Islam in the country, the relationship of Oman with other states, its maritime history, the peoples inhabiting Oman, etc. The gallery "Oman and the world" presents gold coins and fragments sea vessel, which is believed to have been part of the expedition of the Portuguese traveler Vasco da Gama. The ship sank in 1503 en route to India. In the ethnographic hall, you can see copper tools of labor, bracelets, rings, pendants and objects that were used by Omanis in past centuries in everyday life. The Sultan's personal belongings are displayed in a nearby gallery. Another room is dedicated to historical documents. It contains the message of the Prophet Muhammad to the sultans of Oman, after which they converted to Islam.
The museum also provides exhibition halls, where temporary exhibitions are periodically held. There is also a cafe with 70 seats. Souvenirs can be found in a small shop at the museum.
