Oman participates in UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Korea

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Oman participated as an observer in the 48th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session in Busan, engaging in discussions on new site nominations and heritage conservation. The country highlighted its strategic program supporting African heritage preservation, demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation and capacity building in safeguarding cultural and natural sites.

The Sultanate of Oman participated as an observer in the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, Republic of Korea. The event brought together States Parties to the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

Oman’s delegation was led by Amna bint Salim al Balushi, the Permanent Delegate of Oman to UNESCO. The delegation engaged in discussions on new nominations for World Heritage sites, reviewed the conservation status of existing properties on the list, and addressed various matters related to the implementation of the World Heritage Convention. In addition to the formal sessions, Oman took part in several side events and bilateral meetings with UNESCO officials and delegates from other member states.

During the committee’s meeting, 25 new sites were added to the World Heritage List, including 19 cultural sites, five natural sites, and one mixed site. This brought the total number of World Heritage properties worldwide to 1,273, across 173 countries, with 991 categorized as cultural, 240 as natural, and 42 as mixed heritage sites.

On the sidelines of the session, Oman presented its contributions to enhancing World Heritage expertise in Africa under the event titled “Strengthening African Expertise in World Heritage.” The presentation underscored Oman’s commitment to international cooperation, knowledge sharing, and safeguarding cultural and natural heritage on a global scale.

Oman also showcased the outcomes of a strategic program launched in 2021 in partnership with UNESCO to build capacity for World Heritage preservation in five African countries. The initiative has trained approximately 250 heritage professionals, facilitated the preparation of nomination files for World Heritage status, and promoted sustainable management practices for heritage sites.

Throughout the session, the Omani delegation held multiple bilateral meetings aimed at expanding cooperation in heritage protection, capacity building, and the exchange of expertise, further supporting international efforts to preserve humanity’s shared cultural and natural legacy.

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