Oman inaugurated its very first national museum yesterday, situated next to Muscat’s iconic fortresses of Jalali and Mirani. The Omani National Museum aims to direct the spotlights on Oman’s rich history and culture under one roof for the first time.
Not only that, but it’s also the first and only museum in the Middle East to be using Arabic braille scripts for the visually impaired visitors, according to the Acting Director General of the Museum, Jamal Al Musawi.
Displaying 6,000 artefacts in 4,000 square meters of halls, artefacts are grouped in categories that include The Land and the People, Maritime History, Arms and Armour, Civilisation in the Making, Aflaj, Currency, Timeline, Prehistory and Ancient History: Bat, Al Khutm and Al Ayn; Prehistory and Ancient History: Land of Frankincense; Prehistory and Ancient History, Splendours of Islam, Oman and the World, the Renaissance, Intangible Heritage.
Among the first-timers the museum enjoys is a fully equipped learning centre, and a state-of-the-art heritage preservation facilities that have been designed according to International Council of Museums Standards. Exactly 5,466 exhibitions are in display at the museum now and some 7,117 items are yet to be displayed. The preservation programmes for the exhibits were put since 2010.
Opening Hours & Entry Prices:
It will be open for visitors from Saturdays to Tuesdays until September 30, 2016, from 9 AM to 3 PM, however tickets will be sold up to 2:30 PM.
Al Musawi explained that the entry fees will be 1 rial for Omanis and GCC nationals, however 2 rials for expatriate residents and 5 rials for non-residents, adding that students up to 25 years of age of all nationalities will be exempted from entry fees whether they visit individually or in groups.
WE SAID THIS: We’re off to Oman!