khasab fort

For more than four centuries the Fort of Khasab has cast its harsh shadow over the sands of the Khawr
The fort, used to house the Wali and his family in past centuries, has recently undergone a comprehensive restoration programme

and been transformed into a regional museum, opened inFebruary 2007.

The Museum

The courtyard of the fort contains houses and boats which show the unique heritage of Musandam, including three traditional boats from Kumzar, the most northern tip of Musandam.
Behind the boats is a summer house made of palm fronds (Arish), elevated on pillars of stone to catch the sea breeze. Arish houses were used by mountain dwellers and inhabitants of coastal settlements during their summer trip to Khasab to fish and harvest dates.
Nearby is a reconstructed Bait Al-Qufl or House of the Lock built of heavy stone and extending partially below ground, a style of building which evolved as a means of safeguarding vital supplies during periods of seasonal migration.
The rooms in the upper level of the fort display tableaux featuring traditional medicines, costumes and jewelry, together with a women's majlis, a wedding room and a Qur'an school.
Exhibits in the central tower provide in-depth information on geology, wildlife, architecture, lifestyle and other aspects of Musandam culture.
Documentary film footage and a treasury of artefacts complement the exhibits. Of particular note is a splendid collection of antique Jirz, the small long-handled axe that has become a central symbol of the heritage of Musandam.