Salalah – Salalah has been recognised as a global centre of resilience under the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s ‘Making Cities Resilient 2030’ programme, becoming the first city in Oman to achieve the status, the second in the GCC and the third in the Arab world.

Sheikh Dr Saeed bin Humaid Al Harthy, Wali of Salalah, said the recognition reflects an institutional commitment to preparedness and risk reduction.

“This marks a shift from symbolic acknowledgement to proactive action,” he said, adding that the programme is part of the governorate’s strategy to strengthen infrastructure and urban systems against climate and disaster-related risks.

He said Salalah’s efforts for this align with Vision 2040, particularly its focus on sustainable cities, and are expected to enhance institutional response capacity and improve the country’s standing in international assessments. The recognition is also seen as reinforcing the competitiveness of Omani cities as investment destinations.

Al Harthy said coordination across government entities and community stakeholders has been central to the efforts, positioning society as a partner in resilience planning.

Saeed bin Salem Al Harizi, who led the technical team for the city’s registration, said the designation followed a structured process carried out in coordination with the UN agency. The process included risk awareness campaigns, integration of resilience standards into development planning and adoption of monitoring tools.

He said Salalah achieved the highest level of recognition in the first phase of implementation, enabling it to move from local application to internationally accredited status.

The city is expected to share its experience with other municipalities in Oman and abroad as part of knowledge exchange initiatives under the programme.

The ‘Making Cities Resilient 2030’ framework supports cities in shifting from reactive disaster response to proactive risk management. It provides technical guidance for risk assessment, institutional capacity building and the development of action plans aligned with global standards.

Officials said the recognition is likely to support Oman’s performance in international disaster risk reduction benchmarks, including the Sendai Framework. It also facilitates cooperation with UN experts and promotes the adoption of best practices in emergency response and recovery.