New Visitor Centre to Enhance Qalhat’s Heritage Appeal

MUSCAT: In a move to further preserve and promote Oman’s cultural legacy, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed an agreement to develop a new visitor centre at the historic city of Qalhat.

The agreement was formalised on Monday by H.E. Salim bin Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, and Dr. Amer Nasser Al Matani, CEO of the Oman LNG Development Foundation.

Spanning 5,000 square meters, the centre will house two museum exhibition halls featuring archaeological artifacts discovered in Qalhat. The facility will also include administrative offices, a gift shop, café, outdoor events plaza, pathways connecting to the archaeological site, seating areas, canopies, and parking spaces.

Qalhat, located in Wilayat Sur, South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. Once a bustling port city, it played a pivotal role in regional trade and maritime commerce, connecting Oman with India, Yemen, and beyond. The city was also known for exporting Arabian horses to the Indian subcontinent.

Khalifa bin Mubarak Al Farsi, Director of the Qalhat Archaeological Site Department, called the project a significant cultural milestone that will help preserve and showcase Qalhat’s rich historical legacy.

Eng. Ismail bin Sulaiman Al-Sawafi, General Manager of Social Responsibility and Public Relations at Oman LNG, highlighted the project’s potential to position Qalhat as a prominent national and international heritage tourism destination. He added that it would also generate employment and support local products and crafts.