Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has announced that 33 foreign and joint archaeological and research missions will conduct work across Oman in the 2025/2026 season, which began in December, underscoring the sultanate’s commitment to preserving its rich cultural heritage while supporting heritage-based tourism. According to the ministry, the missions will bring together […]
Muscat – The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has announced that 33 foreign and joint archaeological and research missions will conduct work across Oman in the 2025/2026 season, which began in December, underscoring the sultanate’s commitment to preserving its rich cultural heritage while supporting heritage-based tourism.
According to the ministry, the missions will bring together Omani researchers and international teams from Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. The projects form part of ongoing efforts to enhance archaeological research, safeguard historical sites and harness discoveries to support sustainable tourism development.
Italian institutions will lead the largest number of projects, with nine missions scheduled, followed by France with five and the United States with four. Other participating countries include Germany, Japan, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Poland, Australia and the United Kingdom. Several projects will be implemented as joint missions in cooperation with Omani teams.
The ministry also highlighted a number of bilateral projects being carried out in partnership with foreign academic and research institutions, reflecting growing international cooperation and the exchange of expertise in archaeology and heritage studies.
Fieldwork will be conducted across several governorates, with Dhahirah, Dhofar and North Sharqiyah hosting the highest number of missions. Additional projects are planned in Muscat, Dakhliyah, North Batinah, South Batinah, Al Wusta, Musandam and Buraimi.
Officials noted that the participation of international research teams supports the documentation and conservation of archaeological sites, contributes to local economies and enhances Oman’s cultural presence on the global stage.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating research missions and transforming archaeological findings into viable tourism products, in line with Oman Vision 2040 and national efforts to diversify the economy.
Meanwhile, the ministry, in collaboration with the Czech-American Archaeological Mission from the University of Utah and the Czech Academy of Sciences, has launched the second season of excavations at the Al Khashbah village site in Mudhaibi, North Sharqiyah.
The site is considered one of the largest Neolithic-era settlements in the region, featuring workshops for stone tool production and multiple hearths, pointing to sustained human activity.
The mission is employing advanced scientific techniques to identify artefacts and determine their chronological phases. The results are expected to provide valuable insights into early human lifestyles, mobility patterns and adaptation to desert environments over thousands of years.
Officials said the project reflects ongoing efforts to document and preserve Oman’s rich archaeological heritage, while contributing to international research on prehistoric settlements in arid landscapes.
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