The National Museum of Oman is the country’s flagship cultural institution situated in the heart of Old Muscat, opposite the iconic Al Alam Palace. It is monumental stop dedicated to celebrating the heritage of Oman through traditional exhibitions and innovative cultural expressions that tell stories from the past while commemorating milestones of today.
The museum has become a globally recognise attraction where artefacts come to life. Here are eight things you should know about it:
1. The National Museum is considered Oman’s first professional museum, certified by the International Council of Museums.
2. It puts emphasis on quality rather than quantity, serving an unparalleled experience full of selective displays and massive, high-end devices that enhance the visitor’s experience.
3. The place hosts 14 display exhibiting halls that include a number of galleries such as the Land and the People Gallery, Maritime History Gallery, Arms and Armour Gallery, Civilisation in the Making Gallery, Aflaj Gallery, Currency Gallery, Splendours of Islam Gallery, Oman and the World Gallery, Renaissance Gallery, and the Intangible Heritage Gallery among others.
4. Besides the exhibition halls, the museum is equipped with a learning centre that focuses on hosting school visits and conducting edutainment workshops, offering an exciting, cultural trip for the youngsters.
5. The museum embraces the element of inclusivity by offering facilities for folks with special needs such as captions in Arabic Braille.
6. The museum is home to more than 12,500 collectables, out of which 5,466 have been conserved and are on display, while more than 7,000 are still in stores.
7. The museum has won first prize for the best project of the year for lighting effects at the 2017 Middle East Lighting Awards.
8. It also won two design awards for its distinctive brand image at Transform Awards MENA held in Dubai. The museum won a Silver Award for the best use of typography and a Bronze Award for the best visual identity.
