18 May 2022
H.E Shaikha Mai Receives the Omani Minister of Heritage and Tourism, H.E highlights the importance of concerted efforts and joint work to advance the Arab cultural heritage
H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage, received on Wednesday, 18 May 2022, His Excellency Mr. Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism of the Sultanate of Oman, at the Center’s headquarters in Manama. During his visit, His Excellency Omani Heritage and Tourism Minister, Al Mahrouqi explored multiple aspects of the cultural movement in the Kingdom and were acquainted with the programs of the Regional Center and its efforts to preserve the Tangible Heritage in various Arab countries. The two parties also discussed ways to enhance cultural cooperation between the two brotherly countries.
H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa said that the visit of the Minister of Heritage and Tourism in the Sultanate reflects the keenness of both countries and their mutual determination to further develop and enhance cultural relations between the two countries, praising the Omani presence in the local movement, which has always resulted in mutual projects within the sustainable cultural seasons. In addition, H.E stressed the importance of joint Gulf and Arab action in preserving the valuable cultural and historical assets of their peoples and nations, adding: "We have in our Arab world a unique ancient historical heritage, hard to find its counterpart anywhere else, and we at the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage target direct communication with all those responsible for heritage in Arab countries in order to enhance our ancient cultural heritage”. H.E lauded the positive response and the constant efforts to establish direct continuous channels of communication with the concerned authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, in order to enhance efforts to preserve its heritage sites registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
His Excellency Mr. Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, for his part, thanked H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa for her efforts and keenness to consolidate and strengthen relations between Bahrain and Oman, praising the efforts of the Regional Center in improving the state of conservation and management of World Heritage sites in the Arab countries. His Excellency expressed his readiness to cooperate with the ARC-WH center in order to enhance the capabilities of Arab countries to preserve and safeguard their cultural sites.
While being warmly welcomed at the ARC_WH Center, His Excellency Al-Mahrouqi toured the premises and was briefed about the work plan of the Arab Regional Center for World Heritage and its various programs within its strategic plan to preserve and safeguard Arab sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The tour was carried out in the presence of Dr. Heba Abdel Aziz, Director of the Center and a number of its cadres. His Excellency was briefed on the various achievements of the Center since its establishment in 2012 in the areas of supporting the registration of Arab sites on the list, capacity-building for Arab experts and specialists, publishing, publications and writing manuals and on archiving the historical and cultural heritage, the last of which was the World Heritage in Arab Countries book in its second edition. In addition to the Center's success in building a solid network of relationships with relevant international institutions and organizations.
On the sidelines of his visit, His Excellency Minister Salim bin Muhammad Al Mahrouqi attended a lecture organized by the Center via Zoom video online communication techniques, presented by Dr. Adela Al-Aidi, Director of the Palestinian Museum, on the Regional Center’s celebration of the International Museum Day. Al –Aidi also shed light on the various challenges that the museum faces in carrying out and implementing its annual programs and activities.
