Al Mirani Fort stands on the western headland of Old Muscat harbour, facing Al Jalali Fort on the opposite side of the bay. The two Portuguese-built forts guard the entrance to the harbour from commanding positions on rocky outcrops that would have been nearly impossible to assault from the sea. Al Mirani — named from the Portuguese word for lookout — was constructed in the mid-16th century, though elements of an earlier Arab fortification likely preceded it on the same site. Together with Al Jalali, it formed a defensive pincer that controlled access to the anchorage for centuries.
Unlike Al Jalali, which was used as a prison until relatively recently, Al Mirani is a military installation and cannot be entered by visitors. Its value is primarily visual: from the corniche and the Old Muscat waterfront, the white-painted fort set against the bare brown rock makes one of the most recognisable images of the Omani capital. The best views are from the road running along the seafront below, where the relationship between the two forts, the palace, and the natural harbour becomes clear.