Wednesday 22 / October / 2025
Muscat: The German University of Technology today hosted a national symposium titled "Living Heritage: A Human Story and the Sustainability of Knowledge."
The symposium was held under the patronage of Eng. Ibrahim bin Said Al Kharousi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Heritage, and in the presence of Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth for Culture. The event, organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in partnership with the Ministry of Education, commemorated International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The symposium gathered researchers, academics, postgraduate students specializing in intangible cultural heritage, and professionals working in this field to examine cultural indicators of intangible heritage and discuss the crucial role of both governmental and private institutions in its preservation and documentation.
The symposium aimed to highlight the significance of the International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage while exploring Oman's intangible cultural heritage indicators within sustainable development frameworks. Additional objectives included raising public awareness of intangible heritage's role in healthcare practices, emphasizing the importance of digital documentation methods, and examining how intangible heritage aligns with Oman's educational philosophy and systems.
The symposium program featured two comprehensive working sessions. The first session, "Intangible Cultural Heritage: Policies and Initiatives," comprised three substantive presentations. Khulood Ali Al Rashdi, Head of the Intangible Heritage Department at the Oman National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, delivered the first paper titled "Indicators of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Oman within Sustainable Development Dimensions." Eng. Majed Al Muhanna from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presented the second paper addressing "Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Relationship Between Culinary Arts, Traditional Knowledge, and Sustainable Development." Lieutenant Commodore Hilal bin Ali Al Hinai from the Royal Navy of Oman concluded the session with a presentation highlighting intangible cultural heritage milestones documented during the "Glories of the Seas 2025" maritime voyage.
The second working session, focusing on "The Role of Governmental and Private Entities in Intangible Cultural Heritage," also featured three detailed presentations. Ahmed bin Rashid Al Shehi from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth outlined the Ministry's comprehensive efforts in preserving and documenting intangible cultural heritage. Salim bin Darwish Al Hasani from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources examined traditional knowledge systems associated with Omani fishing traditions, particularly seafaring. Sultan bin Ali Al Hasani from Al Batinah Stud Farm presented research on contributions of intangible cultural heritage to healthcare, using traditional horse breeding knowledge as a primary case study.
The opening ceremony featured a documentary film showcasing Omani cultural elements inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists. The chief guest subsequently toured an accompanying exhibition displaying photographic works by Omani photographers and historical Omani manuscripts that reflect the diverse cultural elements Oman has successfully registered with UNESCO.
