Royal Palace of Muscat

You’re standing in front of Al Alam Palace, the official ceremonial palace of the Sultan of Oman. Its name means “Palace of the Flag”, and it occupies a highly symbolic position in the heart of old Muscat, set between the Portuguese forts of Al Mirani to the west and Al Jalali to the east, directly facing the National Museum. The palace you see today was built in 1972 on the site of an earlier palace from the early 19th century, known as Bayt al-‘Alam, which served the ruling family for more than two hundred years before being demolished after Sultan Qaboos came to power in 1970. Qaboos bin Said ruled Oman for nearly fifty years, until his death in 2020. He took power by deposing his own father, Sultan Said bin Taimur, in a bloodless change of regime aimed at ending the country’s extreme isolation. He is widely regarded as the founder of modern Oman. When he assumed power, the country had very few roads, schools or hospitals. Under his reign, Oman was deeply transformed, with major investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare and administration, and a gradual opening to the outside world, while maintaining a strong cultural identity and a foreign policy known for its neutrality. Today, he has been succeeded by his cousin, in line with the Omani constitution, who has pledged to continue the same path. The palace itself embodies the modernisation launched during that period. Its architecture is deliberately spectacular, with a symmetrical layout, a massive central block, long side wings and, above all, a façade in vivid gold and blue, supported by tall, slender columns. This contemporary Islamic style contrasts sharply with the sober stone of the neighbouring forts, creating a striking visual dialogue between ancient military heritage and modern royal power. The palace is not a residence but a ceremonial space, used exclusively for official functions, state occasions and the reception of foreign heads of state. While the interior is closed to visitors, the esplanade, the gates and the views from the harbour offer a clear sense of its architecture and the carefully staged expression of power.