Tenth National Day 1980 (Bab Al-Kabir)

This definitive stamp celebrates Oman’s landmark 100th anniversary of modern administrative progression—the 10th National Day in 1980—by showcasing the systematic blending of historic preservation and contemporary urban infrastructure. The realistic artwork features Bab Al-Kabir (The Great Gate), a monumental entrance to the old walled city of Muscat. Rebuilt under the early Renaissance (Al-Nahda) to replace the original crumbling defensive gateway, the new structure beautifully mirrors traditional fortress architecture while accommodating modern multilane vehicle transit.

The scene carries a powerful theme of civilizational transition, civic order, and structural evolution. Flanked on the right by an official portrait of Sultan Qaboos bin Said holding a white dove, the composition proudly projects a unified message of national peace, architectural harmony, and forward-looking state stability.