Things to see and do Mascate

The iconic Al Bustan Palace (now the Ritz-Carlton) is much more than a luxury hotel. Nicknamed "The Jewel of the Sultanate", this nine-storey edifice certainly lives up to its name.

Following the accession to the throne of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said as ruler of the Sultanate of Oman in 1970, the country experienced significant progress in various sectors, including education, health, infrastructure and so on. During this period of "renaissance", the Sultanate of Oman became a leading and active partner in Gulf and Arab affairs, as well as in the international community. It soon became necessary to provide the country with sufficiently prestigious facilities and establishments to welcome visiting heads of state and their delegations, as well as international conferences and other high-level gatherings, in particular those of the Arab League, the Islamic Conference and, most important of all, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said's dream came true: he decided that Al Bustan Palace would be built to host the 1985 Gulf Cooperation Council summit. From the outset, it was planned that when not in use for state meetings, the building would function as a luxury hotel. After much deliberation, the Ministerial Committee was convinced to build the Palace on the eastern side of the city, by the sea. As the original village of Al Bustan stretched 6 km along the center of the beach, it was decided that the hotel would be built a little to the rear, in the heart of the area occupied by plantations. This posed a major problem, however: a 35-metre-high mountain had to be levelled before construction could begin! Site preparation was completed on August 16, 1983, and the foundation stone was laid.

During construction, the famous dome and its cladding, manufactured by 3 different companies in 3 different locations, were assembled over a weekend in a schoolyard in Liverpool, England, to ensure that everything fitted perfectly before shipment to Oman. Emblematically, the building's octagonal shape is mainly inspired by Islamic architecture. A total of 97 types of stone and 800 tonnes of the finest marble from Syria, Iran, Italy and India were used for the hotel's framework and flooring. The seven corners of the immense lobby each represent a GCC country and are adorned with arabesques, wood carvings, mother-of-pearl and gold leaf. The incredible central lamp hanging from the 38-metre-high dome, a reminder of the mountain that once stood on the same spot, is made up of some 3,000 bulbs and nine dazzling crystal chandeliers. Another not-to-be-missed piece is the sumptuous 3.5-metre-high fountain, also in crystal. Made exclusively for Al Bustan Palace, it represents a fabulous treasure chest.

In the afternoon, under the large sparkling dome, you can treat yourself to an exceptional high tea , magnificently served in ceramic crockery specifically designed for the palace. Everything is done to give visitors a deep sense of belonging and disconnection, while wisps of incense perfume the Atrium, creating a suspended moment in the Oman of yesteryear.

Spectacular and scenic, built lengthwise between sea and mountains, Muscat is a capital that deserves to be discovered from the air, if only to better understand and admire its astonishing topography: the arid brown reliefs between which the white quarters nestle on the shores of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Oman. From above, you can contemplate the jagged fjords of the south, the village within the city that is Old Muscat, and the avenues further north lined with lungs of greenery and magisterial monuments - the Opera House, the Great Mosque.

Perched on its rocky spur, this panoramic look-out built in 1507 offers wide views of the Bay of Mutrah and the coastal districts on one side, the mountains and the inland districts on the other - a strategic position to spot invaders arriving by sea as well as by land. Unlike the other forts in the country, this one is not subject to any development, but consists of a succession of ramparts, watchtowers and external platforms that are valiantly reached by a flight of steps. Every good selfie has to be earned!

Located at the eastern end of the corniche, below Mutrah Fort, this establishment is a grouping of several low, white houses that aims to represent a typical Omani house from the 50s and 70s and to tell the story of the cultural heritage, customs, and the weight of traditions. One walks through a succession of rooms furnished with furniture and everyday objects that evoke the life of the Omani people some fifty years ago. We appreciate the immersive aspect of the place, the admirable collection of clothes and the art gallery at the exit.

Latif Al Bulushi, three words in French, Omani cap screwed on his head, gives us a wide welcoming smile. This museum, he wanted it and financed it with his savings, and this since 1999, probably so that he wouldn't have to spend his old age watching TV. Can an autodidact play the curator? By opening the doors of its collections, our host provides immediate proof of this, taking us on an absolutely striking visit, here Umayyad and Zanzibar coins struck with cloves, there original letters from a former sultan to the president of the United States or a map by Rigobert Bonne, Louis XVI's cartographer at the Navy's hydrographic service. And this chess set, a Chinese marvel in ivory offered to the White House in 1833. We stop again in front of the official agreement granting navigation under the French flag to the dhows of Sur and, stunned, in front of the stunningly beautiful photographic portrait behind her mask, a Madonna with a piercing gaze. Assembled over more than twenty years, these personal treasures now populate vast rooms on the ground floor of Latif's personal residence, named Adam after his son. Our suggestion: visit Bait Al Baranda, the Museum of Omani History in Mutrah, and then treat yourself to Bait Adam for exchange, encounters and unique pieces. Don't hesitate to make a detour to the shop: it offers typical Omani objects to bring back as souvenirs, at rather interesting prices.

Among the rare objects on display here are the remains of a fossilized tree discovered in the Al Huquf region and dated at more than 260 million years ago, and the teeth of a homotherium and a dinotherium respectively 15 and 35 million years old. The skeleton of the large sperm whale found in 1986 in Barka dominates you from its height and its 14 meters long. Otherwise, you can wander from shells to corals, from insects to animals. Dusty but instructive museum.

Thanks to the know-how of the Scots, creators of the superb Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh, the pharaonic project of a conservatory of Omani flora is being developed on four hundred and twenty hectares. Once completed (at a date that remains absolutely unknown for the moment, especially since the pandemic has delayed the construction - 2024?), this botanical garden will be one of the largest in the world. Conceived as a research and preservation site, it will have a resource and information center for the public and will eventually present the eighty endemic species of the sultanate and a large sample of the twelve hundred species identified throughout the different ecosystems. Located in Al Khoud, in a wilderness area, twenty kilometers from Muscat and about thirty minutes west of the airport, the garden will gradually open to visitors. The site was not chosen by chance, it is one of the few places in the world where the old seabed is still visible after tectonic activity raised the bed to a hundred meters above sea level. The landscape designers and engineers worked with the existing natural ridges and ravines to design the various buildings and walkways that will ultimately form a spectacular hilly landscape. Visitors will be able to wander around the wadis, mountains and deserts of Oman in a few hours. Two of the most sensitive biomes (ecozones) will be developed in huge spherical buildings that will replicate the natural temperature and humidity of these unique habitats. A sinuous glass enclosure will house the Northern Mountain Ecozones and their ancient terraced plantations. A shimmering undulating glass sphere will protect the rich and varied habitats of the Dhofar region and immerse visitors in a green rainforest similar to that of the Salalah area during the Khareef (monsoon) season. The buildings and the garden site have been designed to meet the internationally recognized LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for high environmental quality buildings and sites. A strategy has been developed to ensure that water, a particularly precious resource in the region, is produced in a sustainable manner and that not a drop is wasted. By its size, its ambition and its richness, it is certain that this project will make this conservation area an exceptional botanical garden. To be continued...

This white mosque of rare elegance can be seen as soon as you enter Muscat from the north. Built on a small hill, it dominates part of the city and is distinguished by its delicate architecture, particularly at nightfall - superb lighting. Entirely made of marble, it was built from 2008 to 2014. The main prayer hall is decorated with an 11-metre high chandelier partially covered with fine gold and can accommodate 2,100 worshippers

Amouage is a luxury perfumery founded in 1983 at the request of Sultan Qaboos with the aim of reviving the Arab tradition of prestigious perfumes. It was by calling upon a famous French nose, Guy Robert, a perfumer in Grasse, that the first essence was created in 1984 under the name Amouage Gold. Today it is still as popular with the ladies as ever and remains one of the most expensive fragrances in a collection that now includes some forty fragrances. To discover this world of scents that is part of Omani heritage, there's nothing like a visit to the Factory. You're immediately struck by the building's elegance and the care taken in its decoration: outside, water flows into fountains adorned with white and gold mosaics; inside, you'll find the same layout with its arabisante notes as in the perfumer's boutiques. It's absolute chic! You're greeted in the factory hall where all the fragrances are displayed in their ornamental bottles. You can touch, smell and discover the compositions of the famous fragrances. Accompanied by a hostess, we then enter the Amouage corridors to observe the manufacturing process, the storage rooms, and the bottling. Anachronistic or the sign of a great House, the labeling is always done by hand... an astonishing particularity when we know that no less than 3,000 bottles are produced here every day! For the record, Amouage means waves in Arabic. Online purchase possible.

More than just an art gallery, Bait Muzna is one of the most important art consultants in the region. Founded by Sayyida Susan Al Said in 2000, this cultural center is committed to promoting contemporary art and preserving the essence of Arab art through various media and project management on a local and international scale. The gallery organizes regular seminars for artists to meet each other. A coffee shop will soon be opened inside the gallery and a roof top will be set up for events.

The gallery is located in a beautiful villa in the residential area of Madinat Al Qaboos. It offers a wide range of art objects, but also antiques, furniture that can be purchased on-site, as well as gifts at smaller prices. A lively and dynamic space, Al Madina Art Gallery has a team of artists who are dedicated to it, as well as designers and trainers. Socio-cultural events are organised on a regular basis.