Royal Opera House, Muscat

Various performances take place at the Royal Opera House like comedy shows, classical music performances, theatre plays and more. Events and shows start from OMR 5 and go up to OMR 500.

Daily Tours
Timings: 08:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Saturday to Thursday)
Price: OMR 3 (Adult) and OMR 1 (Child)
Group Ticket discount (10+ persons): AED 2 per person

Private Tours
Timings: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Daily)
Price (Groups ONLY):
Group 1 (Up to 9 people): OMR 20 per person
Group 2 (10+ people): OMR 7 per person
Note: Bookings for private tours must be made a week in advance

If you decide to go for a show, the Royal Opera House expects you to follow a strict dress code: no jeans, tee shirts, or tennis shoes are allowed.

The season is from September to June, and usually, six operas are presented each season. Though there is no resident opera company, it hosts regional and international shows and also hosts its own Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra. Operas are the primary attractions, but there are at least two ballet performances every season, as well as musicals and dance shows. Ticket sales are high, and for big blockbuster performances, usually sold out months in advance. For other performances, you can either buy the tickets in advance, online or also from the box office at the theatre.

Star performers include Plácido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, and Anna Netrebko. Visiting opera companies include Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Opéra de Lyon, Opera di Firenze and the Opéra Royal de Wallonie. Other than these, the Royal Opera House takes pride in showcasing lesser-known works by both local and international artistes which deserve to be seen by the general public. According to the director, there is a huge and loyal following for opera in Oman by locals, and international tourists alike and most of the performances have very diverse cosmopolitan audiences. The Royal Opera House is popular with people of all ages and backgrounds. With its affordable ticket prices, open houses, tours, and outreach programs, the Royal Opera House serves to cater to the public at large and not just to a specific niche. The staffs are all Omani and local school children are invited to free matinees to keep the local flavour alive.

The 2017 season was a celebration of Oman called "Celebrating Oman" and was the Royal Opera House’s first in-house production featuring local talent and was a huge success, with over 8000 people attending over the course of 3 days. While the primary aim of the Royal Opera House was not to attract tourists, with its increasingly popular outreach and spread of excellence, tourist potential is now actively pursued.

The architecture is in the Islamic and Italianate style and is a blend of traditional and contemporary. On the outside, it has pure marble and detailed with Omani desert rose stone. The interiors are swathed in gold, wood, and glass, giving visitors a sense of royalty. Like many other official government buildings, this too has a ceiling made of traditional wood carvings. The décor is classy, elegant, tastefully done up.  

Crystal chandeliers adorn the ceilings on wood panelings. Entry to the building is through a massive arched doorway revealing a grand, symmetrical staircase in the main foyer. The theatre makes use of state of the art technology, and subtitles for the opera are provided customized on individual screens in front of your seat, so as to not let a language barrier interrupt the experience.

It is in every way a luxury theatre with a grand space, comfortable seats and ease of switch from proscenium theatre mode (arched ceiling with curtained stage and an orchestra pit) to symphonic concert mode (shoebox-shaped music hall and a flat ceiling).

• Look up the schedule of performances and programs beforehand on the Royal Opera House, Muscat site (www.rohmuscat.org.om ), and it is preferable to buy the tickets in advance as most of the shows are sold out.
• Many guides do group tours during this time and try to get a local guide to perform a tour with as they tend to have inside information.
• They are also very particular about time and try to be punctual. If you enter after the show has begun, you are made to wait in another room and watch the show on a screen till the intermission.
• The Royal Opera House is a feast to the senses and worth a visit whether you are watching a performance or just taking a tour.

Follow the rules for an excellent opera experience.