The Museum is located in the heart of historical Muscat in a magnificent purpose-designed building. The total area of the building is 13700 square metres, including 4000 square metres allocated for 14 permanent galleries; the Land and the People Gallery, Maritime History Gallery, Arms and Armour Gallery, Civilisation in the Making Gallery, Aflaj Gallery, Currency Gallery, Timeline Gallery, Prehistory and Ancient History Galleries, Splendours of Islam Gallery, Oman and the World Gallery, the Renaissance Gallery and Intangible Heritage Gallery. A further 400 square metres are allocated for temporary exhibitions.