“Fig and Olive” Forum Explores Al Jabal Al Akhdar’s Heritage, Agriculture and Development

First “Fig and Olive” Forum Highlights Al Jabal Al Akhdar’s Heritage and Agriculture

Al Jabal Al Khdhar (ONA) — The inaugural “Fig and Olive” Forum commenced in the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Khdar, A’Dakhiliyah Governorate, as part of the “Al Jabal Al Khdar Festival 2026” activities.

The forum, organized by the Governorate in partnership with Oman Memory Centre, spans two days and features the participation of a number of researchers and specialists from government and private sector entities. The opening of the forum was held under the patronage of Dr. Khalfan Said Al Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning.

The forum features the presentation of 25 research papers by 24 researchers. The sessions on the first day addressed the history, culture, and heritage of Al Jabal Al Khdar, its documents and manuscripts, its geographical and geological characteristics, natural resources and ecotourism, alongside social, economic, linguistic, and jurisprudential studies.

The sessions on the second day will explore topics related to economy, development, agricultural heritage, natural resources, and tourism, with a particular focus on investment opportunities, local development, agricultural economics, and the integration of research and documentation with the distinctive characteristics of Al Jabal Al Khdar, thereby supporting sustainable development while preserving its natural resources.

The forum addresses a number of agricultural products associated with the Al Jabal Al Khdar environment, including olives and pomegranates. One of the papers scheduled for the second day will examine the olive value chain and opportunities for enhancing its efficiency and maximizing returns, alongside the integration of inherited local knowledge in the management of agricultural land, water, and natural resources with modern scientific methods.

On the sideslines of the forum, Dr. Khalfan Said Al Shuaili, Minister of Housing and Urban Planning inaugurated the accompanying exhibition, which will run for one month. The exhibition features photographs, manuscripts, and artefacts documenting various aspects of Al Jabal Al Khdar’s history, environment, architecture, agriculture, and cultural and social heritage, with contributions from a number of institutions and specialists.

According to statistics from the National Center for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the number of visitors to the Wilayat of Al Jabal Al Khdar from January to the end of June 2026 reached approximately 101,608 visitors, compared to 89,780 visitors during the same period in 2025, representing an increase of 13.2 percent.