Monday 17 / November / 2025
Muscat: Acting in cooperation with Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Sciences, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is organising a three-day regional conference on combating illicit trafficking in cultural property.
The conference, which kicked off in Muscat on Monday, seeks to highlight the role of the Sultanate of Oman in protecting cultural property and enhancing the country's participation in addressing this phenomenon, alongside the global community.
The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi, Governor of Musandam. It was attended by researchers, academics and specialists in the field of cultural property.
Eng. Ibrahim bin Said Al Kharousi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism (for Heritage), said, “The conference aims to explain the concept of illicit trafficking in cultural property, promote cultural communication regionally and internationally and highlight the Sultanate of Oman’s cultural and civilizational heritage, in addition to discussing the best practices to combat the phenomenon, related precautionary measures and regional and international efforts in this regard.”
Eng. Ibrahim added that the conference will look into experiences and success stories in repatriating cultural property to its original home and promoting Omani tourism assets.
Salah Khalid, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for GCC States and Yemen, said that protecting cultural property is a shared global responsibility. This approach, he added, represents a cornerstone for cultural diversity and developing peaceful and inclusive societies. It also affirms the commitment of the UNESCO to support this constructive action amid a spate in risks associated with the illicit trafficking of cultural property in recent years, coupled with a surge in armed conflict.
Salah Khalid pointed out that illicit trafficking of cultural property also benefited from weak legislation, growing global demand for contraband, ease of online sales, the worsening of economic crises in some countries and natural disasters—which all, put together, encouraged organised crime networks to flourish and exploit illicit trade in financing their activities.
The opening of the conference coincided with the launch of the “Guide on Cultural Property Exposed to Illicit Trafficking”, the screening of a video display outlining the efforts of the Sultanate of Oman in the field of cultural heritage.
The first day of the event also included the opening of an exhibition featuring archaeological and cultural artefacts that were seized at various border crossings, as well as artefacts handed over by citizens to the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.
The exhibition also showcases some items that were confiscated in accordance with approved legal procedures. These include silver coins, contracts scripts on stone and shell, bronze and copper spearheads, statues and metal seals dating back to ancient times.
The conference programme includes working papers on protecting tangible cultural heritage, combating the illicit trafficking of cultural property, promoting regional and international cooperation in protecting tangible cultural heritage, the challenges facing countries in repatriating Illegally appropriated items cultural property and raising public awareness to ensure the sustainability of protection of cultural property.
