MUSCAT: The bulletin 'Culture Statistics 2026-2025 Data,' issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), monitored the key indicators of the cultural sector in the Sultanate of Oman during 2025, addressing a number of cultural fields and activities.
The bulletin clarified that the number of museums in the Sultanate of Oman reached 34 in 2025, including 12 government museums and 22 private museums, while their total number of visitors reached 538,729, a fall of 28 per cent compared to the previous year, with a daily average of 1,476 visitors. Visitors to the Oman Across Ages Museum accounted for 46 per cent of total visitors to government and private museums.
In the field of archaeological and historical sites, the total number of archaeological and historical sites and monuments reached 33,775 in 2025, while the number of restored archaeological and historical sites reached 441.
The number of castles and forts of a tourist nature reached 64, representing 12 per cent of total castles and forts, while the number of their visitors reached 849,146, an increase of 26 per cent compared to the previous year, with a daily average of 2,326 visitors. Nizwa Fort recorded the highest proportion of visitors at 35 per cent of total visitors to castles and forts of a tourist nature.
In the field of nature reserves, their number stood at 33 reserves in 2025, including 15 terrestrial-marine reserves, covering a total area of 17,835 square kilometres, while receiving 185,411 visitors. Furthermore, the total number of public gardens, parks, and plazas reached 497 by the end of 2025, with Muscat Governorate accounting for 28 per cent of them.
In performing arts, the number of theatres reached 27, while the total number of theatrical performances reached 160 during 2025, averaging 6 performances per theatre, and the number of theatrical troupes reached 82.
The number of festivals and exhibitions reached 358 in 2025, a decrease of 0.2 per cent compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, the total number of visitors to festivals, exhibitions and events reached 8,313,000, an increase of 110 per cent compared with 2024.
In the field of fine arts, the total number of paintings and drawings displayed reached 749, an increase of 5 per cent compared with the previous year, while the number of participating artists reached 621. The number of visitors to art exhibitions reached 6,777, a decrease of 0.3 per cent compared with 2024.
In craft industries, the total number of artisans reached 7,134, including 6,748 females and 386 males, with Dhofar Governorate accounting for 29 per cent of total artisans. Workers in the manufacture and preparation of incense constituted 49.5 per cent of total artisans, numbering 3,532.
In the field of books and press, the number of books published in 2025 reached 1,718, compared with 1,327 in 2024. The number of newspapers increased to 24, compared with 22 in the previous year, while the number of magazines rose to 30, compared with 29. The total number of libraries reached 97, including 74 community libraries.
In the field of preserving documents and manuscripts, the number of restored documents and manuscripts reached 49,558 during 2025, compared to 34,388 in the previous year, while the number of bound documents and manuscripts reached 255 compared to 113. Digitally scanned documents and manuscripts reached 54,043 compared to 52,001 in 2024. Furthermore, nationally registered documents and manuscripts reached 372, compared to 423 in the previous year.
In audiovisual media, the number of government and private television channels stood at 5, while the number of government and private radio channels reached 15 during 2025.
As for the cinema sector, the number of movie theatres reached 17, and the total number of films screened in movie theatres reached 40,048 during 2025, while the number of viewers reached 1,759,304.
Regarding mosques, grand mosques, and Eid prayer grounds, their total number stood at 15,910 in 2025, a decrease of 6.6 per cent compared to the previous year, including 13,106 mosques, 1,927 grand mosques, and 877 Eid prayer grounds. Additionally, 20 per cent of total imams and preachers were concentrated in Muscat Governorate.
The number of Holy Quran schools reached 913 in 2025, with 20 per cent concentrated in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, while the total number of male and female students reached 70,478, with females accounting for 88 per cent. The number of male and female teachers reached 1,221, with females accounting for 99 per cent.
Regarding pilgrims, the total number of pilgrims from the Sultanate of Oman reached 14,372 during 2025, including 13,871 Omanis and 501 expatriates, with Omanis making up 96.5 per cent of the total.
In the tourism sector, the total number of hotels, hotel apartments, furnished apartments, and other accommodation facilities reached 1,475 establishments in 2025, compared to 1,031 in the previous year, while the number of guests rose by 1.2 per cent. The total number of winter camps in the Sultanate of Oman stood at 602 during the year.
The bulletin 'Culture Statistics 2026-2025 Data' provides a statistical overview of several cultural fields and activities in the Sultanate of Oman, relying on official data received from government entities and relevant institutions, thereby supporting the monitoring of sector indicators and the analysis of its trends. - ONA
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