Latest news with #OmanAcrossAgesMuseum
Observer
6 days ago
- Business
- Observer
MoHUP pavilion highlights the future of urban life
Muscat: In a unique initiative that blends visionary planning with public engagement, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning (MoHUP) inaugurated its 'Future Cities' exhibition pavilion at the Oman Across Ages Museum. The exhibit, which will run from July through September 2025, is part of the ministry's broader mission to raise public awareness about Oman's urban development vision and sustainable planning goals. The pavilion offers an immersive experience for visitors, highlighting key strategic projects that embody the future of urban life in the Sultanate of Oman. These initiatives reflect Oman's commitment to building modern, inclusive and smart cities based on the principles of sustainability, quality of life and urban integration. At the heart of the exhibition lies Sultan Haitham City, the country's first integrated and sustainable next-generation city. Designed with cutting-edge infrastructure and intelligent systems, the city aims to provide a high quality of life through walkable neighbourhoods, green spaces and comprehensive services. This landmark project exemplifies the Oman's shift towards building future-ready cities and reflects the vision of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik for a society that balances economic prosperity with environmental responsibility and human well-being. Beyond Sultan Haitham City, the pavilion showcases a diverse array of strategic projects derived from Oman's National Urban Development Strategy. Among them is the Highland City project, an innovative model for sustainable mountain development that combines natural topography with advanced residential and tourism solutions. The pavilion also features Al Thuraya City — a futuristic smart city development located in the heart of Muscat. With its global investment outlook and sustainable design, the project demonstrates Oman's ambition to become a leader in smart urbanism. Another highlight is the Central Al Khuwair Master Plan, which reimagines a dynamic, mixed-use urban core in Muscat. Meanwhile, in the south, the Future Salalah City is presented as a landmark coastal development in Dhofar Governorate, designed to harmonise with the region's rich ecological and cultural identity. The exhibition also shines a spotlight on the Sorouh initiative — a national programme aimed at delivering integrated residential neighbourhoods that meet the evolving housing needs of Oman's population. These communities are designed with a focus on sustainability, affordability and livability, offering diverse housing solutions tailored to different social segments. One of the exhibition's special features includes a display of the Royal Directives issued by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, which have significantly influenced the trajectory of Oman's urban development efforts. These endorsements mark pivotal moments in shaping cities that reflect the nation's aspirations for innovation, inclusivity and sustainability. On the sidelines of the inauguration, a prize draw was held for attendees of the Oman Real Estate Conference and the 20th edition of the Design and Build Week. The prizes — ranging from apartments and plots in Sultan Haitham City and Sorouh neighbourhoods to luxury cars and exclusive home furnishing packages — were aimed at stimulating public interest and investment in Oman's evolving housing sector. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to invigorate the real estate market while encouraging citizens to explore integrated housing options that combine quality construction, comprehensive services and a modern community ethos.
Observer
15-07-2025
- General
- Observer
Oman Across Ages Museum wins award
MANAH: Oman Across Ages Museum in the Wilayat of Manah, Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, has won the 2025 International Chapter Award for Public Architecture. The award was conferred on the museum by the Australian Institute of Architects. The museum merited the award for its prominence in the segment of international projects. The award was announced at the Australian Pavilion at Osaka Expo 2025 in Japan. Oman Across Ages Museum had been designed by the "COX Architecture" Australian firm. This award caps the museum's success story as an architectural project that embodies environmental and cultural values, while at the same time maintaining the spirit of innovation in global architecture. The head of the jury that adjudicated the rankings said that the entries submitted this year highlighted diversity in terms of geographical, cultural and environmental challenges addressed by the winning designs. He explained that the winning designs responded to the aforementioned challenges through their high quality of materials, precision in detail and harmony with their physical entourage. — ONA
Muscat Daily
14-07-2025
- General
- Muscat Daily
Oman Across Ages Museum wins Australian architecture award
By OUR CORRESPONDENT Muscat – Oman Across Ages Museum in Manah, Dakhliyah has won the Australian Institute of Architects International Chapter Architecture Awards – a programme that honours exceptional buildings designed by Australian architects but situated overseas. Now in its 17th iteration, this year's awards were presented at the Australia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka on Saturday. Designed by the Australian firm COX Architecture, the museum was awarded in the Public Architecture category. The architects of the museum describe the project as a 'global cultural hallmark' representative of Oman's past, geographic diversity and future aspirations'. Jury chair Wei Jien Ito said, 'We have been encouraged by this year's award entries with their various challenges based on unique cultural, geographical and environmental circumstances. The various methodologies applied in many of these projects have translated into unique architecture that is also inherently Australian in their integrity of material, form and detail.' The museum embodies the historical and cultural depth of Oman, displaying a journey spanning more than 800mn years. It offers an interactive experience using advanced display technologies. Its architecture is distinguished by its harmony with the terrain of the Al Hajar mountains, with angular blocks emerging from the ground to reflect the natural character of the landscape.
Observer
20-05-2025
- Business
- Observer
International conference on museum concludes with recommendations
MANAH, MAY 20 The International Conference on Museums concluded on Tuesday at the Oman Across Ages Museum under the auspices of Nasr bin Hamoud al Kindi, Secretary-General of the Royal Court Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Museum. In its final statement, the conference provided a series of key recommendations aimed at reinforcing the integrated management of cultural heritage that includes advancing digital documentation, oral storytelling, and institutional partnerships to solidify the role of museums as living memory hubs and sustainable drivers of cultural and tourism development. Dr Mohammed bin Ali al Balushi, Head of the Scientific Committee, delivered the closing statement emphasising the importance of developing multilingual and multimedia museum programmes to enhance visitor experience, expanding participation in both national and international cultural tourism routes, and integrating museums into tourism strategies through innovative models such as archaeological site museums and intangible heritage museums. These approaches aim to safeguard cultural diversity and stimulate local economies. The conference recommended anchoring museums within urban and tourism planning frameworks as creative, interactive centres capable of supporting local economic activity. It also called for leveraging cultural entrepreneurship and digital transformation to create smart museum models that generate sustainable income, support economic diversification and encourage participatory governance and stronger public and private community partnerships. In the cultural and educational sphere, the conference highlighted the need to repurpose museums as interactive learning spaces that promote cultural citizenship and link cultural diversity with local curricula and educational programmes. Institutional partnerships with educational and professional bodies were also encouraged to build specialised capacities and produce high quality cultural content that links learning with tourism. Regarding digital technologies, the conference urged museums to adopt integrated digital strategies based on artificial intelligence and modern tools to deepen visitor engagement and expand cultural and tourism impact. Museums were encouraged to transform historical figures into digital icons that connect memory with innovation and speak to global digital-native audiences.
Times of Oman
20-05-2025
- Times of Oman
Museums tourism development conference recommends enhancing integrated management of cultural heritage
Manah: The International Conference 'Museums and Their Role in Tourism Development" concluded its deliberations on Tuesday in the Wilayat of Manah, A'Dakhiliyah Governorate, under the patronage of Nasr Hamoud Al Kindi, Secretary General of the Royal Court Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Oman Across Ages Museum. Regarding museum and heritage institutions, the conference recommended enhancing the integrated management of cultural heritage through digital documentation, oral narratives, and institutional partnerships. This aims to establish museums as living memories and drivers of sustainable tourism and cultural development. It also called for activating multilingual and multimedia museum programmes to enrich visitor experiences, expanding participation in national and international tourism routes linked to cultural identity, and integrating museums into tourism policies through models such as archaeological and heritage site museums and intangible museums. These efforts would bolster the community economy and preserve local cultural diversity. In a statement delivered by Dr. Mohammed Ali Al Balushi, Chairman of the Scientific Committee, concerning museum economy and tourism, the conference emphasised consolidating the role of museums in urban and tourism planning as interactive creative hubs capable of stimulating local economies and creating educational and experiential tourism pathways. It also recommended leveraging cultural entrepreneurship and digital transformation to develop smart museum models that generate sustainable income, support economic diversification within the cultural economy, and enhance participatory governance models and partnerships with the private sector and communities to improve museum investment efficiency and expand its tourism and social impact within the sustainable development agenda. As for the cultural and educational role of museums, the conference recommended repurposing museums as interactive educational spaces that promote cultural citizenship and integrate multiculturalism into educational programmes and local curricula within a comprehensive societal vision. It also advocated supporting mobile, scientific, and literary museums as alternative models to bridge learning gaps, connect visitors with knowledge and tourism experiences in marginalised environments and multicultural communities, and develop institutional partnerships between museums, educational institutions, and professional bodies to build technical capacities and produce quality cultural content that fosters integration between education and tourism. As far as digital technologies in museum exhibitions and their tourism role are concerned, the conference recommended adopting integrated digital strategies based on artificial intelligence and other modern technologies to deepen visitor experiences and amplify the cultural and tourism impact of museum content. It also called for using non-invasive analysis and documentation tools, such as multispectral imaging and digital modeling, to preserve collections and enhance museums' research and educational appeal. Additionally, it emphasised integrating interactive digital storytelling into museum marketing, transforming historical figures into digital symbols that bridge memory and innovation while engaging the global digital-native audience. Dr. Mohammed Ismail Al Nasrat, in his address on behalf of participants, highlighted Oman's ancient history spanning thousands of years and its vibrant cultural treasures embodied in every museum, fort, and city. He noted that these institutions have proven not only to be guardians of memory but also key players in shaping the future of cultural tourism in the region and the world. He emphasised Oman's profound commitment to heritage and its relentless efforts to link heritage with development, serving as a model for transforming culture into an economic, social, and humanitarian asset. The conference's third theme, 'The Cultural and Educational Role of Museums," featured several working papers discussing the educational and interactive experiences of contemporary museums. Meanwhile, the fourth theme, 'Digital Technologies in Museum Exhibitions and Their Role in Tourism," explored digital imaging, interactive guidance in museums, and artificial intelligence innovations. Dr. Hashil Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO of Omran Group and the keynote speaker on the final day of the conference, delivered a lecture titled 'Museums as Strategic Drivers of Tourism Growth." He highlighted museums as one of the most important attractions for cultural and knowledge-seeking tourists, their role in boosting the tourism sector, and their connection to economic, social, and cultural development. He underscored their importance in attracting culturally oriented tourists, supporting local economies, and strengthening national identity, as well as their contribution to sustainable tourism development and the diversification of tourism products and experiences. He also examined their role in reshaping cities as prime destinations, extending visitor stays, and stimulating year-round tourism spending.
