Muscat – A volunteer project promoting traditional crafts at Bahla Fort has been selected for Unesco’s World Heritage Volunteers 2026 campaign, marking Oman’s first participation through the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.

The ‘Preserving the Inheritance’ project will run from September 3 to 12 and involve local and international volunteers in pottery, woodcraft and metalwork workshops, lectures and community activities. It aims to pass traditional knowledge to younger generations and raise awareness of the World Heritage-listed site.

Held under the theme ‘Working on the Future’, the campaign includes 87 projects at 82 World Heritage properties and tentative-list sites across 37 countries. Oman and Morocco are the two Arab states represented.

The Bahla initiative will be organised with government bodies and the Bahla Volunteer Team. Officials said it would boost community participation, support cultural exchange and help preserve craft skills linked to the historic oasis.

Unesco launched the volunteer programme in 2008 to involve young people and local communities in protecting and promoting cultural and natural heritage.