Royal Opera House Muscat
دار الأوبرا السلطانية مسقط
The first opera house in the Gulf region, a white building that blends Islamic and Italian styles, with teak and marble interiors.
The Royal Opera House opened in 2011 as the first professional opera house in the Gulf region, at the initiative of Sultan Qaboos, a lover of Western classical music. The exterior is built of white desert limestone and combines elements of traditional Omani forts with Islamic architecture. Inside, it is palatial in its luxury: ceilings and walls carved from Burmese teak, Italian marble floors, gilded decoration, and crystal chandeliers. The auditorium seats about 1,100, and each seat has a multilingual subtitle screen behind it. During the performance season, roughly September to May, the house stages opera, ballet, symphony concerts, and Arabic music, and world-class ensembles visit regularly. Tickets start at about OMR 10. Smart dress is required. Outside performance times, guided tours are offered each morning for about OMR 5, subject to the official website. The Opera Galleria next door has luxury shops and restaurants. The opera house is in the new district of Shatti Al Qurum, about a 10-minute drive from the Grand Mosque.
Opening hours
Tours: Sat–Thu mornings (per official website); performances in the evening
Nearby sights
- Qurum Beach
- Mohammed Al Ameen Mosque
- Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
- Bait Al Baranda Museum
- Mutrah Souq & Corniche
- Muttrah Fort
- Riyam Park & Incense Burner Monument
- Muscat Gate Museum