Muscat – King Abdullah II Ibn al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Queen Rania al Abdullah, and Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, visited the National Museum of Oman and Royal Opera House Muscat on Wednesday as part of their official visit to the Sultanate of Oman.

King Abdullah II was welcomed by Jamal al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, and several museum officials.

King Abdullah II and his accompanying delegation toured the museum and its galleries that highlight the cultural heritage of the sultanate since the appearance of human civilisation in Oman to the present day.

The guests were briefed on a number of Jordanian artefacts exhibited in the museum, including 12 Islamic coins from 70-913 AH/689-1507 CE, donated by the late King Hussein bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

The guests visited a section dedicated to the late Sultan Qaboos in the Renaissance Gallery where his original will addressed to Their Highnesses, the honourable members of the Royal Family Council through the Defence Council, a number of royal collections, and most notably a piece of architectural mural from inside Al Aqsa Mosque, presented to the late Sultan Qaboos by King Abdullah II Ibn al Hussein, are on display.

They also saw a model of the Dome of the Rock in Al Aqsa Mosque dedicated by the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to the late Sultan Qaboos.

“We are pleased to express our great admiration of the National Museum of Oman, which represents the cultural heritage of the Sultanate of Oman. The museum highlights in an innovative way the heritage treasures of the Sultanate of Oman and its civilisations. We extend our deepest gratitude to this astounding cultural institution and we wish them all the success and pray to the Almighty Allah to grant the Sultanate of Oman peace and prosperity,” the Jordanian King wrote in the museum visitors’ register.

King Abdullah II also paid a visit to the House of Musical Arts at Royal Opera House Muscat, where he was briefed on the facility’s various departments and architectural elements.