Oman restores 200-year-old Seeb Fort as heritage landmark

Muscat: Al Seeb Fort, one of Muscat Governorate’s prominent historical and cultural landmarks, has been restored to reflect its traditional architectural character after more than two centuries of history.The fort was built in 1820 during the reign of Sultan Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi and served as the residence of the Wali and his family. It later became the administrative headquarters of the Wilayat of Seeb, where citizens’ affairs were managed, disputes were settled and judicial rulings were issued. According to Asma bint Hilal Al Kharousi, Acting Director of the Department of Castles, Forts and Historical Landmarks, the restoration was carried out using available historical evidence, including old photographs, historical sources and oral accounts.Work on the reconstruction began on September 11, 2023, and was completed on October 15, 2025.The restoration team also uncovered remnants of the fort’s original foundations during site cleaning and debris removal. These remains were documented and used to determine the locations, dimensions and architectural features of the reconstructed buildings.Covering an area of 2,975 square metres, Seeb Fort consists of a main structure known as Al Qasaba, along with administrative and service facilities including the Sabla, a guards’ rest area and a steam room.Al Qasaba has two floors, with two rooms on each floor. The upper rooms were originally used as the residence of the Wali and his family, while the ground-floor rooms served as storage areas. The upper rooms were later converted into offices for the Wali and judge when the fort became exclusively an administrative headquarters.The Sabla served as a waiting area for visitors to the Wali and judge and as a council where the Wali met residents. It was also used for gatherings during occasions such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha.The fort also contains traditional defensive features, including high walls and arrow slits, as well as a water well in its courtyard.The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is now seeking to give the landmark a renewed role while preserving its historical character. A competition was launched in April for the management, operation and adaptive reuse of the fort, with the aim of introducing contemporary functions compatible with its heritage value.Sheikh Ali bin Mansour Al Amri, Member of the Shura Council representing the Wilayat of Seeb, praised the ministry’s efforts to restore the landmark, saying the fort is expected to become an important tourist attraction for visitors from Oman and abroad.The Seeb Wali’s office was moved from the fort to its current premises in November 1994, marking the end of the fort’s long-standing role as the administrative centre of the wilayat.