Paris: The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, a branch of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is presently taking place at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris.
Oman's delegation to the meeting is headed by Amina Salim Al Balushi, the Sultanate of Oman's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.
The meeting reviews the inclusion of more than 30 new locations to the World Heritage List. It also reviews the state of 250 registered sites to evaluate the environmental and development issues posed to them.
The session features working meetings on several concerns linked to UNregistered heritage sites, such as the influence of climate change on these sites, strategies to involve local communities in safeguarding the sites, creating sustainable management techniques for conserving at-risk sites, and evaluating the competitiveness of national and international plans designed to preserve the exceptional values of sites included in the World Heritage List.
Oman's participation in the meeting reflects the country's commitment to preserving cultural and natural treasures and transferring this dedication to future generations. It also boosts Oman's international presence in cultural forums, supports the country's current and future heritage portfolios, and reaffirms its commitment to the International Convention Concerning the Protection of the World's Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Omani sites on the World Heritage List include Bahla Fort (1987), the archaeological sites of Bat, Al Khatm, and Al Ayn (1988), five aflaj traditional irrigation systems (2006), sites codenamed the Land of Frankincense (2000), and the ancient city of Qalhat (2018).
