Unesco has recognised the pivotal role of date palm in the cultures of the Middle East on December 11, inscribing ‘Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices’ on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  

The decision was taken at the 14th Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage meet in Bogota, Colombia, that ran from December 9 to 14.  

Oman along with other countries like Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Mauritania, Morocco, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, the UAE and Yemen had made representation for the listing ‘Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices’.  

The date palm has been connected to the regional population of the submitting states for centuries, serving both as a source of numerous associated crafts, professions and social and cultural traditions, customs and practices, and as a key form of nutrition,  Unesco stated.