Muscat – Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidi, Governor of Muscat, chaired a high-level meeting on Tuesday with H E Eng Ibrahim bin Said al Kharousi, Undersecretary for Heritage Affairs in the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, to advance heritage conservation efforts in the Muscat governorate.

The meeting, attended by senior officials, focused on strengthening cooperation to preserve Oman’s cultural and historical legacy, promote tourism, and integrate heritage conservation into urban development plans.

Officials reviewed the latest data on archaeological sites and monuments across Oman, which currently has 3,025 registered monuments. In Muscat, Quriyat leads with 80 monuments and 287 archaeological sites, followed by Bausher with 37 monuments and 62 sites, Muttrah with 46 monuments and 23 sites, Seeb with 23 monuments and 31 sites, and Amerat with 20 monuments and 26 sites.

The Directorate General of Antiquities provided updates on ongoing restoration efforts for key landmarks in Muscat and outlined priority heritage conservation projects aimed at safeguarding Oman’s cultural heritage as a cornerstone of national identity.

Innovative projects to revive traditional Omani crafts, including sarooj (lime mortar), green cotton, and leather production, were also highlighted, along with awareness campaigns to promote craft heritage.

The Directorate General of Museums presented updates on geological heritage initiatives, including geological parks, meteorite restoration, and a proposal to relocate the Natural History Museum to the Oman Botanic Garden.

The meeting concluded with a review of the work of the Historic Landmarks Linkage Committee, which focuses on integrating historical sites into the urban fabric of Muscat and Muttrah, reflecting the governorate’s commitment to preserving its rich cultural heritage.