Muscat – A film tracing the journey of food from Sur’s fishing boats and spice shops to the family Ramadan table has won an international award, putting Oman’s culinary heritage in the spotlight as food tourism gains ground worldwide.

Ramadan Table in Pictures, by Omani photographer Haitham Al Farsi, won Best Film in the ‘Urban-Rural Connection’ category at the Food Film Menu 2026 competition organised by the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) in Spain.

More than 100 films from around the world competed across 14 categories.

At the heart of Al Farsi’s film is the Ramadan table in Sur – not merely as a collection of dishes, but as a window into the coastal city’s history, family traditions and centuries-old relationship with the sea.

The film explores how Sur’s maritime and trading past helped shape its cuisine, with influences carried through ingredients, spices and cooking traditions as sailors and merchants connected the city with ports and communities beyond Oman.

“The film tells the story of one of the Omani dishes associated with the Ramadan table in Sur through an integrated journey,” Al Farsi said.

That journey begins with a housewife preparing the dish, follows fishermen setting out early in search of fresh fish and visits the spice merchant before culminating with family members gathering around the iftar table.

“Through this journey, the film seeks to present Omani cuisine as part of the story of the place, its customs, traditions and lifestyle of its society,” he added.

The win comes as destinations increasingly turn to gastronomy as a way of offering visitors experiences rooted in local culture rather than relying only on landmarks and sightseeing.

Amira bint Iqbal Al Lawati, Advisor for Tourism Experience Development at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said the award supports Oman’s efforts to develop culinary and food tourism.

She said the ministry is working to showcase Omani cuisine through international platforms while encouraging photographers and content creators to tell food stories in ways that can reach global audiences.

The ministry supported Al Farsi’s participation and reviewed the film against the competition’s requirements.

Amira said the success demonstrated “the authenticity, richness and ability of Omani content to compete internationally when it is presented within an integrated visual, tourist and cultural narrative”.

For Al Farsi, the award is encouragement to document more of Oman’s diverse food heritage.

“This achievement is a moral boost to present more works that document the heritage of Omani cuisine,” he said, pointing to the wealth of traditional dishes and stories still waiting to be told.