Khasab Fort

Khasab Fort stands at the edge of the town centre, a solid square structure with round corner towers whose walls have been repeatedly repaired over four centuries of use. The interior courtyard is shaded and quiet, a relief from the sun outside. The museum inside covers local life before oil — fishing, pearl diving, and the ancient frankincense trade routes that passed through the Strait of Hormuz.

The fort is open Saturday to Thursday; check current hours locally as they vary by season. Entry is free or a nominal fee. The rooftop offers good views across the harbour and down the coast toward the khors.

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A story
Khasab Fort was built by the Portuguese in the early 17th century, making it one of four Portuguese fortifications they erected around the Musandam Peninsula to control passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The fort changed hands repeatedly between the Portuguese, the Persians, and eventually the Omanis, and its walls still bear traces of each occupation. Today it houses a small but well-presented ethnographic museum with exhibits on traditional Omani fishing, boat-building, and the maritime heritage of the peninsula.