Royal Opera House Muscat

The **Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM)** is the premier venue for musical arts and culture in the Sultanate of Oman. Opened in 2011 by the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, it was the first opera house in the Gulf region and remains one of the most technologically advanced performing arts centers in the world. ### 🏛️ Architecture and Design The building is a stunning example of contemporary Omani architecture, blending Islamic heritage with modern luxury. * **Exterior:** Constructed using locally sourced **pink desert rose limestone** and white marble, the facade resembles a grand Omani fortress. * **Interior:** The interior features intricate hand-carved wood, Italian marble, and Swarovski crystal chandeliers. * **Transforming Stage:** One of its most famous features is a **500-ton movable orchestra shell**. With the push of a button, the auditorium can transform from a traditional proscenium theater (for opera and ballet) into a shoebox-style concert hall. ### 🎭 Visiting and Tours Even if you aren't attending a performance, the Opera House is a major tourist destination. * **Guided Tours:** Available daily (Saturday to Thursday) from **8:30 AM to 5:30 PM**. Tours typically last 30–60 minutes and allow you to see the main foyer, the auditorium, and a collection of rare musical instruments. * **Opera Galleria:** Attached to the main building is a luxury shopping mall with high-end boutiques, cafes, and fine-dining restaurants. * **Dress Code:** The venue maintains a **strict formal dress code** for performances (suits or dinner jackets for men; conservative formal wear for women). For daytime tours, modest dress is required (shoulders and knees covered).

Royal Opera House Muscat is absolutely stunning. Its architecture is elegant, timeless, and meticulously detailed, reflecting Omani cultural heritage with great sensitivity and pride. What makes the building truly special is how it brings East and West together, blending classical operatic grandeur with local materials, patterns, and inspirations. Even a brief visit just to admire the architecture is worthwhile. It is a refined, inspiring space and a true must-see when in Muscat.

Experience royalty at its finest. The architecture beautifully blends vintage charm with a modern touch. Thoughtfully sourced materials from around the world add an extra layer of fascination. Enjoy a guided tour included with your ticket, offered regularly throughout the day. If you miss one, simply wait for the next—it’s truly worth the visit.

If you have not seen any opera houses then this is a must visit to go inside the hall and have a feel of the theatre. The entrance costs around 3omr per person and they arrange guided tour every 30mins on time as part of same ticket. Planning for 5pm slot is better because after the tour once we come outside we can get a glimpse of dawn skies followed by the opera night lights which in itself is good. The opera closes by 5.30pm and we saw some tourists who came just to see the outside lights and left.

Absolutely beautiful! Unfortunately, when we visited, they didn't have any shows on. However, you can still visit during normal opening hours and make sure you join their tour. The tour brings you around the building and the guide spoke prefect English. Also, you get to see Sultan Qaboos' own private collection of instruments. Some are truly beautiful. We visited on a weekend and it wasn't crowded at all. There's ample parking on site and when you're there, visit a cafe ARAM just across the footbridge!

I was expecting something more breathtaking. But no, apart from some beautiful instruments and architecture, we didn't get much more after our 15-minute tour and the guide's introduction to some of the instruments. I wish there was a short 5-10 minute show to witness, that would have been perfect, but that didn't happen.

The Opera House is absolutely beautiful. The architecture is very traditional and elegant, and the attention to detail is impressive. The design reflects Omani culture perfectly and makes the whole place feel special and refined. It’s definitely a must-visit when you’re in the area, even if you’re just stopping by to admire the architecture.

A great place to visit. We got a quick tour of the opera (up to 10 mins about history) and then we had a free time. It is a beautiful place, it is a pure definition of royalty. Worth seeing. Cost per person is 3.1 OMR, only by card.