Bait Al Zubair

Bait Al Zubair may be a private museum, but the quality and depth of its artifacts establishes it as a national treasure. The main building, Bait Al Bagh (House of Gardens), was founded in 1914 by Sheikh Al Zubair bin Ali, an advisor to three Sultans. It is his family’s legacy that comprises the collection at the museum. Their standing and refined tastes afforded the acquisition of finest examples of Omani art: 17th-century swords, handwoven and embellished traditional dress, and intricate khanjar (daggers). The museum is not just an ode to the beautiful, however. Three buildings surrounding an airy garden house ancient artifacts – some dated to 3rd millennium BC – that reveal the rich cultural heritage of the Omani. It is a careful catalog of how the country has evolved, from earthen pottery thousands of years old to modern art, celebrating advances in glorious display. Photographs and the library of rare books further emphasize development and achievement. You leave invigorated and more knowledgeable after an hour or two through the well-laid out exhibits.