Muscat: The Bait Al Sharaf Museum in Al Aqar Village on Al Jabal Al Akhdar is a stunning personal endeavor that has evolved into a successful cultural and tourism destination. This museum provides visitors, particularly foreign tourists, with an authentic insight into traditional Omani life, effortlessly integrating history with the experience of a traditional home while retaining its original character.
A Childhood Home Reimagined
Yousef bin Nasser Al Omari, who painstakingly renovated his childhood home, is the inspiration for the museum. He converted it into a lively cultural landmark, preserving its old characteristics intact. This meticulous preservation enables the museum to serve as a living memorial to Al Jabal Al Akhdar's village inhabitants' traditional way of life.
Rooms Full of Stories and Experiences
The Bait Al Sharaf Museum has nine different rooms, each with its own story and purpose.
1) The Winter Room stands out as a highlight. Here, families would congregate around a fire throughout the chilly mountain months. It served as a miniature family parliament where daily life was talked, and tea and coffee were made over charcoal.
2) The Rosewater Distillation Room showcases a craft that has been practiced for over three centuries. During the rose season (March-April), visitors can observe the live distillation process and even participate in the activities, which include harvesting roses and extracting aromatic oils.
3) The Door Room showcases the extraordinary skill of our ancestors, who worked with limited resources such as Atam and Ghaf wood to create durable and stunning architectural masterpieces.
Sustainable Heritage and Community Support
Al Omari's vision goes beyond preservation to include sustainability and community engagement. The museum has a contemporary café that overlooks the beautiful agricultural terraces of the mountain. Additionally, the heritage store sells aromatic products such as rose water, oils, and handicrafts, many of which are made by local village women. As a result, Bait Al Sharaf Museum is a great marketing platform for local productive families.
Attracting Visitors and Inspiring Future Projects
The museum is becoming more popular, especially among European and Asian visitors looking for an authentic cultural experience. It offers guided trips and a genuine flavor of daily mountain life, making a visit a profoundly human interaction filled with memories.
Al Omari intends to strengthen collaborations with young people interested in renovating old homes and transforming them into sustainable enterprises. He believes this will enhance cultural tourism not just in Al Jabal Al Akhdar Wilayat, but also throughout the Sultanate of Oman.
A Call to Action for Omani Youth
Yousef bin Nasser Al Omari enthusiastically urges Omani youngsters to investigate the possibilities of old, uninhabited homes and communities. He emphasizes that these houses should not be considered a burden, but rather as opportunities that can be converted into tourist attractions that will revitalize the village and provide employment for even a few family members, rather than remaining closed off and absent. This will be a dynamic model for investing in old homes to promote sustainable tourism.
