News & Event

The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 43rd session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which began on Thursday, October 30, and will continue until November 13, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Delegations from member states of the organization, as well as representatives of international and regional organizations and civil society organizations, are also participating.

The delegation of the Sultanate of Oman to this session was headed by HE Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al-Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education and Chairperson of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. The delegation included HE Ambassador Amna bint Salem Al-Balushi, Permanent Delegate of the Sultanate of Oman to UNESCO, HE Mrs. Wafa bint Jabr Al-Busaidi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Secretary of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and a number of advisors from the Ministry of Education. The delegation also included members representing the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, to attend the specialized committees emanating from the General Conference in the fields of education, culture, science, communication, and information.

The opening program of the session included a speech by the Chair of the forty-second session, a speech by the Chair of the Executive Council, and a speech by the Director-General. In the opening session of the conference, the Nominations Committee was formed, the agenda was adopted, the Chairperson of the General Conference and his deputies were elected, observers from international non-governmental organizations were accepted, and other committees and bodies were established. The Nominations Committee held discussions, and HE Dr. Khaled El-Enany was appointed Director-General of the organization as the first Arab to hold this position in the history of the organization.

HE the Minister of Education delivered the Sultanate of Oman's speech during the conference's plenary session, conveying the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Sultan of Oman, and his wishes for the success of the conference and the achievement of its noble goals. In her speech, she also thanked the friendly Republic of Uzbekistan for hosting the conference in Samarkand and UNESCO for organizing it, as well as for their efforts to promote dialogue and peace and protect human heritage.

HE the Minister of Education said: “We meet today amidst increasing humanitarian and security challenges that affect the present and future of generations, foremost among them the humanitarian tragedy in Gaza that has affected the basic necessities of life. While the Sultanate of Oman welcomes the implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, it emphasizes the need for continued international and regional efforts to ensure respect for and sustainability of this agreement. It calls on UNESCO to intensify its efforts to protect educational institutions and cultural property, and to promote constructive dialogue, free from intolerance and hatred, in support of international peace and security.”

HE highlighted the Sultanate of Oman's efforts in developing its educational system based on the principles of inclusion and equity, stating: "The Sultanate of Oman has developed inclusive education policies and expanded the scope of vocational and technical education to include multiple specializations that keep pace with the requirements of national development and meet the needs of the local and global labor market. It also places great importance on teacher training and skills development and is preparing to launch the first international conference on the teaching profession in the Middle East, entitled 'Sustainable Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,' in early 2026, in cooperation with regional and international organizations. This embodies its commitment to supporting the professional empowerment of teachers and developing educational policies. In the field of higher education, the Sultanate of Oman has made tangible progress in the ranking of its universities, strengthening the scientific research and innovation system, and expanding academic partnerships, including fruitful cooperation with the UNESCO Chairs Network."

In the science sector, HE the Chairperson of the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science affirmed the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to transitioning towards a sustainable, low-emission economy. She stated, "My country is working towards achieving net-zero carbon neutrality by 2050 and is adopting a proactive approach to addressing environmental and climate challenges through strategic projects in the field of renewable energy, leveraging its rich natural resources. Furthermore, in its commitment to protecting biodiversity, the Sultanate of Oman recently succeeded in registering the Al Jabal Al Akhdar and Al Sareen nature reserves within the UNESCO World Network, underscoring its dedication to preserving natural heritage and promoting sustainable ecotourism."

HE the Head of the Delegation, reviewed the efforts of the Sultanate of Oman in the cultural sector, as the Sultanate of Oman pays great attention to preserving cultural heritage, developing cultural and creative industries, and consolidating the values ​​of tolerance and dialogue. These efforts were recently crowned by the registration of the "Oman Youth Ship for Peace and Sustainable Cultural Dialogue" among the best practices for preserving intangible cultural heritage at UNESCO.

In closing, she addressed the Sultanate of Oman's future vision, "Oman 2040," which aims to build a digital environment conducive to innovation and technological advancement. This vision includes launching the National Policy for Artificial Intelligence Governance and inaugurating the Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, both designed to adopt advanced technologies and enhance national capabilities. HE also emphasized that the Sultanate of Oman is working to strengthen media literacy to address growing challenges such as misinformation and digital violations. Oman has enacted a law to regulate digital content, ensuring transparency and protecting privacy, in line with UNESCO recommendations on the ethics of artificial intelligence and media and information literacy.

HE Ambassador Amna bint Salem Al Balushi, Permanent Delegate of the Sultanate of Oman to UNESCO, said: “Through its membership in the UNESCO Executive Board, the Sultanate of Oman works in cooperation with the member states of the Board to contribute to shaping the policies of the organization. For two years, the Sultanate of Oman represented the Arab states as Vice-President of the Executive Board for the Arab Group.”