The Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) has announced the world premiere of Sindbad: The Omani Sailor, a landmark new opera that celebrates Oman’s rich maritime heritage and cultural legacy on the global stage. Produced in collaboration with MÜPA Budapest, this full-scale Arabic-language grand opera to be held at ROHM on October 3 and 5, reimagines one of the Arab world’s most iconic legends.

This historic production presents Sindbad not only as a legendary seafarer but as a true Omani hero, a character shaped by the landscapes, values, and enduring spirit of the Sultanate. Through this original Arabic-language work, Sindbad: The Omani Sailor opens a new chapter in contemporary opera, created for Arab voices and telling a story rooted in Oman. Composed and conducted by acclaimed Egyptian maestro Hisham Gabr, with a libretto by Nader Salah El Din, the opera is directed by Csaba Káel, Intendant of MÜPA Budapest and a leading figure in the global performing arts scene. The production opens the new season at the Royal Opera House Muscat and is scheduled to travel to Europe in 2026.

Performed by the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and featuring the Győri Ballet, the production also includes a full Arabic-speaking cast, traditional Omani dance troupes, and Arab soloists. A unique highlight is the inclusion of an oriental ensemble within the orchestra, incorporating traditional instruments such as the oud and qanoon to create a vibrant East-West musical fusion. Set and costume designs are richly inspired by Omani architecture, textiles, and natural landscapes. Enhanced by immersive digital projections, the opera paints a vivid stage portrait of Oman’s coastal beauty, majestic mountains, and golden deserts.

Fragrance and Performance: A Scented Collaboration

In a unique multisensory gesture, Sindbad: The Omani Sailor introduces an original fragrance created in collaboration with Amouage, Oman’s High Perfumery House. Titled Sindbad, the scent evokes the opera’s mythical ‘Magic Perfume’ and was crafted with notes of honey, black tea, mango and vanilla, infused with decades-old sandalwood aged in oak.

Subtly diffused during key moments of the performance, the fragrance draws audiences into Sindbad’s world, blending sight, sound, and scent into a singular operatic experience. Limited quantities of Sindbad essence de parfum will be available from October 2025 in select Amouage boutiques across Oman, including Mall of Oman, the Manufacture and Visitor’s Centre, Mandarin Oriental, SABCO Centre, and at the Royal Opera House Muscat.

Voices Behind the Vision

Offering his reflection on the opera’s national significance and global message, HH Sayyid Dr. Kamil Fahad Al Said, Member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Opera House Muscat, stated, “Sindbad: The Omani Sailor is more than an opera. It is a living voyage of heritage, imagination, and connection. Rooted in Oman’s maritime spirit and voiced in Arabic, it reflects our nation’s values of courage, openness, and cultural dialogue. Through our collaboration with Amouage, this vision is deepened into an immersive experience that brings scent into storytelling. The arts are a shared language, a universal current that carries the soul of every nation across borders.”

Sharing his perspective on the fragrance collaboration and its cultural significance, Sayyid Khalid Bin Hamed Al Busaidi, Chairman of Amouage, commented, “This collaboration brings together two Omani Houses that value culture not just as heritage, but as an expression of identity. At Amouage, we have always viewed perfumery as more than scent; it is a form of craftsmanship that carries a deeper meaning. Working alongside the Royal Opera House Muscat on Sindbad: The Omani Sailor has been a profound creative journey, one that brought music and fragrance together to tell a story rooted in our land, and expressed through both voice and scent. It reflects the richness of Oman, and allows us, each in our own discipline, to share it with the world.”

“This opera reflects the depth of Omani culture and its power to inspire on a global stage,” said Umberto Fanni, Director General and Artistic Director of the Royal Opera House Muscat. “It is a moment of national pride, realised through a remarkable international collaboration.”

Speaking about the creative journey, director Csaba Káel, Intendant of MÜPA Budapest and founder of the Bartók Spring International Art Week, commented, “It is a privilege to collaborate on this production with such a prestigious institution as the Royal Opera House of Muscat and to contribute to a significant moment in the history of modern Arab opera. After the debut in Muscat, we are beyond excited to bring the magical world and feeling of Sindbad to the Hungarian audience for the closing night of Bartók Spring 2026”.

With Sindbad: The Omani Sailor, the Royal Opera House Muscat presents a bold and confident artistic voice. It speaks in Arabic, honours Omani identity, and resonates far beyond its borders. Through music, movement, and the senses, the opera brings to life a national legend with global impact.