The Literary Forum of Oman highlighted the Sultanate’s dedication to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage during the International Conference on Regions and Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tunis. This occasion saw researchers, cultural authorities, and institutions from various countries converge to discuss strategies for protecting oral traditions and cultural identity.
Fahd bin Mahmoud Al-Rahbi, leading the Oral History Department at the Literary Forum under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, gave an in-depth presentation on Oman’s initiatives to document oral narratives and traditional cultural practices. He explained the country’s systematic approach towards recording oral history and ensuring cultural memory is safeguarded as a resource for future generations.
Al-Rahbi emphasized that these preservation undertakings align with international accords, notably the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, ratified in 2003. By 2026, Oman has successfully added 18 heritage elements to UNESCO’s Representative List, illustrating its commitment to upholding cultural identity and heritage practices.
The discussion also introduced the UNESCO-Sultan Haitham Prize, aimed at supporting global efforts to maintain human heritage and cultural diversity. Officials noted that this prize promotes international collaborations for the preservation of vulnerable traditions and oral histories.
The paper presented at the conference reviewed the Oral History Department’s efforts in gathering stories from Oman’s elderly citizens. Researchers depicted older generations as “human libraries,” ensuring vital aspects of Omani social life and traditions are remembered and recorded. Various studies and publications detailing traditional crafts and lifestyles from various regions were also shared during this session.
There was a particular focus on documenting endangered Omani cultural practices, such as the ancient aflaj irrigation system and linguistic studies related to the Bathari language. Experts stressed that preserving linguistic and cultural diversity is vital for Oman’s national heritage strategy, contributing significantly to the country's rich historical identity.
Future plans to enhance cultural sustainability in Oman were also introduced, including the establishment of a dedicated national center for the collection and analysis of folk heritage, integrating intangible heritage studies in academic programs, and translating Omani publications into languages like French, German, Spanish, and Chinese. Additionally, officials outlined plans to hold more oral history seminars and train a new generation of researchers to continue Oman’s cultural documentation efforts.
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