Royal Opera House Muscat - Royal Oper...

Located in the heart of Muscat, the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, and opening on 12 October 2011 with a production of Turandot directed by Franco Zeffirelli, the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) aims to be the first opera house on the Arabian Peninsula and the second in the Middle East after the Cairo Opera House in Egypt.

The project to build the Royal Opera House Muscat was initiated in 2001 by the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said Al Said, who had a passion for classical music and opera. After several years of studies, work began in 2007 and was completed in 2011. The building features modern architecture in the style of public buildings in the Sultanate of Oman.

The ROH Muscat takes the form of a complete complex dedicated to the performing arts, comprising 'a theatre, an auditorium, landscaped gardens, a cultural market, luxury restaurants and an arts centre for music, theatre and opera productions'. The hall will seat up to 1,100 people.

According to Iman Hindawi, managing director of the ROH Muscat from 2011, the venue is intended to be a cultural crossroads, hosting both Western classical productions and works of Arabic origin (particularly in the context of cocnerts). Since its inauguration, the Royal Opera Muscat has hosted major international and Arab artists every season.