The Rich Cultural Heritage of Muscat

The country’s rich cultural heritage is well preserved in Muscat's many museums, including:

• The Oman Museum, which covers 5,000 years of local history, with displays on shipbuilding, Islam and fort architecture
• Bait Al Zubair located within a traditional Omani house, giving insight into Omani lifestyle and traditions
• The Natural History Museum, with in-depth exhibitions of the country’s geology and wildlife; the museum is currently undergoing extensive renovation and expansion
• Beit Al Fransi, former home of the French Consul dedicated to the long rapport between France and Oman
• Bait Al Barandah, where interactive exhibits cover 100 million years of history
• The National Museum in Ruwi, chronicling Oman’s ruling dynasty, as well as exhibiting Omani silverwork and an 8^th-century letter from the Prophet Mohammed to the rulers of Oman, inviting the local people to Islam
• And the Armed Forces Museum, a military museum located in the 150-year old Bait Al Falaj Fort.
• Also worth a visit are The National Gate Museum, Children’s Museum, Currency museum, Ecology Oman Centre, Turtle Museum in Ras Al Hadd and the Franklin Centre Museum in Dhofar.

Additions to the country’s museum scene include:

· Muscat’s brand-new National Museum, with displays covering Omani history from prehistoric times to the present day

·  The new Maritime Museum in Sur, Oman’s northeastern coastal town that has long been an important centre for dhow construction

·   Mawaleh, Seeb’s new Museum of Omani Dress. The brand-new project, whose goal is to conserve Oman’s colourful national dress – and thus safeguard an important part of the country’s identity – is spearheaded by the non-profit group, Centre for Omani Dress (www.omanidress.com). The museum details men's and women's traditional costume, with special sections dedicated to children's clothes and general accessories.

Not a museum, but a Muscat must-see all the same, the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque was inaugurated in 2001. It is renowned for its enormous hand-woven carpet (70 x 60m) and 14-m Swarovski crystal chandelier.

Discover more about Oman: www.omantourism.gov.om