Planning & Development  

Human Resources Development Strategy » Heritage Sector

The prudent government of His Majesty the Sultan Qaboos bin Said, has recognized that our view on our heritage requires that we should not establish barriers between one pattern of heritage and another. We should be certain that what characterizes our cultural direction is the presentation of originality. Thereby, we would be able to strike a balance between a modern culture and rich cultural resources. This would enable us to establish the desired cultural continuity through linking the originality of the best and its deeprootedness to the requirements and modernity of the present time.

Evaluation of Heritage Sector Performance during the Fifth Five Year Development Plan (1996-2000):

During the Fifth Five Year Development Plan the heritage sector has made several achievements which may be summarized as follows :

1. The castles and forts in the Sultanate attracted about one million visitors during the plan period.

2. A significant effort has been made in the field of restoration of ancient mosques. Restoration has been carried out for the following mosques. Al Bayadha, Al Alaya, Al Mukkabbir, Al Aqaba, Manal, Manah (Grand Mosque), Saal, Soor Al Ballah, Al Ghareed, Al Mazaraah and Bukha.

3. Restoration works are still going in Bahla Fort through the plan period. Work is going in a sustained pace and according to the prepared plans by the UNESCO carpet, since the classification of the site as world heritage.

4. Restoration of Al Ballah fort, in wilayat of Al Buraimi, and Al Hazm fort in the wilayat of Ar-Rustaq have been completed and both forts are now open for the public.

5. Regarding the maintenance of historical buildings that have been restored in the pervious plan, several fortresses have been maintained, those included the following: Al Maghabsha fence, and the fortresses of Shinas, Nakhal, Al Rawdha, Bait Al Yamadi, Al Suwaiq, Ar-Rustaq, Bait Al Radeeda, Al Tharmad.

6. The cultural e role of the castles and fortresses has been emphasized and they have been equipped with different kinds of cultural, religious and art books. A full fledged section in Nizwa Castle has been transformed into a public library for the castle visitors and all those concerned with historical and artistic studies. Nizwa was honoured by hosting the first Omani poems festival in December 1998.

7. Some castles and forts have been enhanced through hosting some specialized exhibitions and temporary Heritage Villages as part of the process of revitalizing the originality of the past with its flavour and eternal influence .

8. A comprehensive inventory has been conducted for all castles, forts, towers and fences spreading all over the Sultanate from the North and up to the South. All this information have been collected in a book entitled '' The Omani Defences ''

9. Specialized museums (such the National History Museum) have been able to shift their role from the limited location to the limitless scope to reach the general public. This is done through the active participation in the international festivals that are held in the Sultanate (e.g. Muscat Festival) and reflecting their rich Heritage and cultural content, together with introducing such heritage to the public.

10. The Natural History Museum made an important achievement in the scientific research field. About 850 plant samples have been recorded in the computer database through the National Registry of Omani Herbs and ants. About 207 plant samples that were donated to the Museum by the College of Science of Sultan Qaboos University have been subjected to treatment. The unclassified botanical samples, estimated to be 1702 samples, have been arranged according to the collector name and collection data, prior to sending them gradually to botanical scientists abroad within the framework of scientific exchange with international institutions.

11. The Natural History Museum has competed the preparation of lists of samples that include reptiles, rodents and amphibians that need special preservation instead of the current method of preservation through cooling (according to the recommendation made by Bon scientists).

On the side of the investment programme for the sector in the plan the total amended budget allocation for heritage sector in the development programme of the Fifth Five Year Development Plan reached about OR 6.6 million. About OR 4 million have already been committed i.e. 60.2%. Some of the most important projects that have been implemented within this sector of the plan are the following:

• Restoration of Bahla fort (phase II) at the cost of OR 1.3 million.

• Periodic maintenance of restored archaeological buildings, costing OR 0.6 million.