Top Forts in Oman 2024: Exploring Business and Tourism Investment Opportunities
Muscat: Nizwa and Muttrah Forts remain among the most popular historical sites in the Sultanate of Oman, according to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).
Muttrah Fort welcomed 144,620 visitors in 2024, marking an increase from 136,640 visitors in 2023 and 39,707 in 2022. Nizwa Fort attracted 240,016 visitors in 2024, up from 196,615 in 2023 and 193,194 in 2022.
Other notable landmarks include Bahla Fort, which received 87,955 visitors; Suhar Fort, with 17,314 visitors; Nakhal Fort, attracting 36,012 visitors; and Al Hazem Castle, visited by 16,794 people.
Overall, Omani castles and forts recorded a total of 670,875 visitors in 2024, a rise from 558,323 in 2023 and 381,233 in 2022. Among these visitors, 18,114 were students, and 12,798 were official delegates. Excluding students and official delegates, visitor numbers stood at 639,963 in 2024, compared to 536,850 in 2023.
The peak months for fort and castle visits in 2024 were January with 125,514 visitors, followed by November (118,555), December (99,671), February (85,193), April (51,166), October (45,329), March (44,420), August (25,884), September (21,291), and May (21,405).
To enhance visitor services and generate economic benefits, the management of Muttrah and Nizwa Forts has been entrusted to the private sector.
In the museum sector, private museums attracted 752,974 visitors in 2024, including 89,804 official delegates, while government museums recorded 617,840 visitors, including 85,961 official delegates.
Special Analysis by Omanet | Navigate Oman’s Market
The significant rise in visitors to Oman’s forts and castles, with Muttrah and Nizwa Forts leading, signals a booming cultural tourism sector poised to drive economic growth. The shift of management of key forts to the private sector presents a strategic opportunity for businesses and investors to enhance service quality and profitability in heritage tourism. Smart entrepreneurs should consider investing in tourism infrastructure and hospitality services to capitalize on increasing domestic and international interest.
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