Fort Khasab

Hasab Castle is located in Hasab, Musandam. The current appearance of the castle was built by the Portuguese in the 17th century on top of an ancient fort constructed in times immemorial. The Portuguese colonized Hasab as part of their plan to establish control over the Strait of Hormuz, but the Omanis expelled them from Hasab around 1624. Since then, the castle has remained under Omani control. The castle was initially reconstructed in 1990 and then restored to its current state in 2007.

Hasab Castle was used by the Omanis as a military base to fight the Portuguese, and later simultaneously as the residence of the Wali of Hasab and the city prison. The current castle features a cylindrical central tower in the middle and an outer wall of square shape. The present castle complex includes an exhibition on the history of Musandam, a model of a traditional summer house on an elevation, a model of a date storage house (Bayt Al Kuful), an exhibition of old documents, and numerous rooms displaying jewelry, clothing, weapons, kitchen equipment, wedding decorations, as well as a Quran study school.

In the courtyard of Hasab Fort, three old Omani boats originating from the village of Kamzar in the northern part of Musandam are also exhibited, along with several gunboats and old boats displayed at the entrance to the fort.

Hasab Fort is one of the most interesting forts to visit in Oman, as it is in very good condition.