

Royal Opera House
The Basics
With a 200,000-square-foot (18,580-square-meter) footprint, the Royal Opera House boasts a gleaming colonnaded façade, a soaring, wood-ceiling foyer, and a multiform 1,100-seater auditorium that can automatically convert into an 850-seat hall. During its performance season, the venue serves as a stage for Western, Arabic, and Asian musical and theater events; and as home to the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. Completing everything is the adjoining Opera Galleria, a luxury shopping and dining complex.
Rather than just admiring the Royal Opera House from outside, buy a ticket for a performance, join an interior house tour, or prebook a show-ticket-and-dinner combo. Hop-on hop-off tours stop nearby, while guided Muscat tours typically include an exterior or interior photo stop before covering off Muscat’s other top attractions, without transport hassles. The venue also features on panoramic evening tours of Muscat, multi-day tours of Oman, and sometimes on Muscat tours from Dubai.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Without a ticket or in-house guided tour, visitors can only view the Royal Opera House’s lobby and entrance hall.
- The venue is mostly wheelchair- and stroller-accessible.
- A dress code applies for ticketholders: check the website for details.
- On-site facilities include restrooms and a free cloakroom.
How to Get There
The Royal Opera House lies just off Sultan Qaboos Street in Muscat’s Shati Al-Qurm quarter, and is best accessed by car, cab, or sightseeing tour. If you’re driving from Ruwi, Muscat’s main commercial hub, take Route 1 eastward before turning right and following Al Shati Street to the venue’s parking area. The nearest bus stop is the Royal Opera House stop, about a 10-minute walk away.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
Performances run from September to May—find details of dates and tickets on the website. Ticketholders should arrive at least 30 minutes before curtain up. Regular house tours run every day from Saturday to Thursday and are bookable by phone or email.
Shopping and Dining at the Royal Opera House Muscat
Whether you’re heading to the Royal Opera House for an event—or just to see the building—take time out at its next-door Opera Galleria. This ultra-plush mall houses 50 high-end stores, including jewelers, boutiques, and cosmetics houses; as well as gourmet restaurants serving Omani and European cuisine, making it perfect for relaxing pre- or post-show.
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- Qurum Beach
- Sultan's Armed Forces Museum (SAF Museum)
- Old Muscat
- Bait Al Baranda
- Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque
- Muttrah Souq (Mutrah Souk)
- Muscat Cruise Port
- Muttrah Corniche
- Bait Al Zubair Museum
- Al Alam Palace (Sultan's Palace)
- Al Mirani Fort
- Al Jalali Fort
- Amouage Factory and Visitors’ Centre
- Wadi Bani Khalid
- Wahiba Sands (Sharqiyah Sands)