Milan, Italy  – Oman and Italy have agreed to deepen cooperation in cultural heritage and museums, with a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) opening the way for joint initiatives in museum development, heritage conservation, archaeological research and professional training.

The MoU was signed by H E  Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said Al Busaidi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, and Alessandro Giuli, Italy’s Minister of Culture, during the former’s visit to Italy. 

The two ministers called for the development of an executive programme setting out areas of cooperation, the institutions involved and a timetable for implementation.

A key area of cooperation will be the development of the  Maritime Museum in Oman , with the two sides exploring opportunities to benefit from Italian expertise in museum design and visitor experience, the preservation of maritime collections, documentation of Oman’s maritime history and the development of interactive displays.

The discussions also covered cooperation in the restoration of archaeological sites and historic buildings, improving the management of heritage sites and enhancing visitor experiences.

The two countries will also explore the exchange of exhibitions between museums, training programmes and professional placements for Omani specialists, as well as joint archaeological research at terrestrial and underwater sites.

The two sides reviewed opportunities to adaptively reuse heritage buildings as cultural spaces, museums and venues for events. Such projects would seek to preserve the historical value of the buildings while ensuring their sustainable operation and strengthening their contribution to cultural and tourism development.

The MoU aims to enhance the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the management, preservation and restoration of cultural heritage, as well as museum development and the organisation of temporary exhibitions.

It will also support national capacity-building in conservation and restoration, museum presentation and interpretation, archaeology and heritage management, while strengthening cooperation between specialised institutions.

The agreement further provides for the exchange of experts, scientific research and technical applications, creating opportunities for closer collaboration between Omani and Italian institutions in preserving and developing cultural heritage.