Royal Opera House
Al Kharjiyah Street, Shati Al-Qurm, Muscat, OMN
Opened in 2011, the Royal Opera House Muscat is Oman’s premier cultural institution and one of its signature sights. Visitors come to attend operas, concerts, and shows; enjoy its upscale shopping and dining mall; and marvel at its stunning Arabesque and Italianate design.
With a 200,000-square-foot (18,580-square-meter) footprint, the Royal Opera House boasts a gleaming colonnaded façade, a soaring, wood-ceiling foyer, and a multiform 1,100-seater auditorium that can automatically convert into an 850-seat hall. During its performance season, the venue serves as a stage for Western, Arabic, and Asian musical and theater events; and as home to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. Completing everything is the adjoining Opera Galleria, a luxury shopping and dining complex.
Rather than just admiring the Royal Opera House from outside, buy a ticket for a performance, join an interior house tour, or prebook a show-ticket-and-dinner combo. Hop-on hop-off tours stop nearby, while guided Muscat tours typically include an exterior or interior photo stop before covering off Muscat’s other top attractions, without transport hassles. The venue also features on panoramic evening tours of Muscat, multi-day tours of Oman, and sometimes on Muscat tours from Dubai.
- Without a ticket or in-house guided tour, visitors can only view the Royal Opera House’s lobby and entrance hall.
- The venue is mostly wheelchair- and stroller-accessible.
- A dress code applies for ticketholders: check the website for details.
- On-site facilities include restrooms and a free cloakroom.
The Royal Opera House lies just off Sultan Qaboos Street in Muscat’s Shati Al-Qurm quarter, and is best accessed by car, cab, or sightseeing tour. If you’re driving from Ruwi, Muscat’s main commercial hub, take Route 1 eastward before turning right and following Al Shati Street to the venue’s parking area. The nearest bus stop is the Royal Opera House stop, about a 10-minute walk away.
Performances run from September to May—find details of dates and tickets on the website. Ticketholders should arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain up. Regular house tours run every day from Saturday to Thursday and are bookable by phone or email.
Whether you’re heading to the Royal Opera House for an event—or just to see the building—take time out at its next-door Opera Galleria. This ultra-plush mall houses 50 high-end stores, including jewelers, boutiques, and cosmetics houses; as well as gourmet restaurants serving Omani and European cuisine, making it perfect for relaxing pre- or post-show.
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