Monday 23 / June / 2025
Muscat: Al Aqar Village in Al Jabal Al Akhdar is home to the Bait Al Sharaf Museum, a remarkable individual initiative that has blossomed into a thriving cultural and tourism project. This museum offers visitors, especially foreign tourists, an authentic journey into traditional Omani life, seamlessly blending history with the experience of a traditional home, all while preserving its original character.
A Childhood Home Reimagined
The museum is the brainchild of Yousef bin Nasser Al Omari, who lovingly restored his childhood home. He transformed it into a vibrant heritage landmark, ensuring its ancient features remained untouched. This careful preservation allows the museum to stand as a living testament to the traditional lifestyle in the villages of Al Jabal Al Akhdar.
Rooms Full of Stories and Experiences
The Bait Al Sharaf Museum features nine distinct rooms, each with its own story and purpose.
1) The Winter Room stands out as a focal point. Here, families would gather around a fire during the cold mountain months. It served as a "miniature family parliament" where daily life was discussed, and tea and coffee were brewed over charcoal.
2) The Rosewater Distillation Room showcases a craft dating back over three centuries. Visitors can witness the live distillation process during the rose season (March-April) and even participate in the stages, from picking roses to extracting aromatic oils.
3) The Door Room highlights the exceptional craftsmanship of ancestors, who skillfully worked with limited resources like Atam and Ghaf wood to create resilient and beautiful architectural masterpieces.
Sustainable Heritage and Community Support
Al Omari's vision extends beyond mere preservation; it encompasses sustainability and community involvement. The museum includes a modern café overlooking the stunning agricultural terraces of the mountain. Additionally, a heritage shop sells aromatic products like rose water, oils, and various handicrafts, many produced by local village women. This makes Bait Al Sharaf Museum a valuable marketing platform for productive families in the area.
Attracting Visitors and Inspiring Future Projects
The museum is increasingly popular, particularly with European and Asian tourists seeking an authentic heritage experience. It provides guided tours and a tangible taste of daily mountain life, transforming a visit into a deeply human interaction with memories.
Al Omari aims to expand partnerships with young people who are keen on reviving old houses and turning them into sustainable projects. He believes this will enrich cultural tourism not only in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Akhdar but across the Sultanate of Oman.
A Call to Action for Omani Youth
Yousef bin Nasser Al Omari passionately encourages Omani youth to reconsider the potential of old, uninhabited houses and villages. He states, "These houses are not a burden, but rather opportunities that can be transformed into tourist attractions that restore the village's vitality and provide employment opportunities, even for a small number of family members, instead of them remaining closed off and absent. This will be a living model for investing in old houses to stimulate sustainable tourism."
