Fort Khasab

56XX+9MX, Al Khasab, Oman

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 complex features an exhibition on the history of Musandam.

Oman: The Land of Fortresses

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.

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Bahla Fort - the oldest fortress in Oman

X77X+MW5, Bahla, Oman

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Bahla Fort is the oldest and one of the largest forts in Oman, located in the city of Bahla, on the eastern edge of the Bahla oasis, at the foot of the Jebel Akhdar highlands. Some scholars suggest that a fort existed at this site even before the Islamic Empire. However, most of the fort's structures date back to the 13th-14th centuries — the period of the Nabhanid dynasty's rule in Oman. It is to the Banu Nabhan tribe that the Bahla oasis owes its prosperity — from the 12th to the 15th century, Bahla was the capital of Oman, and the ruler's residence was located within the fort. The enormous fort, with its powerful defensive walls and 50-meter round towers made of adobe (a mixture of clay and straw) bricks, was built on a stone foundation.

Nizwa Fortress: Guardian of the Desert and Gate of Time

WGMJ+73P, Nizwa, Oman

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Fort Al-Jalali or Fort Ash-Sharqiya

JH8X+P4V, Al Bahri Rd, Muscat, Oman

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The fort was built by the Portuguese under Philip I of Portugal in the 1580s to protect the harbor after Muscat was twice plundered by Ottoman forces. It fell into the hands of Omani troops in 1650. During the civil wars between 1718 and 1747, the fort was twice captured by the Persians, who were invited to assist one of the rival imams. Later, the fort was completely rebuilt. At times, Al-Jalali served as a refuge or prison for a member of the royal family. For most of the 20th century, it was used as Oman's main prison, but this function ceased in the 1970s. Al-Jalali Fort was restored in 1983 and turned into a private museum of Omani cultural history. Exhibits include cannons, old muskets and rifles, maps, carpets, and other artifacts.

Fort Al Mirani, formerly known as Admiral's Fort

JH8V+W95, Muscat, Oman

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Fort Al Mirani, formerly known as Admiral's Fort or Captain's Fort, is located in the harbor of old Muscat. Like the neighboring Jalali fortress, situated on a rocky slope, it dominates the coastline. These fortifications were created to protect the city of Muscat from enemy army invasions. The forts were part of the city's defense system, which also included another fortress, Matara, and a number of watchtowers.

Fort Mutrah (Muttrah)

JHC8+6R4, Al Bahri Rd, Muscat, Oman

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This fort, guarding the harbor of Mutrah and the road to Old Muscat, majestically rises atop a mountain, its serpentine wall and monumental tower crowning the cityscape. Also known as ‘Qut Muttrah,’ the fort is one of the oldest in Oman, dating back to the 16th century, and remains a symbol of Mutrah and one of the most visited sites in the country due to its location.

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Al Qal'a, Sohar, Oman

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Fort Sohar rises above the southern part of the eponymous city, the third largest in Oman. Sohar is located 200 kilometers north of Muscat, two hours away from the UAE border. In the past, this city served as the main transit point in trade with China, connecting major trade routes through the Red Sea, India, and the Far East.

Fort Ar Rustaq

9CRG+XJ6, Rustaq, Oman

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HF2F+74P, Al Hazm, Oman

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Bayt Al-Makham Castle: A House Built for a Noble Lady

G9MR+PFH, Muscat, Oman

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X535+VM6, Ali Sabah Al Salem, Kuwait

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WGWJ+G55, Nizwa, Oman

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C47G+5JQ, Bidbid, Oman

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HF3Q+HF2, Sur, Oman

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6QVC+474, Al Buraimi, Oman

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Daba Castle (Dibba Al-Seeba)

Dibba Fort, Dibba Al-Baya, Oman

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Al-Faykin Castle

RJ25+J89, Manah, Oman

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Ibrí Castle

6GJ4+3H Umm Al Saad Farm for Daily Rent, Ibri, Oman

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One of the most significant castles in Ibri, in the Dhahirah province. It was originally built by the Nabhan tribe about 500 years ago and completed by a sheikh from the Yakubi tribe in the same century. The castle was restored in the early 1990s and opened to the public after reconstruction in 1995.

Al-Habur Castle

X4J4+V6M, Al Khaburah, Oman

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GHCG+J7 Liwa, Oman

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V6H7+CX9, Samad Al Shan, Oman

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Shinas Castle

PFV8+MHM, Shinas, Oman

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A rectangular-shaped fortress located near the beach, surrounded by a wall with round corner towers and a rectangular tower in the northeastern part.

Sur al-Lawatia Tower - the gate to the closed city of Shiites

JHC6+PFH, Muscat, Oman

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