20-04-2025
Historic monuments are proofs of human connect
The Sultanate of Oman on Sunday celebrated World Heritage Day under the theme "Heritage Resilience in the Face of Disasters and Conflicts". The event seeks to raise public awareness about the value of cultural heritage and the need to protect it against challenges that arise from natural factors or human activities.
Held under the auspices of Eng Ibrahim bin Saeed al Kharusi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Heritage, the celebration programme included an operetta presented by students from the University of Nizwa, folklore performances by traditional Omani troupes, theatrical shows by students from schools in the governorates of Muscat and A'Dakhiliyah Governorate and an art exhibition.
From the delicate crafts that have been practiced until today, to the trade networks that played a major role in linking the ports of Dibba, Sohar, Qalhat, and Sumhuram with the ports of Cochin in India, Canton in China, and Mombasa on the African coasts, the Sultanate of Oman has always cherished bilateral relations built upon the exchanges that took place in the past.
For Oman, the various archaeological sites, including the UNESCO-listed ones, are not just static ruins, but rather tangible evidence of the ingenuity of the Omani people. The country is built upon such a rich culture and heritage, as stated by Engineer Yusra bint Khalaf al Subhiya, Director General of Antiquities at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
According to her, the copper caravans that embarked from Dahwa, Safafir, Bat, Qamira, and Maysar to civilizations in Sindh, the Mediterranean, Dilmun, and Malukha during a time when roads were guided by the star of Suhail, without digital maps or GPS, stand as testaments to the rich heritage that Oman enjoys today.
"Oman's celebration of World Heritage Day is an opportunity to renew the national commitment to preserving cultural and human heritage. It is not just symbolic of the past, but a pillar of sustainable development and a motivation to promote cultural tourism and build bridges of understanding between peoples," she said.
'This commitment is evident not only in the preservation of stones and inscriptions, but also in the preservation of the living memory embedded in the details of life. From folk tales shared by lantern light in mud lanes to grandmothers' rituals, songs sung during harvest seasons, ships departing from seaports to architecture that harmonizes with the sun and wind, 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," she told people from diverse backgrounds.
The Sultanate of Oman has five historic sites on the World Heritage List, namely Bahla Fort (1987), archaeological sites in Bat, Al-Khatam, and Al-Ain (1988), five Omani aflaj, the traditional irrigation system in Oman (2006), the site of the Frankincense Land (2000), and finally the ancient city of Qalhat (2018).
Oman's celebration of World Heritage Day was approved by the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) based on the Convention on Cultural and Natural Heritage approved by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris in 1972.
