Oman Across Ages Museum

Location: Manah- Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.
Contact: 25202000
Email: oaam@rca.gov.om
www.oaam.om

The museum is closed on the first day of Eid al-Fitr andEid al-Adha.

Oman Across Ages Museum, a brand-new national Museum was inaugurated on 13th March 2023 by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in the Wilayat of Manah, the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah. The museum highlights the unique character of the Sultanate of Oman, its ancient history and, it’s renaissance, which keeps gaining grounds locally and internationally.

The idea of the museum’s design was derived from the shape of the Omani rocks and Al Hajar Mountains range. The unique design reflects the Omani environment and also integrates the Omani environment through the stones used in its construction and its trees. The area dedicated to permanent exhibits alone is 9,000 square meters, and some of the galleries rise more than 20 meters. This provides the latitude and the room needed to produce something truly spectacular, appropriate for Oman’s rich history, both physically and figuratively. The museum halls take the visitor around on a narrative journey through time, starting from the late prehistoric eras until the present day. The permanent exhibition wings are divided into two: The History Gallery and the Renaissance Gallery.

The History Gallery show cases historical eras, namely, the geological formation of the Land of Oman, the Stone Age, represented by the wing of the Early settlers, the Bronze Age, represented by the wing of the Civilization of Magan, the Iron Age, represented by the wing of the Kingdom of Oman, in addition to pavilions titled “Embracing Islam”, the “Al Ya’ariba Dynasty” and the “Al Busaidi Dynasty”.

The Renaissance Gallery was designed with an open space with gigantic columns in the centre which form an interactive space for the state of the art audio-visual display presentation that deals with the first five years of the blessed renaissance, exploring various aspects of social, economic, industrial, and political transformation experienced by Oman.

Knowledge Centre is divided into three floors targeting all segments of society. It occupies a total area of 6000 sqm. The second floor include the Library of Hisn Al Shomoukh, which was transferred from Hisn Al Shomoukh to Oman Across Ages Museum. The library contains more than 46,000 titles in various areas of knowledge and it is equipped with devices that allow researchers to access their desired titles and reference books in hard copy and digital copy.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

Location:
Old Muscat, Al Saidiya St,
Muscat Governorate.
Tel.: (00968) 22081500

A recent addition to Oman Cultural institutions, The National Museum was opened in July, 2016. As a national institution with global outreach, the museum is dedicated to ensuring that Oman’s cultural heritage is understood and appreciated not only within the Sultanate, but also internationally.

The museum is located in the heart of Muscat. There are 14 permanent galleries – The Land and the People Gallery, Maritime History Gallery, Arms and Armour Gallery, Aflaj Gallery, Currency Gallery, Prehistory and Ancient History Galleries, Splendours of Islam Gallery, Oman and the World Gallery, Intangible Heritage Gallery and Renaissance Gallery, among others.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Location:
Ministries district, Al Khuwair,
Muscat Governorate.
Tel.: (00968) 92147569
Email: nhm@mht.gov.om

The Natural History Museum was opened on 30 December 1985; it’s located in the Ministries district in Al Khuwair area. The museum shows the diversity of the Omani environment features through exhibits of topography, geology, plants, insects, wild animals and marine creatures. The museum has a lot of information that can’t be find in the books. The Museum consists of stuffed animals that are rarely found in the wild as types and species living in Oman land, and skeletons of marine creatures, birds and reptiles lived in Omani environment and died naturally.

SULTAN ARMED FORCES MUSEUM

Location:
Bait Al Falaj area, Darsait district,
Wilayat Muttrah, Muscat Governorate.
Tel.: (00968) 24312655

The museum was opened in 1988 in the bait Al Falaj historical Fort which was built in 1845, after its restoration and renovation and by the Royal order it was converted to Sultan Armed Forces Museum. Containing excellent displays of Omani weaponry and military hardware, the Sultan’s Armed Forces Museum also has a comprehensive depiction of the country’s warfare history, from the medieval ages to the modern era.

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

Location:
Shatti Al Qurum, Muscat, Muscat Governorate.
Tel.: (00968) 24 605368

It was opened in 14/11/1990 during the Sultanate’s celebration of the 20th National Day. It contains two separate domes: the big dome (science dome) contains the museum’s objects like scientific devices and exhibits, illustrative drawings and signboards, and the small dome (administration) contains the administrative offices and other facilities. Spread across 10,000 square feet, the Children’s Museum is a favourite amongst children of all ages, and simplifies the wonders and mysteries of science in a playful environment that is engaging as it is fun, even for adults!

THE OMANI FRENCH MUSEUM

Location:
Muscat City behind Al Alam Palace,
Muscat Governorate.

The museum was opened on 29/1/1992, to highlight the historical relations between Oman and France. The building which was known as (Bait Fransa) was selected to be the location of the museum because of its historical and symbolism value as a residence of the French Consulate between 1896 and 1920, which was a grant from the Sultan Faisal bin Turki to the first Consul of France in Muscat in 1896

THE CURRENCY MUSEUM

Location:
The Central Bank of Oman building in
Ruwi district, Muscat Governorate.
Tel.: (00968) 24777575

the museum was opened in 1999; it is a section in the Central Bank of Oman, which exhibit the history of currency used in Oman since ancient times. The museum is located in the Central Bank of Oman building in Ruwi district, Muscat Governorate.

MUSCAT GATE MUSEUM

Location:
Al Saidiya Street, Muscat,
Muscat Governorate.

The museum was built in 1995 and was opened in 2001. Its located in the entrance of Muscat city between the old Muttrah neighborhood and the old city of Muscat, there is a large archway that houses the Muscat Gate. The small museum displays photographs and information on the history of this once-walled city, whose gates were once locked before sundown every night—supposedly as a safety precaution. Great place to learn the histories before visiting the old city.

LAND OF FRANKINCENSE MUSEUM

Location:
Al-Baleed Archeological Park, Salalah,
Dhofar Governorate.
Tel.: (00968) 23388344, 23388388, 23388304

One of the most prominent cultural and heritage tourist destination in the Sultanate of Oman in general and in the Dhofar Governorate in particular, The Land of Frankincense is located in Al Baleed Archaeological Park, one of the World Heritage sites (UNESCO) in Oman. The Museum offers panoramic access to the history of Oman and its different regions through the ages and the cultural and archaeological evidence of the Omani heritage displayed in the History Hall. The contents of the Maritime Hall show the vocabulary of the marine environment, mastery in shipbuilding, the skill of sailing operations, maritime trade and important historical joints about Oman’s relationship with the sea. The museum provides visitors and researchers with an opportunity to learn about Oman through its long
history and maritime heritage

FATAH AL-KHAIR CENTRE

Location:
Wilayat Sur, South Al Sharqiyah Governorate.
Tel.: (00968) 25742032

The Center was opened on 1st November 2021, it’s located in Wilayat Sur. The Center exhibits the collection of Al-Arouba Sports Club showcasing the social and seafaring legacy of Sur as manifested in rich selection of artifacts collected and donated by the people of Sur, offering compelling stories about the maritime history of the city of Sur and its people. The Center includes 5 maritime and heritage halls, and display of the famous Fatah Al-Khair ship and seven other traditional boats.