Kuala Lumpur – The Omani Research and Studies Centre was inaugurated on Monday at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) to promote academic cooperation and showcase Oman’s history and civilisation.

The centre will serve as a platform for research on Oman, encourage academic studies, and support documentation of cultural, scientific and educational ties between Oman and Malaysia. It also seeks to attract researchers and scholars to explore Omani history, civilisation and contemporary achievements.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saud al Siyabi, Secretary-General of the Office of the Grand Mufti of Oman, said the centre will contribute to strengthening Oman-Malaysia relations and provide an organised framework for cultural and academic exchange. He said the centre reflects Oman’s commitment to promoting knowledge, ethics and dialogue.

The inauguration was held alongside a cultural and educational forum featuring the Omani Cultural Exhibition and the 9th International Conference on Oman’s Role in Promoting Ethics: Between Theory and Practice.

Dr Rahma bint Ahmed Othman, Director of centre, said the forum is the outcome of cooperation between the Office of the Grand Mufti of Oman and IIUM. “This diverse platform combines thought, culture, creativity and scientific research,” she said, adding that the forum reflects the shared commitment to ethical, intellectual and cultural leadership.

The three-day conference includes ten sessions across four themes – the first to discuss ethics between theory and practice, the second on applied ethics, the third to examine theoretical ethics and the fourth to address contemporary efforts in the promotion of ethics.

The accompanying exhibition includes displays by the Omani Students Association in Malaysia and a section titled ‘Identity and Civilisation’ highlighting Oman’s cultural heritage and values rooted in Islam.