National Museum Expands Global Cultural Partnerships
Muscat: During its annual media briefing held today, the National Museum of Oman reviewed its achievements for 2025 and unveiled a package of cultural projects and initiatives scheduled for implementation in 2026.
In a presentation, Jamal Hassan Al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, underscored the museum’s role as a heritage and cultural landmark reflecting Omani national identity. He noted that in 2025 the museum strengthened its position as a bridge for cultural exchange between Oman and local, regional and international institutions, receiving around 39 official visits, including high-level delegations.
Among key milestones, the museum— in cooperation with the Embassy of the Russian Federation—organized celebrations marking 40 years of diplomatic relations, including a historical photo exhibition and the launch of the Russian “Musical Seasons.” It also inaugurated the “Omani-Japanese Relations Corner” and launched the documentary film “Madera” in cooperation with Oman’s Embassy in Tokyo.
International outreach included the Oman Hall at the Nairobi National Museum, the Oman Hall at the State Hermitage Museum, and participation in the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah titled “And All That Is In Between.” The museum also contributed collections to Louvre Abu Dhabi and to the exhibition “The Splendor of Silver: Treasures from the Omani Court” at the National Art Museum of the Republic of Belarus.
Locally, the museum hosted a wide range of exhibitions in cooperation with international partners, alongside organizing six international and six local exhibitions during 2025.
The museum also participated in major global events, including Expo Osaka 2025 in Japan, ICOM Dubai 2025 and the Museums + Heritage Show in London. By the end of December 2025, total visitors and beneficiaries of the Learning Center exceeded 131,000.
For the second consecutive year, the museum was recognized among the best service-providing outlets in Muscat Governorate within the institutional excellence system. Digital advancements included launching an Audio Guide service in Arabic and English, with dedicated options for persons with disabilities.
In the field of digital transformation, the museum hosted the “Barmajan” hackathon organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, recognized as the world’s longest government digital transformation hackathon. It also held an international media dialogue session in cooperation with the Ministry of Information, with participation from 31 media institutions across 20 countries. Several publications were released during the year.
Concluding the briefing, the Secretary-General announced that Omanization at the National Museum reached 100 percent across temporary and permanent contracts, including specialized roles, with around 40 percent of positions allocated to residents of Wilayat of Muscat. He reaffirmed the museum’s commitment to safeguarding national identity, advancing cultural diplomacy and strengthening Oman’s presence on the global museum landscape.
