Bahla Hosts “Cultural Property” Forum Under UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Initiative

Oman Participates in UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Initiative Through Bahla Forum

Bahla:  The “Cultural Property” forum focusing on pottery, copper, metal and wood industries began at Bahla Castle in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, as part of the World Heritage Volunteers 2026 “Working for the Future” initiative.

The forum is organised by the Bahla Volunteer Team in cooperation with the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, the Ministry of Education, represented by the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, with the participation of local and international volunteers from several countries.

The forum, which runs until Sept. 13, is among the initiatives organised by the World Heritage Centre of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Its opening ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Mahmoud bin Rashid Al Saadi, Acting Governor of Al Dakhiliyah.

International Volunteer Participation

The forum brings together 30 volunteers from Oman, Iran, Russia and India to provide a platform for exchanging knowledge, expertise and experiences in preserving and managing cultural heritage, while promoting cooperation among volunteers from different cultural backgrounds.

Its programme features working papers, lectures and specialised training sessions covering the role of UNESCO in protecting World Heritage sites, heritage sites in Oman and intangible heritage within international cultural organisations.

It also includes lectures on traditional pottery, its history and significance in Omani culture, as well as introductory sessions on metalworking, traditional manufacturing techniques and the role of artisans in preserving traditional crafts.

Other sessions address the archaeological site of Salut and its historical significance, traditional woodworking and its role in Omani cultural industries, in addition to workshops on digital heritage documentation, cultural indicators and measuring the contribution of cultural industries to sustainable development.

The programme further includes discussions with artisans on preserving and transferring traditional skills across generations, a workshop on developing visual identities for cultural industries and a showcase of participants’ work in the presence of artisans.

Field Visits and Heritage Sites

The forum’s programme includes field visits to archaeological sites and craft establishments, including Bahla Fort and pottery factories, the Museum of Oman Through the Ages, Nizwa Fort and its market, Al-Aqr neighbourhood, and the Salut archaeological site and related sites.

The visits aim to provide participants with first-hand knowledge of the components of these sites and their historical and cultural significance.

Raising Awareness of Heritage Preservation

Ayoub bin Naghmoush Al Busaidi, Director General of Antiquities at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said Oman’s participation in the “World Heritage Volunteers 2026 — Working for the Future” initiative contributes to raising awareness among youth, volunteers and stakeholders about the importance of protecting world heritage.

He noted that the initiative also highlights Oman’s efforts in this field and reinforces traditional crafts as cultural assets that should be protected from extinction.

Al Busaidi explained that participating projects are implemented at sites inscribed on the World Heritage List or included on the tentative list, creating opportunities to establish partnerships with local communities and government institutions and support the sustainability of project outcomes.

He added that Oman’s participation, as the second Arab country after Morocco, represents a model of partnership between the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and local community institutions, in line with the principles of the World Heritage Convention and in support of community participation in protecting and managing sites of outstanding universal value.

He pointed out that selected initiatives receive financial support to implement their projects, while organisers and volunteers receive official recognition from the World Heritage Centre. Successful initiatives are also promoted through UNESCO’s official website and presented at international conferences.

Expected Outputs

Sultan bin Nasser Al-Nabhani, Head of the Bahla Volunteer Team, said the “Cultural Property” initiative represents the team’s first global experience.

He expressed hope that the initiative would enable the team to benefit from international experiences in volunteer work and heritage preservation, while facilitating the exchange of knowledge and expertise among participants.

He said the initiative is expected to produce, following 10 days of work and evaluation, a digital database of local heritage elements, a community heritage exhibition, a short documentary film, digital heritage stories, youth sustainability initiatives and the “Bahla Heritage Ambassadors” network.

Dr. Younis bin Jamil Al-Nu’mani, Director of Heritage and Culture Affairs at the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science and Vice Chairman of the team supervising implementation of the initiative, said the World Heritage Volunteers programme is among UNESCO’s important programmes launched in cooperation with national commissions and local and international organisations to encourage young people to protect and preserve World Heritage sites.

He explained that the initiative seeks to empower young people, strengthen their contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and building peace, and raise community awareness of the importance of preserving traditional knowledge and the history of local communities.

Oman’s First Participation

Oman’s participation in the World Heritage Volunteers initiatives comes for the first time through cooperation between the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Omani National Commission for Education, Culture and Science.

The participation strengthens Oman’s presence in international initiatives concerned with world heritage preservation and supports community and volunteer involvement in the protection and management of sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, helping preserve their outstanding universal value and enhance their sustainability for future generations.

The initiative also highlights Oman’s efforts to preserve traditional craft knowledge and skills and pass them on to future generations, particularly in pottery, copper, metal and wood industries.

It further seeks to engage young people in practical heritage preservation projects, equip them with basic conservation and maintenance skills, strengthen their future participation in decision-making and promote sustainable cooperation between community institutions and relevant government agencies.