The National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman is a museum located in Oman. It was developed as a result of a ten-year collaboration between the Ministry of Heritage and Culture, the Royal Estate Affairs of Oman, Jasper Jacob Associates (J.J.A.), and Arts Architecture International Ltd (A.A.I.), and opened to the public in 2016.https://www.mei.edu/publications/new-museum-displays-omans-rich-history
The museum was established by a royal decree in 2013 and opened on July 30, 2016.[1] It was designed to be the Sultanate's flagship cultural institution, showcasing the nation's heritage from the earliest human settlement in the Oman Peninsula some two million years ago through to the present day.
The National Museum houses 5,466 objects, among them an internationally significant collection of prehistoric metallic artifacts.[2] Its curator, Mouza Sulaiman Mohamed Al-Wardi, is part of an international team exploring the legacy of Oman's silverwork tradition, where historically women were also silversmiths. [2] [3] [4]
The museum is equipped with infrastructure for 43 digital immersive experiences, a learning center, conservation facilities, an ultra-high-definition cinema,[5] and discovery areas for children.[6] It adopted the region's first open-plan museum storage concept, where visitors learn about the various processes that artifacts go through before they are put on display. It features an integrated infrastructure for special needs and is the first museum in the Middle East to adopt Arabic Braille script for the visually impaired.
The museum is in a purpose-designed building in the heart of Muscat. The total area of the building is 13700m2, including 4000m2 allocated for 14 permanent galleries.[7] A further 400m2 are allocated for temporary exhibitions.
| Building and facilities | ||
| Total plot area | 24000 m2 | |
| Total building area | 13700 m2 | |
| Total gallery area | 4000 m2 | |
| Number of galleries | 14 | |
| Permanent Galleries | The Land and the People Maritime History Arms and Armour Civilisation in the Making Aflaj Currency Timeline Bat, al-Khutm and al-Ayn Land of Frankincense Prehistory and Ancient History Splendours of Islam Oman and the World The Renaissance Intangible Heritage | |
| Other facilities | Learning Centre Conservation Facilities Temporary Exhibitions Gallery Collections Gallery (Open Storage Concept) Café Gift Shop |