The National Museum Inaugurates Exhibition “Russia and
the Middle East”

Muscat,
3 Dec 2025 (ONA) — On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the
Russian Federation, the National Museum today inaugurated the exhibition “Russia
and the Middle East: International Relations and Cultural Influences” from the
Moscow Kremlin Museums collection.

The
opening ceremony was held under the patronage of HH Sayyedah Dr. Mona bint Fahd
bin Mahmoud Al Said, Assistant Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University for
International Cooperation and Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the
National Museum.

The
opening of this exhibition comes as an extension of the ongoing cooperation
between the two sides. In July 2024, the National Museum inaugurated the “The
Splendor of Silver: Treasures from the Omani Court” exhibition and Oman Day
activities at the Moscow Kremlin Museums, with the aim of marking the
manifestations of Omani silver as a historically pioneering craft and
showcasing a curated selection of artefacts belonging to the Sultans of Oman in
Muscat and Zanzibar.

The
exhibition features more than 80 artefacts of exceptional historical and
artistic value, some of which are being displayed outside the Russian
Federation for the first time, while others have never before left the walls of
the Kremlin in Moscow—the oldest part of the Kremlin collection. These precious
pieces, brought from various Eastern countries, were carefully preserved for
centuries in the treasuries of Russian sovereignty and later became crown
jewels of the Armoury Chamber Museum, including weapons, armor, horse
adornments and decorative artworks.

One
of the most significant and intriguing themes highlighted by the exhibition is
the influence of Eastern art on the jewelry and weapon workshops of the Russian
royal court, as well as on the overall appearance of the Russian court during
the 16th and 17th centuries. Also, on display are items that showcase the use
of precious incense—frankincense, traditionally imported to Russia
from Oman. The exhibition will remain open to the public until 3 April 2026.

Oleg
Vladimirovich Levin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Sultanate of Oman,
delivered a speech in which he stated that cultural cooperation
between the Sultanate of Oman and the Russian Federation is witnessing
remarkable growth, reflecting the depth of the ties between the two countries’ peoples.

He
affirmed that the National Museum’s hosting of the “Russia and the Middle East:
International Relations and Cultural Influences” exhibition from the Moscow
Kremlin Museums Collection represents an important milestone in the shared
cultural journey, highlighting the mutual commitment to preserving heritage and
enhancing cultural exchange. He also commended the joint efforts in organizing
artistic and museum events throughout the year, emphasizing that culture
remains a lasting bridge for communication and understanding among nations. He
concluded by expressing his hope that the exhibition will further contribute to
fostering intellectual and cultural closeness.

Dr.
Elena Gagarina, General Director of the Moscow
Kremlin Museums, affirmed in her speech that the exhibition
comes in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Russian Federation. She noted
that it forms an integral part of the international arts and culture festival
“Russian Seasons”, organized by the Government of the Russian Federation and
the Russian Ministry of Culture and held in the Sultanate of Oman. The festival,
coinciding with this anniversary, serving the purpose of strengthening and
developing cultural diplomacy.

She
added: “This project continues the
fruitful collaboration between our museum and the National Museum of the
Sultanate of Oman. In 2024, the exhibition ‘The Splendor of Silver: Treasures
from the Omani Court’ was held at the Kremlin Museums in Moscow and achieved
great success, with total visitor numbers exceeding thirty thousand. I hope
that the exhibition ‘Russia and the Middle East: International Relations and
Cultural Influences’ will offer its visitors an unforgettable impression with
unique works of masters from the past, and that it will become a significant
milestone along the path of expanding cultural dialogue between our two
countries.”

The
Kremlin Museums in Moscow receive around two million
visitors each year, and house more than 160,000
artworks
preserved within the Kremlin Museums, in addition to over 4,000 pieces permanently displayed in the Armoury Chamber. The
collections date from the late third millennium BC up to the present day, with the
main portion of the museum’s holdings belonging to the period of medieval Russian history and the modern era.

—
Ends/Khalid