Jabreen Fort

Jabreen Castle is located in the town of Jabreen, about 20 kilometers from Nizwa and 8 kilometers from the center of the Bahla in Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate. The castle was built in 1675 AD during the 17th century under Imam Bil’arab bin Sultan Al-Ya’rubi. Unlike most Omani forts that were established mainly for defensive purposes, Jabreen was designed to serve as both a fort and a palace of knowledge and administration, reflecting the cultural and intellectual prosperity of the Ya’ruba era. The castle has a rectangular layout with two entrances and two towers. Built of stone and sarooj (traditional mortar), its grand gate is decorated with floral motifs and conical studs. Inside, the castle contains meeting halls, a courtroom, living quarters, a kitchen, date and gunpowder storerooms, as well as separate prisons for men and women and guardrooms. It was also equipped with innovative defensive features such as openings designed for pouring boiling oil and date molasses on attackers. Among its most notable rooms are the Sun and Moon Room, used for important consultations, and the Imam’s Protection Room, where soldiers hid to guard the Imam. Today, Jabreen Castle stands as an architectural masterpiece, combining grandeur, strength, and elegance of design, while offering visitors stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Hajar Mountains. The castle is open daily to visitors, providing a unique opportunity to discover the history of Omani architecture, the administrative and religious sciences of the Ya’ruba period, and to admire the exceptional design and beautiful interior decorations that distinguish this historic landmark.