News & Event

In cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Ministry of Education, represented by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the Directorate-General of Educational Supervision, organized a celebration on the occasion of World Heritage Day. This year, the theme is "Heritage's Resilience in the Face of Disaster and Conflict." The celebration falls on April 18 of each year and was approved by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) based on the Convention on the Protection of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris in 1972.

The celebration was held under the patronage of HE Eng. Ibrahim bin Said Al Kharousi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Heritage, in the presence of Dr. Mahmoud bin Abdullah Al Abri, Secretary of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and invitees. The event was held at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism General Diwan Theater. The celebration aims to introduce the Sultanate of Oman's cultural and historical heritage, raise awareness of the importance of preserving it and passing it on to future generations, and highlight the efforts made by relevant authorities and institutions in this field.

Eng. Yusra Al Subhi, Director-General of Antiquities at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, delivered a speech in which she said: “Archaeological sites are eloquent testaments to the ingenuity of the Omani people, from the fine crafts that are still practiced today, to the trade networks that linked the ports of Dibba, Sohar, Qalhat, and Samharam to the ports of Cochin in India, Canton in China, and Mombasa on the African coast, and the copper caravans that set out from Dahwa, Al Safafir, Bat, Qumayrah, and Al Maysar to the Indus civilization, the civilizations of the Mediterranean, Dilmun, and Meluha, at a time when roads were drawn by stars and followed by the star Suhail, without digital maps or GPS.”

She added: "The Sultanate of Oman's celebration of World Heritage Day, which falls on April 18 of each year, represents an opportunity to renew the national commitment to preserving cultural and human heritage, not only as a symbolic value of the past, but as a pillar of sustainable development, a motivation to promote cultural tourism, and build bridges of understanding between peoples. This commitment is manifested not only in the preservation of stones and inscriptions, but also in preserving the living memory that breathes life. From the folk tales that were told and the songs that were sung, the Sultanate of Oman affirms that heritage is not only what is seen in stone, but what is lived in the conscience and sung in the hearts."

Nizwa University students then presented an operetta, a number of traditional Omani arts, and theatrical performances. This was followed by a panel discussion that reviewed the importance of listing archaeological sites on the World Heritage List, the criteria adopted by UNESCO for listing any archaeological site in the world on the World Heritage List, the importance of choosing geometric shapes in the construction of ancient cities and cemeteries, evidence of models of these cities, historical and archaeological cemeteries around the world, the challenges facing the site after its inclusion on the World Heritage List, the possibility of investing in this listed site from an economic tourism perspective, the latest digital mechanisms used in documenting archaeological sites, the application of these modern mechanisms in documenting Omani heritage, and how they contribute to preserving national identity. The celebration ceremony also included an art exhibition for students from schools in Muscat and Ad Dakhiliyah Governorates, and Al-Fardous Private School.

It is worth noting that the Sultanate of Oman has been able to include a number of Omani sites on the World Heritage List, namely: Bahla Fort in 1987, and the archaeological sites of Bat, Al Khatm, and Al Ain in 1988. In 2006, the Omani irrigation system was included, including five Omani falajs, the Land of Frankincense sites in 2000, and the ancient city of Qalhat in 2018.