Latest news with #AbdullahbinNasseralHarrasi
Observer
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Minister highlights Ayn for kids as knowledge hub
MUSCAT: Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information has affirmed that the Ministry of Information's launch of the Kids' Interface on Ayn platform is inspired by the vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and his dedication to nurturing Omani children and developing their potential. In a press statement, he said: 'This is a strategic step towards creating meaningful media content for children, who represent a vital part of Oman's future. This interface is not just a source of entertainment, but a comprehensive learning space that supports the psychological, educational and moral needs of Omani children, while staying aligned with global digital developments.' He added: 'Today's children are active contributors to knowledge and the future. That's why the Kids' Interface was designed to provide content that speaks their language, sparks curiosity and strengthens Omani identity and values. It features illustrated stories, simple educational programmes and engaging audiovisual materials that help develop thinking, language and communication skills in an age-appropriate and appealing way.' 'We believe that building a strong society starts in childhood. The interface offers a safe, enjoyable alternative that connects children to their heritage, their identity and life in Oman. Looking ahead, we plan to expand its features by adding interactive educational games that support creative and innovative learning,' pointed out Dr Abdullah. He concluded: 'We are committed to continuously developing the platform in collaboration with experts in childhood, education, digital media and pedagogy. Our goal is to make it a national initiative that brings together families, educators and communities — helping raise a generation that contributes to Oman's growth and advancement.' It may be noted that the Ministry of Information had on Thursday launched 'Ayn for Children', a dedicated media platform for young audiences. The launch took place during the opening of the 29th Muscat International Book Fair under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr Fahd bin Al Julanda al Said, Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, in the presence of Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information. The platform aims to enrich child-focused media content by providing youth with knowledge resources that shape their awareness, develop their personalities and strengthen their national identity. It offers content that reflects Omani culture and values while nurturing future-ready generations capable of engaging effectively with modern technology. Ayn for Children features diverse educational, entertainment and cultural content, including cartoons, programmes, audio content, audiobooks and other age-appropriate materials for children aged 4 to 18. Dr Amal Mohammed al Nawfali, Director General of Digital Media at the Ministry of Information, stated that the platform delivers a carefully designed digital edutainment experience with an intuitive, child-friendly interface featuring vibrant colours inspired by the Ayn platform. It ensures accessibility for all children, including those with visual or hearing impairments and offers exclusive content that reinforces national identity and ethical values. — ONA
Muscat Daily
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Muscat Daily
Ministry of Information launches digital platform for children
Muscat – Ministry of Information launched a digital platform called 'Eye for Children' on Thursday at the opening of the 29th Muscat International Book Fair with the objective of enhancing media content for children and supporting their personal and national development. Targeting the four to 18 age group, the platform offers educational programmes, cultural information, cartoons, audiobooks and audio content. It seeks to promote awareness, preserve Omani culture and values, and help young people engage meaningfully with modern technology. The launch event was held under the patronage of H H Sayyid Dr Fahad bin al Julanda al Said, Vice-Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, in the presence of H E Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information. Dr Amal bint Mohammed al Nofliya, Director General of Electronic Media at the ministry, described 'Eye for Children' as 'a carefully developed digital experience that combines education and entertainment'. She noted that the platform's interactive and accessible design is intended to appeal to young users and also engage with children with visual and hearing impairments. The platform allows children to create personal accounts, choose favourite cartoon characters as avatars, download content for offline use, and search and resume programmes. It also includes a section dedicated to content created by children, encouraging young users to share ideas and develop media skills. With 'Eye for Children', Ministry of Information has taken a step towards providing a safe and culturally rich digital space for the next generation, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing young Omanis in an increasingly digital world.
Observer
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Information Ministry launches Oman's first children's media platform
The Ministry of Information on Thursday launched 'Ayn for Children", a dedicated media platform for young audiences. The launch took place during the opening of the 29th Muscat International Book Fair under the auspices of HH Sayyid Dr Fahd Al Julanda al Said, Vice Chancellor of Sultan Qaboos University, in the presence of Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information. The platform aims to enrich child-focused media content by providing youth with knowledge resources that shape their awareness, develop their personalities, and strengthen their national identity. It offers content that reflects Omani culture and values while nurturing future-ready generations capable of engaging effectively with modern technology. Ayn for Children features diverse educational, entertainment, and cultural content, including cartoons, programmes, audio content, audiobooks, and other age-appropriate materials for children aged 4 to 18. Dr Amal Mohammed al Nawfali, Director General of Digital Media at the Ministry of Information, stated that the platform delivers a carefully designed digital edutainment experience with an intuitive, child-friendly interface featuring vibrant colors inspired by the Ayn platform. It ensures accessibility for all children, including those with visual or hearing impairments, and offers exclusive content that reinforces national identity and ethical values. Dr Al Nawfali pointed out that key technical features include personalised child accounts with customisable cartoon avatars, offline content downloads, an advanced search engine for audio-visual materials, and a resume-play function for interrupted sessions. The platform also hosts a dedicated space for young content creators, showcasing their work and fostering future media talent. She added that the platform boasts a vast library of over 65,000 audio-visual items, including over 8,000 child-specific materials, spanning radio/TV programmes, original productions, animations, and audiobooks. Accessible globally with audiences in 170+ countries, it supports smart TVs, mobile devices, tablets, and web browsers. Notably, the Ministry of Information's Ayn platform, is Oman's largest audio-visual content hub, surpassing 16 million views since its soft launch. - ONA
Observer
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Information Ministry Theatre — a new era of cultural innovation
STAFF REPORTER MUSCAT, FEB 25 The Theatre of the Ministry of Information (MoI) opened on Tuesday as part of efforts undertaken by the ministry to promote arts, innovation, and highlight the role of media in portraying culture and thought in an advanced technical manner. The theatre was inaugurated under the auspices of Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information, and is set to be a hub that embraces artistic and theatrical events while contributing to the evolution of cultural and media activities in the Sultanate of Oman. The 560-square metre theatre, which can accommodate 500 people, is equipped with the latest technology to enhance events in the best possible manner. It features a 150-square metre stage, special rooms for commentary, translation, advanced control, and external transmission units. The theatre's opening ceremony included visual presentations, musical performances, national and Arab operettas. Ibrahim bin Salim al Salmi, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, stated that the ministry continues its efforts to support arts, creativity, and provide platforms that foster cultural, literary, and artistic events. He explained that the opening of the theatre aims to enhance the cultural scene in the Sultanate of Oman by providing a platform for a diverse range of events, including theatrical performances, musical concerts, art exhibitions, and creative workshops, contributing to the cultural and artistic movement in the Sultanate of Oman. Al Salmi added that the theatre's design incorporates the latest technologies used in global theatres, equipped with the best audio and visual technologies, including advanced sound isolation and distribution systems, a flexible lighting system, and a stage design that meets the latest artistic standards. "Consideration was also given to facilitating access for people with disabilities to ensure a comprehensive experience for all visitors," he said. "With a capacity of 500 seats and built on an area of 560 square metres, the theatre is equipped with special rooms for commentary and translation, in addition to fibre optic connections linking it to the television complex and outside broadcast vehicles, allowing events to be transmitted live through various audio-visual media outlets," Al Salmi stated. The opening ceremony included various cultural and artistic performances that reflected the richness and diversity of the Omani cultural scene. Al Salmi emphasised that the theatre will be a qualitative addition to the infrastructure of the culture and media sectors in the Sultanate of Oman.
Observer
25-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Observer
Information Ministry Concert marks opening of new theatre
Muscat: The Ministry of Information on Tuesday held a concert to mark the opening of the 'Information Ministry's Theatre'. The event was held under the auspices of Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Harrasi, Minister of Information, and attended by senior government officials, members of the State Council, media persons, performers and culture specialists and enthusiasts. Performances staged by the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra (ROSO) and the Royal Guard of Oman's inspirational chanting troupe reflected the deep-rooted beauties of the Omani national folk heritage presented in a magnificent blend of musical pieces and Arabic songs. During the musical performance, the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra and the chanting troupes shone on the stage of the Ministry of Information. Their motions were in harmony with musical instruments. A 3D hologram operetta themed 'Omani Media—back to the Roots' featured the basic concepts of Omani media and its connection to Omani heritage, knowledge exchange and the progression of media methods in the Sultanate of Oman since 1970, right from the stages of print publications, to radio and television to the age of digital media. Another visual display featured the efforts of the Ministry of Information in upholding the values and principles of the Sultanate of Oman. It showcased the ministry's national, humanitarian and awareness message and its march of disseminating information and knowledge. The display reflected the potential of trained media and technical personnel groomed by the ministry and equipped with the latest technologies enabling them to perform their national duty. It also exhibited indicators about the year 2024 accomplishments of different media outlets affiliated with the Ministry. The Ministry of Information's Theatre, a 560-sqm facility equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, can accommodate 500 guests. Information Ministry's Theatre seeks to support arts and innovation and highlight the role of the media in conveying culture and intellectual thinking in a modern technical manner. The 'Information Ministry Theatre', designed to become a hub for artistic and theatrical events, is envisaged to enhance cultural and media movement in the Sultanate of Oman.
