Al Alam Palace, one of the monarch's six sultanic residences, dates back over 200 years and was built under the supervision of Imam Sultan bin Ahmed, Sultan Qaboos's 7th direct grandfather. The current palace, which has a gold and blue facade, was rebuilt as a royal residence in 1972. The palace's inner grounds are still off-limits to visitors, but they are permitted to stop near the gates and take photographs. Also, it is surrounded by the Mirani and Jalali Forts, which were built by the Portuguese in the 16th century.
