The Museum includes a permanent exhibition of traditional weaponry in the Sultanate, as well as a spacious gallery with a panel exhibition on the fortified architecture of Oman.

This exhibition gallery was designed in such a way as to be able to welcome temporary exhibitions from a wide range of fields, from history and archaeology to science and the fine arts.

The museum is accommodated in the former stage building, which was build under his Highness Spayed Faisal Bin Ali Al Said when he was Ministry of Heritage and Culture. Originally used for theatrical and musical performances it has now been architecturally modified and refurbished to suit its new purpose.

Fortified Architecture

The panel exhibition on Oman’s fortified architecture invites the visitor on a journey through the Oman landscape from the Governorate of Muscat along the Bettina region to Musandam in the very north, and then south again through the interior regions to the Governorate of Dhofar, thereby showing examples of different types of towers, forts and castles, of fortified settlements and residential strongholds.

Traditional Weaponry

This display begins with the earliest knows weapons in Oman’s prehistory to the rich archaeological finds from the Bronze and Iron ages, and draws a wide bow ending with two icons of Omani armoury – the exquisite Omani khanjar (dagger) and the straight and curved swords (saif and kittara). It showcases the early handheld firearms, locally known as Abu Fatilah or ‘Father of the Match’, and many of the later 10th and early 20th century guns, including the famous Martini Henry that, through their rich Omani silver decoration, were transformed into works of art.

Opening Hours: Sat.-Wed. 8am – 2pm