Monday 06 / July / 2026
Muscat: For more than five decades, the Sultanate of Oman has cultivated a deeply rooted civilisational partnership with UNESCO, since its accession to the Organization in 1972 — a milestone that marked a turning point in Oman’s international presence.
Amna Salim Al Balushi, Oman’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, told the Oman News Agency (ONA) that the Permanent Delegation in Paris was established to coordinate, communicate and document cooperation with member states, while strengthening Oman’s participation in international committees and councils.
The Delegation has helped consolidate Oman’s presence within UNESCO through active engagement with other permanent delegations and representation in regional and geographic groups, reflecting Oman’s commitment to multilateralism, she said. The establishment of the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science in 1974 further laid a permanent framework for cooperation at the national level.
She added that in 1989, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said visited UNESCO headquarters in Paris — a landmark moment that strengthened cooperation and launched pioneering initiatives, including the UNESCO‑Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Conservation, the voyage of the Royal Yacht Fulk al‑Salamah “Ship of Peace” to study the Silk Road, and UNESCO’s conferment of its highest medal upon the late Sultan in 1993 in recognition of his efforts in peace and intercultural dialogue.
The royal visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to UNESCO headquarters in June 2026 reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to international cooperation in culture, education and science, and its dedication to UN initiatives on heritage preservation and intercultural dialogue, the ambassador said.
She added that the same year saw the launch of the UNESCO‑Sultan Haitham Prize for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, underscoring His Majesty’s role in protecting and transmitting heritage to future generations.
She pointed out that Oman has a strong presence on UNESCO’s lists: Bahla Fort (1987), Bat, Al‑Khutm and Al‑Ayn (1988), the Land of Frankincense (2000), the Aflaj Irrigation System (2006) and the ancient city of Qalhat (2018) are inscribed on the World Heritage List.
She said that Oman’s presence on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage has also grown, with inscriptions between 2010 and 2025 including Al‑Bar'ah, Al‑Azi, Al‑Taghrood, Al‑Ayala, Al‑Razfa, Arabic coffee, the Majlis, Horse and Camel Ardha “Traditional horse and camel show”, the palm tree, camel racing, Arabic calligraphy, the Khanjar “Dagger”, Al‑Harees, henna, Al‑Bisht and Arabic kohl. Shabab Oman vessel was also inscribed on the Register of Good Safeguarding Practices.
Under the Memory of the World Programme, the ambassador said that the manuscript “Ma'dan al‑Asrar fi Ilm al‑Bihar” (A Treasury of Secrets on Ocean Navigation) was inscribed in 2017, followed by the Al-Nuniyah Al-Kubra (The Great Nuniyah) of navigator Ahmed bin Majid in 2025, affirming Oman’s historical contributions to marine science and navigation. Several Omani scholars and historical figures have also been commemorated, including Al‑Khalil bin Ahmed Al‑Farahidi, Rashid bin Omira, Sheikh Noor al‑Din al‑Salmi, Ibn al‑Dhahabi, Abu Muslim al‑Bahlani, Ahmed bin Majid, Humaid bin Ruzaiq, Mohammed bin Yazid al‑Azdi, Abdullah bin Ali al‑Khalili, and Jabrin Fort as a historical event in 2023.
She affirmed that Oman’s engagement extends to UNESCO’s programmes and networks: 44 Omani schools are part of the Associated Schools Network, and Muscat, Sur and Nizwa were inscribed on the Global Network of Learning Cities in 2024, with more cities under consideration. The Jabal Akhdar and Al Sireen reserves were added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 2025, reflecting Oman’s commitment to biodiversity conservation.
She added that Oman has ratified key UNESCO conventions, including the 1977 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict, the 1981 World Heritage Convention, the 2005 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the 2020 Convention on Underwater Cultural Heritage, and acceded to the 2026 Convention against Discrimination in Education.
She also pointed out that Oman has served on UNESCO’s Executive Board (2023‑2027), the Intergovernmental Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage, the MOST Intergovernmental Council, the International Bioethics Committee and the MAB International Coordinating Council, reflecting international confidence in Oman’s role in shaping UN policies and fostering cooperation.
She further said that Omani higher education institutions host several UNESCO Chairs covering artificial intelligence, educational psychology, ophiolite rocks, marine biotechnology, earthquake and tsunami risk, world heritage, aflaj, renewable energy, environmental innovation and waste‑to‑energy conversion.
Ambassador Al Balushi concluded that these achievements embody the depth of Oman’s partnership with UNESCO, consolidating Oman’s position as a trusted international partner in heritage preservation, cultural and scientific advancement, and global efforts for sustainable development and peace.
