The Sultan’s Palace is one among the iconic historical buildings of Stone Town, Zanzibar. Located along Mizingani Road, on the seafront, close to Mizingani Seafront Hotel, the House of Wonders and the Old Dispensary.

It is built on the site of the previous palace, which was called Bait As-Sahel that was destroyed during the Anglo Zanzibar war of 1896. The current palace was built in the late 19th century to serve as a residence for the Sultan’s family. After the Zanzibar Revolution in 1964, the Old Fort underwent a formal renaming and became known as the People’s Palace. It was repurposed as a government seat during this period. However, in 1994, there was a significant shift in its role, and the fort was transformed into a museum dedicated to showcasing the history of the Zanzibari royal family and their heritage.

The museum consists of the History of Sayyida Salme, best known as Emily Ruete, a former Zanzibari princess who fled the sultanate to relocate to Hamburg, Germany, with her husband Rudolph Heinrich Ruete. You will be able to see her writings, clothes, and daily life accessories. Numerous furniture items and other possessions belonging to the sultan’s family are on display, offering visitors a tangible sense of life in Zanzibar during the 19th century.