Oman’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites enhance tourism potential

Muscat: The Omani archaeological sites included on the World Heritage List contribute to enhancing the tourism and heritage elements in the Sultanate of Oman.

Those sites also help attract investments to the tourism sector, which helps to empower the sector in contributing to the achievement of Oman Vision 2040 goals.

Ibtisam Abdullah Al Mamari, Director of the Directorate General of World Heritage at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said, “Heritage is a fundamental tool for creating identity. It is considered as an indicator for the glories of nations, and a part of the means for the nation’s prosperity, as well as being an essential source of pride and inspiration in human thought. As such, the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism was keen to join the World Heritage Convention – Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, in 1981.”

She added: “Joining the World Heritage Convention has paved the way for the Sultanate of Oman to nominate archaeological sites of exceptional value to be added on the World Heritage List. This contributes to enriching the nation’s cultural heritage and introducing its tourism importance to the world.”

Al Mamari pointed out that the addition of any archaeological site on the World Heritage List, enhances the capability of the added site to receive the support and attention of the international community. It also enables the countries which are home to those sites, to obtain assistance in protecting and preserving their heritage, through direct assistance from UNESCO. It also helps promote the site all over the world by the UNESCO.

Ibtisam Al Mamari said that the Omani sites met the requirements for the nomination to the list in terms of preserving the site’s authenticity, its proper management and protection. An analysis report was presented which includes a comparison between the nominated sites and other sites of the same type, in addition to specific criteria in Articles (1 and 2) of the convention, which ensure that the site is of an exceptional universal value and maintains the conditions of authenticity and safety.

On his turn, Mohsen Murtadha Al Lawati, a heritage specialist at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said that the site of Bahla Fort in the Wilayat of Bahla at the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah is considered the first site added on the World Heritage List in 1987. The site includes the fort, an oasis, traditional souqs , ancient lanes, and archaeological mosques within the wall of Bahla .

He added that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed an agreement with Oman Tourism Development Company (OMRAN) to manage and operate the Bahla Fort site.

Al Lawati pointed out that the Bahla Fort site contributes to strengthening investments in the tourism sector due to its capability to attract increasing investments, particularly after its addition on the World Heritage List. The local Souq at this heritage site includes 186 shops, of which 154 are populated. As many as 67 shops were restored by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has developed a precise plan for the restoration of the Wall of Bahla. The path of the wall extends over a distance of 12 km. The project includes restoration of the damaged parts of the wall. He stressed that the Bahla Fort site also attracts many commercial activities, such as cafes, exhibitions, antiques shops, gifts shops, local products, repairing electronic devices, and selling handicraft products, among others.

Mohsen Al Lawati added that the sites of Bat, Al Khutm and Al Ayn in the Wilayat of Ibri at the Governorate of A’Dhahirah were added to the World Heritage List in 1988. The sites represent a prominent example of the settlements in the third millennium BC. They include the largest gathering of archaeological towers and tombs characteristic of that era.

Al Lawati added that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism is preparing a comprehensive management plan for the sites, taking into account the historical, archaeological and architectural aspects.

He confirmed that the restoration of the archaeological Al Khutm Tower has been completed. Al Lawati said that work is underway on an investment project for the visitor’s centre at the Archeological site of Bat. The project is located close to the archaeological site, which includes a number of facilities, such as a handicraft industries area, offices, an information and multimedia centre, cafes and stores.

He clarified that the sites of the Land of Frankincense were added on the World Heritage List in 2000. The sites are located in the Governorate of Dhofar and are represented in 4 sprawling sites, namely Al Balid, Samharam/Khawr Rawri , Wadi Dawkah and Al Shasr. Al Balid is considered as the most important and largest of these archaeological sites.

During 2022, a tender was floated to invest in cafes in Al Balid, Samharam and Ubar, and to hold recreational activities in Al Balid and Samharam sites. A contract was signed to invest in the Wadi Dawkah site, he added.

Al Lawati pointed out that the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has contracted with the Italian Rigoli Foundation, which specializes in restoration and consolidation works for archaeological sites, to carry out restoration work for the parts that were damaged by climatic conditions in Al Balid and Samharam sites. The project included preserving the originality of the building’s structures as much as possible.

Moreover, in 2006, five Aflaj irrigation systems were added to the World Heritage List of UNESCO. This step is considered a recognition of the exceptional cultural value of these Aflaj. They include Daris, Al Khatmin, and Al Malki in the Governorate of A’Dakhiliyah, as well as Falaj Al Mayasar in the Governorate of South Al Batinah, and Falaj Al Jilah in the Governorate of South A’Sharqiyah.

The ancient city of Qalhat site was added on the World Heritage List in 2018. The city of Qalhat preserves all its elements on an area of 35 hectares. It is considered a natural reserve on its three sides surrounded in the west and east by sea and mountains, Khor Qalhat in the north, and a huge defensive wall to the south, which extends from the beach across the city’s perimeter up to the top of the mountain range.

The restoration of the shrine of Bibi Maryam was completed in 2021, while the ministry also worked on restoring parts of the Great Mosque at Qalhat in 2017.The restoration work in the Mosque is planned to be completed in 2023 .