The National Museum inaugurated on Wednesday its own corner in the Departures hall at Muscat International Airport, as part of the existing cooperation between the National Museum and Oman Airports.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Sheikh Ayman bin Ahmed al Hosani, CEO of Oman Airports, and Jamal bin Hassan al Moosawi, Secretary General of the National Museum.
The Corner aims to enrich the cultural experience of the traveler and narrates stories of communication between Oman and its civilized surroundings to tell stories that highlight the importance of Muscat International Airport an important chapter in the history of the Sultanate of Oman's communication routes with the world.
Al-Moosawi, said: “The inauguration of the National Museum Corner at Muscat International Airport comes in partnership with “Oman Airports” to transfer the distinctive cultural experience from the National Museum to the corridors of Muscat International Airport, as the airport is the first station that can be visited. Through it, travelers can learn about the civilizational, historical, and cultural dimensions of the Sultanate of Oman, and encourage them to visit the tourist, archaeological, and cultural landmarks, which contributes to supporting the museum and tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman.”
Al Hosani said, “We are pleased to add the corner of the National Museum in the departure hall of Muscat International Airport, Oman's first gate with the world so that this corner constitutes a supportive addition to the revitalization of cultural tourism in the Sultanate of Oman, as the Sultanate has a great history and multiple treasures, and it is important for visitors coming to the Sultanate of Oman or travelers through transit flights to know what these treasures abound in the National Museum.
Al-Hosani adds, “There is no doubt that the promotion of cultural tourism brings a great impact on the tourism sector on the one hand, and the influx of tourists to the Sultanate of Oman to learn about the cultural heritage by inviting them indirectly through this corner to visit the National Museum and dive into its galleries that display a series of Oman civilization and historical treasures.”
It is worth noting that the corner is divided into several sections, most notably: the Omani Khanjar (Dagger) and the Culture of scent, Oman and East Africa, the Diba Hoard, and the Samad period. The corner includes (32) artifacts that will be displayed for a period of (5) years, subject to extension and renewal, dating back to different historical periods, and among the exhibited pieces are memorial pieces presented to the Sultans of Zanzibar that reflect the Omani cultural
impact in East Africa, in addition to a selection of precious objects of the Diba hoard dating from the Early Iron Age (1,300-600 BCE), which were recently discovered at a collective grave site in Diba, on
the eastern edge of the Musandam Peninsula. The corner also displays two jars dating back to the Samad period in Oman (from 300 BCE - 100-200 CE).
The corner sheds light on daggers in the Sultanate of Oman, where they were probably used since the third millennium BCE. The dagger is considered a complement to the official Omani dress for men, as it is worn on ceremonial and social occasions. The symbolic importance of weaponry is fully expressed in the national emblem, which comprises a sheathed khanjar superimposed on two crossed, curved swords as it stands as a reminder of the historic battles waged to build
the peaceful and prosperous nation that is Oman today. The corner includes a group of archaeological finds that reflect the culture of scent and bear a historical dimension to Oman through the ages, as it was the beating heart of the frankincense trade routes, which
flourished starting from the third millennium BCE. The land of frankincense was a meeting point for merchants from Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and Pharaonic Egypt.
The corner also focuses on the impact of the Omani presence in East Africa, where the Omanis ruled the coasts of East Africa for more than three centuries. Zanzibar, Mombasa, and Dar al-Salaam have become thriving cities in the fields of trade, diplomacy, African exploration, and Islamic sciences, and witnessed the development of infrastructure; Such as: introducing electricity, piped water, a printing press, and currency, as well as the establishment of schools and hospitals.
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