15 Museums Around Oman You Haven't Heard About Before

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Do you want to get the most out of a museum visit? Wondering what are the best museum alternatives in the Sultanate? 

Museums in Oman tell about its long history. They take visitors on a journey through the various stages of development and growth of the Sultanate. In this article, we'll show you 15 museums around Oman you haven't heard of before:

#1: Muscat Gate Museum
Located above Muscat Modern Gate this museum has an amazing view which you see through the broad stairs leading to the museum’s gate.

Timings
Sunday - Thursday :8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: closed

Fees
Adults : Free

Children : Free

#2: Natural History Museum
Located in the Ministry of Heritage and Culture building in Al Khuwayr in Muscat Governorate. It is considered one of the major Omani museums and houses exhibits depicting aspects of life since it first appeared in various forms on the Sultanate territory.

Timings
9:30-13:30 Morning, 17:00-19:00 Evening 17:00-19:00

Fees
500 Baiza

200 Baiza, 100 Baiza for under 6

#3: Children's Museum
This museum simplifies science and technology and presents them in an animated version, allowing visitors to see the vital role played by science in various aspects of life. The museum is headquartered in two large domes in Al Qurum area in Muscat Governorate and is visible from afar. Although this museum is called the Children's Museum, its exhibits are suitable for all ages and are presented in a simplified fashion to facilitate access to information for future generations.

Timings
9:00-13:00

Fees
500 Baiza
100 Baiza

#4: Omani Museum
Located in the Media City in the Muscat Governorate. It includes the Department of Ancient History which displays many relics of ancient civilizations such as stone tombs, rock carvings and remains of tools used by ancient civilisations, including agricultural tools, old types of steatite and some stone necklaces.

Timings
9:30-13:30 Morning, 17:00-19:00 Evening

Fees
200 Baiza, 100 Baiza for under 6

#5: Omani-French Museum
This museum is located in the city of Muscat near Al Alam Palace in Muttrah State. An old house built about 170 years ago accommodates the museum.

Sultan Faisal bin Turki donated the house to the first Consul of France in Muscat to be the French Consulate in 1896.

In addition to the Hall of Maritime Navigation, the museum rooms include models of Omani and French ships, a traditional costume hall and many other artefacts and pictures that reflect the cultural connection between the two countries.

Timings
9:00-13:00 Morning, 
16:00-18:00 Evening

Fees
500 Baiza

200 Baiza
National Museum


#6: The National Museum 
Opened in 1978 and was formerly known as the Museum of the House of Mr. Nadir Bin Faisal Bin Turki. In 1988, it was moved to Ruwi in Muscat Governorate and named the National Museum. This museum includes a number of sections, like the main hall where tourists can see many varieties of bracelets, necklaces, rings, copper tools, and aspects of Omani traditional life.

Timings
9:30-1:30 Morning, 
17:00-19:00 Evening

Fees
500 Baiza

200 Baiza, 100 Baiza for under 6

#7: Currency Museum
Located within the Central Bank of Oman building. It displays the succession of currency circulated in the Sultanate of Oman, both paper and metal. The museum includes numerous old and new coins that have been circulated since the early days of the Islamic State.

Timings
Sat-Wed:09:00-13:00
Thur-Fri: Closed

Fees
more than 6 years : 0.250 RO

less than 6 years : free

#8: Armed Forces Museum

Located at Fort Al Falaj House in Ruwi region in the Governorate of Muscat.

The museum accommodates weapons, clothing, instruments, and other defence systems that display both visually and audibly the development of the Omani armed forces throughout history.

Timings

8:00-13:00 Morning, 

15:00-18:00 Evening

Fees

500 Baiza 

free for Children 

#9: Bait Az-Zubair Museum

Opened in 1998, Bait Al Zubair Museum is located in the old city of Muscat. It displays Omani artefacts and collectables, including a group of conventional weapons, jewellery, clothing, household items and some old models representing Omani rural and urban environments

Timings

Saturday - Thursday: 9:30AM - 6:00PM

Friday: Holiday

Fees

Adults : 2 Riyal

10-15 years old : 1 Riyal

#10: Bait Al Barandah Museum

One of the historical and cultural sites in Muscat, known also as the House of Naseeb. He was the merchant Naseeb Bin Mohammed who built the house in the late nineteenth century. “Al Barandah” is the local pronunciation of the foreign word “veranda”, which means “balcony”. The House was named after the balcony that extends along the length of the façade on the first floor.

Timings

09:00 - 13:00 and 16:00-18:00

Fees

1 OMR

0.500 OMR

#11: Oil & Gas Exhibition Centre (OGEC)

First opened in November 1979, after extensive remodelling, it was re-opened in November 1995 as a "Gift to Nation" to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the reign of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The centre was designed to explain how crude oil and natural gas are formed underground as well as how they are then found, brought to the surface, delivered to processing facilities and how the end products are ultimately used.

Timings

Sunday - Thursday: 8:00AM - 3:00PM

Friday - Saturday: Closed

Fees

Adults : Free

Children : Free

#12: Land of Frankincense Museum

Considered one of the most prominent historical museums in Oman because it includes historical and cultural features from different eras.

The museum is located in Dhofar Governorate in the heart of a historic site that was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 as an archaeological and tourism park after consultation with the international organisation.

Timings

08:00 - 14:00

16:00 - 20:00

#13: Sohar Fort Museum

Opened in 1993. It relates the history of the ancient city of Sohar and its cultural ties with many other civilisations.

The museum includes three galleries, each divided into several rooms.

Timings

8:00-13:30

Fees

500 Baiza

#14: Turtles Museum

Ras(Cape) Al Hadd is an internationally renowned nesting site sanctuary for the Green Sea Turtles, Chelonia Mydas, harboring one of the largest nesting populations in the world. Around 13,000 Sea turtles come ashore along this sanctuary every year. Ras Al Hadd  sanctuary is the largest nesting site in the Indian Ocean and the only site in the world where Sea Green Turtles come every night all year round.

Timings

09:00-20:00

09:00-20:00

Fees

1.000 OMR : 1.000 OMR

0.500 OMR : 0.500 OMR

#15: Maritime Museum

The city of Sur is abundant with examples of the Omani marine heritage that highlights the leading role the Omanis played in the maritime industry for a long period of time. In order to preserve this tradition for future generations, the Maritime Museum was built in Sur in the Al-Aruba Club headquarters to reflect the various aspects of Oman’s maritime heritage.

Timings

16:00-20:00

Fees

Free

If you want to discover more about Oman, visit the official website here: www.omantourism.gov.om

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Written by: Oman Tourism UK. Official Account for the Oman Ministry of Tourism MBR in The UK & Ireland. Want to be part of our community? Connect with us!

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