The soon-to-open Oman Aquarium – set to be the largest of its kind in the Middle East and the Sultanate of Oman’s first-ever public aquarium – celebrated World Oceans Day with its first collection of fish for the aquarium’s quarantine facility.
The landmark occasion took place offshore of Saham, in Al Batinah North Governorate coastline, where the Chairman of Al Jarwani Group, Sheikh Mahmood Al Jarwani, whose hometown is Saham, was present as the guest of honour to accompany the Oman Aquarium team during the collection.
The landmark occasion also marked Oman Aquarium’s commitment to embracing marine conservation, education and research in the Sultanate of Oman; while cultivating an awareness and passion for the ocean and its precious marine ecosystems. World Oceans Day has been promoted and coordinated globally since 2002 by The Ocean Project, the organisation that advances conservation in partnership with aquariums, zoos, museums, youth, and other participants worldwide. World Oceans Day also raises awareness of the pressures that ocean environments face from pollution and over fishing.
Oman Aquarium
Scheduled to be launched in fourth quarter of 2018, the Oman Aquarium is one of Al Jarwani Group’s latest developments in the Sultanate of Oman, and will be located at the soon-to-be-open Mall of Muscat, in the suburb of Maabela. 
Visitors can look forward to a world-class aquarium housing a fascinating and diverse array of marine exhibits and marine life – all spread out over two floors in a total area of 8,000 square-metres.
While marine conservation, education, and research are central to Oman Aquarium’s mission, the venue will also provide an enriching entertainment experience for visitors of all ages and backgrounds – including families and their children, school students, individuals, and groups of friends.
Central to the experience will be a ‘Voyage of Discovery’ with the illustrious Omani seafarer Ahmad Ibn Majid, who sailed the Arabian Sea and world oceans during the mid-1400s. Voyaging through the aquarium, visitors will be able to explore marine zones and exhibits with themes such as ‘Oman Reefs’, ‘Journeys to South East Asia’, ‘The Oman Sea: Rich Diversity’, ‘The Deep Sea’, and ‘Journey to the South & Penguins’. They can also explore ocean-related exhibits such as ‘The Wadi’, ‘Deserts and Mountains’, and ‘Salalah: Precious Water Cycle, Seasonal Change, Mountains to Seas’.
The Oman Aquarium is headed up by an expert team of marine biologists and curators, engineers, boat captains, and management staff. It is also fully committed to developing wholesome, curriculum-based education programmes for all levels of students, and to forming relationships with key groups like the Marine Biology department at Sultan Qaboos University.