Monday 10 / August / 2026
Salalah: The Omani Crafts Forum, titled “Identity and Extension,” opened on Monday at Al Hafa Market in the Wilayat of Salalah, bringing together craftsmen, craft enterprises and suppliers of traditional craft materials and tools.
Organised by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, in cooperation with Dhofar Municipality and the Office of the Governor of Dhofar, the forum will run until August 22.
The opening ceremony was held under the patronage of H H Sayyid Marwan bin Turki Al Said, Governor of Dhofar, and was attended by a number of dignitaries and officials from government and private-sector institutions in the governorate.
Held as part of the Dhofar Autumn Season 2026 programme, the forum seeks to showcase the richness of Oman’s traditional crafts while highlighting efforts to preserve their authenticity, develop them through innovation and ensure their continued relevance for future generations.
The forum traces the history and evolution of Omani crafts, showcasing traditional techniques, the stories behind them and the inherited knowledge that has shaped an important part of the Sultanate’s cultural identity.
It also seeks to document and revive traditional craft practices through live demonstrations, giving visitors an opportunity to see and experience techniques used by artisans in the past.
The forum also provides a platform for contemporary craft designs and products inspired by Oman’s historical heritage, demonstrating how traditional knowledge can be combined with modern creativity.
Another key focus is encouraging emerging artisans and designers to experiment with modern tools and techniques while retaining the essence and identity of traditional crafts. The forum also aims to strengthen the link between the past and the future by demonstrating how inherited craft knowledge can serve as a foundation for developing revitalised, future-oriented craft industries in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
The forum further promotes the transmission of traditional skills to younger generations through innovative approaches, helping ensure that Omani crafts continue to survive, evolve and remain part of the country’s cultural and economic landscape.
The event features several sections bringing together traditional crafts, leading craft institutions, organisations working to develop the sector and suppliers of specialised tools and equipment.
Interactive sections offer workshops and hands-on experiences in producing craft items, while museum displays showcase collections of traditional crafts. The forum also includes an integrated craft environment designed to recreate aspects of traditional settings found across the Sultanate.
Engineer Ibrahim bin Saeed Al Kharousi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Heritage, said the organisation of the forum reflects Oman’s continued attention to traditional crafts and craft industries and its efforts to develop the sector while preserving its authenticity and ensuring that it keeps pace with contemporary requirements.
He said holding the forum during the Dhofar Autumn Season provides an important opportunity to strengthen the presence of Omani crafts during one of the Sultanate’s most prominent tourism seasons and benefit from the strong visitor activity witnessed by the governorate.
The event, he added, allows visitors to discover an important dimension of Oman’s cultural heritage — one that combines the authenticity of the past with a spirit of innovation.
Al Kharousi noted that the forum brings together Omani crafts and traditional industries under one roof to highlight their diversity, as well as the skills, knowledge and inherited creativity behind them.
Through live demonstrations, interactive experiences and innovative craft products, visitors can explore the different stages involved in producing traditional items and learn about the techniques used by artisans.
He said the forum’s theme, “Identity and Extension,” reflects this approach: “Identity” represents the depth and diversity of Oman’s craft heritage, while “Extension” highlights the importance of preserving, developing and carrying these crafts forward so they continue to have a place in community life and in Oman’s tourism and cultural landscape.
