Muscat – Oman has officially joined the International Congress of Maritime Museums (ICMM), represented by Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, creating history in the process as the first Middle Eastern government entity to be accepted into the prestigious organisation.

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism was recently granted membership alongside the Maritime Museum of Crete in Greece and Naval Museum of Peru. It is one of only two affiliate members from Asia along with the Indonesian Hidden Heritage Creative Hub in Jakarta.

The landmark membership underscores Oman’s commitment to advancing international collaboration in maritime heritage and positioning the sultanate as a global leader in preserving and showcasing its rich maritime history, a statement said.

ICMM is a renowned international body dedicated to promoting the preservation and enhancement of maritime heritage worldwide. Through this membership, Oman will strengthen its role in the global exchange of knowledge and expertise in maritime museums, elevating the standards of maritime collections and research.

In an effort to preserve Oman’s maritime history, the ministry announced significant investments in October 2024, with agreements worth RO12mn to fund the initial phase of the Maritime History Museum project in Sur, South Sharqiyah.

The museum is poised to become a key asset in the region’s heritage and tourism sector, contributing to the local economy and infrastructure development, while preserving Oman’s maritime legacy.

The sultanate’s seafaring history dates back millennia with its traders navigating routes from China to East Africa as early as the 3rd millennium BC. By the Islamic Period, they were part of a vast trading network spanning the region, and over the last four centuries, Oman established maritime links between the Sea of Oman, the Makran Coast and East Africa.

This maritime tradition has influenced Omani boatbuilding and navigational history, with traditional vessels and techniques now being preserved and documented.