His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman visited the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris on Monday as part of his official visit to France. Upon arrival, the Sultan was received by UNESCO Director-General Dr. Khaled El Enany, Oman's Minister of Education Dr. Madeeha bint Ahmed al Shaibani, the country's Permanent Delegate to UNESCO Amina bint Salem al Balushi, and other senior officials.
During the visit, Sultan Haitham viewed the “Oman and UNESCO” exhibition, which highlights the longstanding collaboration between Oman and the organization, showcasing significant achievements in culture, education, and heritage.
In the main hall of UNESCO, Dr. El Enany welcomed the Sultan, expressing pride in Oman’s contribution to the promotion of dialogue and mutual understanding among nations. Sultan Haitham, in his address, underscored the strong historical ties between Oman and UNESCO since the Sultanate joined the organization in 1972. He emphasized UNESCO’s role as a key global institution dedicated to fostering peace, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable development.
The Sultan highlighted Oman’s commitment to preserving its cultural and natural heritage, including the inscription of multiple Omani sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. He also noted the inclusion of Omani historical figures and events in global commemorative programs, reflecting the nation’s civilizational contributions.
Announcing a new initiative, Sultan Haitham unveiled the “UNESCO-Sultan Haitham Prize for Intangible Cultural Heritage.” The prize will recognize the work of institutions and organizations dedicated to preserving intangible cultural heritage, extending Oman’s ongoing support for environmental conservation, scientific research, and knowledge advancement through UNESCO-affiliated academic chairs.
The Sultan reaffirmed the importance of quality, inclusive education as a means to empower youth, foster creativity, and promote community leadership. He aligned Oman’s policies with UNESCO’s efforts to address emerging ethical challenges, including the establishment of frameworks governing artificial intelligence that protect human rights and dignity. He also stressed the promotion of media and information literacy to build informed and cohesive societies.
On environmental issues, Sultan Haitham called climate change a collective challenge requiring international cooperation. He highlighted Oman’s national strategies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by advancing renewable energy, green hydrogen projects, resource efficiency, and clean technology innovation.
Emphasizing the strategic significance of cultural and religious coexistence for global security and peace, the Sultan called for fostering tolerance, respect, and openness to diversity as foundations for a just and stable world.
Concluding his remarks, Sultan Haitham commended UNESCO’s continuous efforts to enhance its effectiveness and reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to supporting the organization’s mission in line with Oman Vision 2040. He expressed readiness to collaborate with the international community to strengthen UNESCO’s role in education, science, culture, and communication, thereby contributing to sustainable peace, tolerance, and human prosperity worldwide.