10 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW: Al Bustan Palace Oman

The hotel was completed in 1985 (the year Oman hosted the GCC summit), and was the first building designed to represent contemporary Oman on a grand scale at the highest level.

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39 metres:
The height of the grand dome, three metres longer than the Taj Mahal’s marble dome.

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5.5 tonnes:
The weight of the HPS/Czechoslovakian-designed chandelier, which is more than 18 metres in length. Beneath it sits a 3.5 metre tall crystal fountain.

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Located 500 metres away from the hotel, the sewage plant is one of the hotel's most environmental and economically sustainable initiatives.

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The ballroom boasts a pipe organ installed by Mander Organs of London and is maintained and tuned annually. Al Bustan Palace is also home to the 90-piece Royal Omani Symphony Orchestra.

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Don’t look down:
This is how light bulbs need to be replaced at the hotel!

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70,000 plants span the 200-acre resort, including flowering bushes, date palms and coconut trees. Al Bustan means ‘The Garden’.

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6000 nautical miles:
The distance covered in eight months between Muscat and China by The Sohar boat. A replica of it is displayed at the hotel.

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45% of staff at Al Bustan Palace have more than 10 years’ experience; 2250 years collectively.

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24,720.27 tonnes of concrete were used in the building of the hotel; more than twice the weight of the Eiffel tower.