Muscat

In the searing summer heat of Muscat, we found a world that shimmered with contrasts — ancient and modern, sun-scorched and serene. What began as a short family holiday unfolded into a journey through elegance and wonder.

We watched dolphins dance across the Arabian Sea, their flips and some, defying the stillness of the horizon.

The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque rose like a dream from stone and light — its chandeliered halls soaring three stories high, casting gold-tinted reflections on marble floors. Spanning an impressive 416,000 square meters, the mosque was constructed using 300,000 tons of Indian sandstone. Its central dome, with a diameter of 50 meters and standing 34 meters high, is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The main chandelier, located in the men's prayer hall, is a focal point of the mosque's interior. It's a massive structure, 14 meters (46 feet) tall and weighing 8.5 tons, adorned with 600,000 Swarovski crystals and 24-carat gold plating. Talk about opulence!

The Royal Opera House, quiet in its grace, whispered of culture and calm was brought to life as a visionary project by Sultan Qaboos, aiming to place Oman on the global cultural map.

This photo essay is a reflection of those sunlit days — of grandeur carved from sand, silence, and sea.