News

RAO Concludes its Cultural Competition for 2025Muscat, 30 Oct (ONA) — The Royal Army of Oman (RAO) concluded its Cultural Competition for 2025 today under the patronage of Maj.Gen. Mattar Salim Al Balushi, RAO Commander.The final round of the competition, structured in a 'Question and Answer' format, featured teams from the RAO Command and the 23rd Infantry Brigade. The team from the 23rd Infantry Brigade secured first place in this round.Then, the chief guest presented awards and certificates to the judges, evaluators of the artistic entries, and the first-place winners. The RAO Academy ...

28th Algiers International Book Fair Kicks OffAlgiers, 30 Oct (ONA) --- The 28th Algiers International Book Fair kicked off with the participation of 1,254 publishing houses from 49 countries. The fair will run until 8 November 2025. Held under the theme "The Book: A Meeting Place of Cultures," the fair features 290 Algerian publishing houses, 410 publishers from Arab countries, and 554 foreign publishers, in addition to more than 250 writers and intellectuals from Algeria, Africa, and other countries around the world. The fair's cultural program features 55 events, including lectures and ...

Oman Participates in Executive Bureau Meeting of International Council on Archives in BarcelonaBarcelona, 29 Oct (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman participated in the meeting of the Executive Bureau of the International Council on Archives (ICA), held on the sidelines of the ICA Congress in Barcelona, Spain.This meeting is one of the most prominent periodic gatherings held by the International Council on Archives during 27-31 October 27 to discuss general policies and future work programs in the field of archiving and records management. It saw broad participation from specialists, experts and ...

Mansoura University Team Discovers New Species of Ancient Crocodile in EgyptCairo, 28 Oct (ONA) --- Mansoura University of Egypt announced that a team at its Center for Vertebrate Paleontology has discovered a new species of ancient crocodile that lived in the Western Desert of Egypt approximately 80 million years ago. The university explained in a statement that this giant crocodile lived in an area now known as the New Valley Governorate. Scientists have named it "Wadisuchus kassabi." This discovery marks one of the most important discoveries, shedding light on life in ancient times. It ...

Symposium Explores Oman’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Knowledge Muscat, 22 Oct (ONA) --- 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 ...

Photo Gallery Exhibition Inaugurated at National Museum Muscat, 22 Oct (ONA) --- The National Museum inaugurated today an exhibition titled “Reflections from the Not So Distant Past in Oman” by photographer Professor Eugene Harper Johnson, Director of the Unspoken Dialogue Organization. The opening took place under the patronage of Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat, and was attended by a number of distinguished guests, officials, and those interested in cultural and artistic affairs. This exhibition serves as a visual and human documentation of Omani ...

President of Botswana Visits ROHM Muscat, 21 Oct (ONA) --- President Duma Gideon Boko of the Republic of Botswana, visited the Royal Opera House Muscat (ROHM) today as part of his visit to the Sultanate of Oman. The President toured the facility and was briefed on its various sections and operational facilities, including its annual programming schedule and performance seasons. He was also shown the technical installations, which feature state-of-the-art equipment for international musical productions. During his tour, President of Botswana appreciated ...

Seminar Highlights Omani Woman in Foreign SourcesMuscat, 21 Oct (ONA) — The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, represented by the Literary Forum, today organized a seminar titled "The Omani Woman in Foreign Sources."The event aimed to highlight the presence and contributions of the Omani woman through the ages as documented in foreign sources, alongside showcasing her role in building civilization and framing her achievements in various fields.On the sidelines of the seminar, an art exhibition was held, documenting the image of the Omani woman through the records of travelers and ...

Oman's Pavilion at Frankfurt Book Fair Serves as Window to Omani CultureFrankfurt, 19 Oct (ONA) — The Sultanate of Oman has concluded its participation in Frankfurt International Book Fair 2025, held in the Federal Republic of Germany during 15-19 October.Oman's pavilion attracted a diverse stream of visitors, serving to introduce the components of Omani culture and showcasing a wide range of publications and materials focusing on Omani cultural, literary, and social affairs, particularly those highlighting Oman's heritage and its intellectual and literary contributions.Dr. Iyas Nasser, a ...

Al Batinah International Film Festival Announces 62 Finalists for Third Edition Sohar, 19 Oct (ONA) --- The third Al Batinah International Film Festival unveiled its competition lineup during a press conference in Sohar today, revealing that 62 films have been selected from 319 submissions across 33 countries to compete in six award categories. Organized by Oman Cinema Society in collaboration with the North Al Batinah Governor's Office, the festival will run from 27 to 30 October under the theme "Cinema and the Sea." Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Ajmi, Chairman of the ...

Seminar Discusses Challenges of Distributing Arabic Books in EuropeFrankfurt, 19 Oct (ONA) — The Arab Publishers Association organized a specialized dialogue seminar titled "Challenges and Prospects of Distributing Arabic Books in Europe" at the association’s pavilion at the Frankfurt International Book Fair 2025 in the Federal Republic of Germany.The seminar saw the participation of a number of representatives of Arabic bookstores in Europe and aimed to shed light on the various challenges hindering the distribution and publishing of Arabic books on the European continent.The event ...

Omani Cultural Days Kick Off in Jordan Amman, 19 Oct (ONA) --- The Omani Cultural Days kicked off today in Amman, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The event is organized by the Omani Studies Unit at Alal-Bayt University, Jordan, in cooperation with the Ifta Office at the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Sultanate of Oman. The programme focuses on the Omani role in architecture and its jurisprudence. It is carried out in a number of Jordanian universities, with the participation of academics and researchers from Oman and Jordan. An exhibition titled ...

Session Discusses Mechanisms for Creating Unified Index of Omani ManuscriptsMuscat, 16 Oct (ONA) — The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth today organized an event at the Cultural Club titled "Towards a Unified Index of Omani Manuscripts".The event addressed a range of objectives, including working towards creating a society that takes pride in its identity, citizenship, and culture, and that preserves, documents, and promotes its heritage globally. This also involves establishing a system for comprehensive institutional-community partnership that reinforces identity, citizenship, social ...

Oman Participates in Frankfurt International Book Fair 2025 Frankfurt, 15 Oct (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in the 77th edition of Frankfurt International Book Fair, which kicked off today in the Federal Republic of Germany and will continue until 19 October 2025. Oman's pavilion at the book fair includes publications from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth; the Ministry of Information; and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, in addition to publications from other government departments and civil society organizations. It reflects efforts made ...

Ancient Military Fortress Unearthed in Egypt's Sinai Cairo, 12 Oct (ONA) --- Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced the discovery of a military fortress from the New Kingdom era near the Mediterranean coast in northern Sinai, in northeastern Egypt. In a statement, the ministry said the discovery was made by an Egyptian archaeological mission working at the Tell El Kharouba site. It described the fortress as one of the largest and most significant ever uncovered along the ancient Horus military route, covering about 8,000 square meters - roughly three times the size of a ...

Two Years of War: The Systematic Erasure of Gaza's Cultural Heritage Ramallah, 8 Oct (ONA) --- Two years after the onset of the Israeli brutal war against the Gaza Strip, the full scale of the damage is coming into sharp focus. Observers are now describing it as one of the most extensive campaigns of cultural erasure in modern history, an assault that has targeted not only buildings but also the collective memory, identity, and heritage of the Palestinian people. A systematic campaign, according to Palestinian officials and human rights groups, has seen libraries burned, museums ...

Physics: A Window into Understanding the Universe and Its Mysteries Muscat, 6 Oct (ONA) --- The question of the universe's origin stands as one of humanity's oldest and most compelling inquiries, intersecting philosophy, religion, and science. In this context, Dr. Yousef Al Banai, a researcher in theoretical physics, opened a wide window into the world of cosmic physics during his discussion with Oman News Agency (ONA), highlighting modern theories and the role of scientific discoveries in understanding the beginning of the universe. Dr. Al Banai affirms that ...

Oman Participates in Riyadh International Book Fair 2025 Riyadh, 2 Oct (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in Riyadh International Book Fair 2025, which kicked off in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, today and will continue until 11 October. Oman's pavilion at the book fair showcases a diverse set of Omani cultural and intellectual publications featuring various disciplines. The exhibits include publications from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth; the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs; the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism; Sultan ...

Cultural Club Contributes with 27 Publications at Amman International Book Fair Amman, 29 Sep (ONA) --- The booth of the Cultural Club at the Sultanate of Oman's pavilion witnessed a noticeable interaction from readers, researchers, and interested individuals during the activities of the Amman International Book Fair in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The booth featured 27 new and older publications, through which the club aimed to highlight the richness of the Omani cultural experience and make its intellectual achievements available to the Arab reader. Khalifa Mohammed Al ...

"From Stamp to Envelope" Exhibition Opens at the National Museum Muscat, 18 Sep (ONA) --- The National Museum today opened an exhibition titled "From Stamp to Envelope: A Nation's Narrative Sealed by Post." The exhibition, which runs until 16 October, is a collaboration with Oman Post. The inauguration ceremony was held under the auspices of Eng. Ibrahim Said Al Kharousi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Heritage. The exhibition features a diverse collection of stamps, ranging from rare stamps issued in the 1960s that documented Oman’s first oil ...

Oman Named Guest of Honour at Amman International Book Fair Muscat, 16 Sep (ONA) --- The Sultanate of Oman will be the Guest of Honour at the 24th edition of Amman International Book Fair, which will be held in Amman at the Hussein Convention Center from 25 September to 5 October 2025. At the event, Oman will be represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth. Omani establishments and institutions that will participate in the 24th edition of Amman International Book Fair also include the Ministry of Information; the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs; the ...

2,200-Year-Old Engraved Stone Discovered in ChinaBeijing, 16 Sep (ONA) --- A stone inscription discovered on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was identified as China's only known Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-207 B.C.) engraved stone still preserved at its original site and of the highest altitude from that historical period, said Chinese authorities. The stone is situated on the northern shore of Gyaring Lake in Maduo County, northwest China's Qinghai Province, at an altitude of 4,306 meters. The inscribed surface area is about 0.16 square meters and contains 37 characters, according to China's National ...

"Birdhouses": An Enduring Ottoman Legacy of Architectural Compassion Istanbul, 15 Sep (ONA) --- The birdhouses built into the walls of historic mosques from the Ottoman period continue to preserve their distinctive charm as symbols of both architectural elegance and animal welfare. The Turkish people have long been known for their notable care toward the animals and birds inhabiting their cities and villages. Architectural features and structures embodying this culture of protection and kindness—which the Ottomans diligently designed and constructed in various forms ...

"A Travel Ticket to Oman": An Exciting Journey for Children Through Omani History Muscat, 15 Sep (ONA) --- Omani history represents a cultural treasure rich with stories and tales that need to be reintroduced to new generations in an accessible and engaging language. From this perspective comes the book "A Travel Ticket to Oman: Tales from Omani History" by author Ahmed bin Nasser Al Rashdi, published by the Omani Red Fox Library. Through this work, the author aims to present a collection of historical stories directed at children and adolescents using a compelling narrative ...

Oman Embassy in Korea Organizes Photo Exhibition in Seoul Seoul, 11 Sep (ONA) --- The Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the Republic of Korea organized a photography exhibition titled "Beautiful Oman" at Sejong Art Center in Seoul. The five-day event was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth and the Omani Society for Arts. Zakariya Hamad Al Saadi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Korea, delivered a welcoming speech in which he said that the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Korea share deep-rooted cultural ...

Rock Drawings Discovered in Sohar Sohar, 10 Sep (ONA) --- The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has revealed a collection of distinct rock drawings and carvings in the Tabq area, located within Wadi Al Lajam in the Wilayat of Sohar, North Al Batinah Governorate. These drawings are spread across both banks of the valley and depict a variety of animals, including cows, bulls, camels, horses, mountain goats, and ibexes. They also feature human figures and geometric symbols, clearly showing the environmental and symbolic diversity of ancient Omani life. Preliminary estimates ...

Digital Initiative Launched to Preserve Omani Traditional Games Muscat, 10 Sep (ONA) --- The Children's Culture Center, part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, has launched a pioneering digital initiative in Oman to integrate traditional Omani games into a modern digital environment. The initiative aims to preserve intangible cultural heritage and enhance its relevance for younger generations by using modern technology to revive Omani cultural heritage through an app featuring traditional games. Omani culture is a mirror of the Omani community's identity and ...

Oman Cinema Society Signs Cooperation Agreement with Kazan International Film Festival Kazan, 9 Sep (ONA) --- The Oman Cinema Society has signed a cooperation agreement with the Kazan International Film Festival during its twenty-first edition, hosted in the city of Kazan, Russian Republic of Tatarstan. The agreement was signed on behalf of the festival by its Executive Director, Milyausha Aituganova, and on behalf of the Society by its board chairman, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Ajmi. The agreement includes a number of provisions, most notably the exchange of ...

Panel Discussion Explores Role of Folk Culture in Sustainable Development Muscat, 8 Sep (ONA) --- The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth, represented by the Literary Forum, held a panel discussion today titled, "The Role of Folk Culture in Providing Means for Sustainable Development: Omani Culture as a Model." The session featured a research paper presented by Dr. Hajer Abdulrahman Harrathi, an associate professor of ancient Arabic literature at Sohar University and a researcher specializing in folk culture, interdisciplinary studies, and cultural economics. The paper ...

Literary Creativity Award for School Students LaunchedMuscat, 2 Sep (ONA) — Oman Society for Writers and Literati today launched the third edition of its Literary Creativity Award for School Students (2025–2026) at its headquarters in Airport Heights.Dr. Abdullah Khamis Ambusaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, who sponsored the launch, emphasized that the award reflects the active partnership between the Ministry of Education and the Oman Society for Writers and Literati.He noted that such cultural initiatives enrich the educational environment and open ...