Qasr Al Alam Palace

Al Alam (Arabic for "the flag") is one of late His Majesty the Sultan Qaboos bin Said's many royal residences. His forefathers built it the first time 200 years ago.

Qasr Al Alam Palace, which was rebuilt as a royal residence in 1972, is a popular stop for tourists, residents, and nationals alike: to stop and take pictures.

In many ways, it is a symbol of what Oman stands for, representing modesty and humility rather than vast, sprawling grandeur, even when the means to demonstrate such qualities are readily available.

The Palace is surrounded by a number of interesting government buildings, including the Ministry of Finance, which has a beautiful gate that visitors to the palace should not miss. You can see the Ministry of Finance gate by walking along the right side arches of the palace and passing through one of the two entrances.

Qasr Al Alam Palace is surrounded by the forts of Al Jalali and Mirani, neither of which is open to the public. Both forts were constructed in the 16th century, during the Portuguese invasion of Muscat.

Driving through the Qasr Al Alam road near the Omani French Museum, you can almost literally park your car behind the palace and get a closer look at both forts and a breathtaking view of the back of the palace.

Other nearby attractions include the Bait Al Zubair Museum, Al Bustan Palace, and the new Council of Oman and National Museum buildings.