Salalah – Oman will host a delegation from the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Dhofar from August 25 to 28 as part of the organisation’s ‘Bridges of Civilisation’ programme, aimed at strengthening cultural dialogue and institutional cooperation.

The visit, hosted by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, will introduce the delegation to Dhofar’s cultural, heritage and developmental assets while exploring opportunities for future cooperation between ICESCO and Omani institutions.

The programme seeks to transform cultural visits into platforms for dialogue and institutional engagement, allowing ICESCO officials and experts to examine the experiences of member states, their cultural identities, institutions and development initiatives.

The delegation will visit historical landmarks, heritage sites and cultural institutions in Dhofar, as well as projects linked to tourism, archaeological preservation and community participation.

Meetings are also scheduled with officials and stakeholders in the heritage, tourism, cultural and development sectors to identify areas for joint programmes and exchange expertise.

Omar bin Salem Al Abdulsalam, Assistant Director of the Department of Organisations and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said the visit would help expand cooperation with ICESCO.

“Hosting the delegation of ICESCO within the framework of the Bridges of Civilisation programme in Dhofar comes within efforts to strengthen institutional cooperation between the organisation and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism,” he said.

Al Abdulsalam said the visit would provide an opportunity to present Oman’s experience in heritage, culture and tourism and identify areas where cooperation could be developed through joint programmes.

He said the initiative could help move relations beyond coordination towards the exchange of expertise and the development of joint projects.

“The Bridges of Civilisation programme provides a practical platform to move institutional relations from the level of communication and coordination to a more effective level based on the exchange of experiences and the building of joint initiatives and projects,” he said.

Launched by ICESCO’s General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences, Bridges of Civilisation is designed to deepen engagement with member states through direct exposure to national experiences, greater interaction between ICESCO experts and local institutions, and the exchange of best practices.