Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has announced plans to create Oman and the Arab world’s first geological heritage park in the Hajar Mountains, a move aimed at preserving the region’s geological diversity and promoting awareness on geological conservation.

The initiative, revealed during a workshop titled ‘Meteorites in Oman and Combating their Illicit Trade’ on Sunday, seeks to attract tourists with an interest in geological features while highlighting the importance of protecting such natural heritage.

The workshop served as a platform for discussions on preservation of meteorites and the fight against their illegal trade. H E Salim Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, emphasised the ministry’s commitment to establishing the geopark. “We are collaborating with relevant authorities on this project. Our goal is to register it with Unesco next year,” he stated.

The workshop saw the participation of experts and specialists in the field, including Prof Beda Hoffmann from Natural History Museum of Bern, Switzerland, who shared scientific insights on meteorites. It underscored the significance of scientific, educational and regulatory measures in preventing fraud, illegal trade and other illicit practices related to meteorites.

A highlight of the ministry’s efforts includes a collaboration with Natural History Museum of Bern and Curtin University of Australia, with support from Omantel, to monitor meteorites entering Oman’s atmosphere. The initial results, announced in October last year, marked the successful documentation and monitoring of the first meteorite – Al Khadhaf – entering the sultanate’s atmosphere in real time.

The ministry and its partners have successfully documented over 7,340 meteorites in Oman.

Ria bint Mohammed al Kindi, Director General of Museums, spoke on the workshop’s role in enhancing awareness among tourist companies about the importance of preserving meteorites.

“The ministry is committed to continuing efforts to improve follow-up and protection efforts through research, monitoring, documentation and temporary exhibitions of meteorites,” she said.

“This workshop is part of our wider goals to build national capacities in preserving cultural heritage and combating illegal trafficking.”

The geological heritage park project represents a significant step towards promoting Oman’s natural wonders and contributing to the global effort in geological conservation and education.