Muscat-Sultanate of Oman

The National Museum of the Sultanate of Oman, in cooperation with the Belarusian National Library, opened the book culture exhibition among the Belarusian Tatars, under the patronage of Dr. Muhammad bin Saeed Al-Maamari, Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs, and its work will continue until the sixth of next November.

The exhibition presents unique examples of manuscript heritage written in the Arabic alphabet in multiple languages, including Belarusian, Polish, and Turkish. It includes noble Qur’ans and interpretations dating back to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, in addition to prayer booklets known as hamail, and medical and educational books that highlight the distinguished cognitive contribution of Islamic societies in Eastern Europe and their ability to preserve historical identity.

​An institutional partnership for restoration and specialized lecture programs

Vadzim Gegin, Director General of the Belarusian National Library, stressed that the exhibition represents a window into an exceptional legacy that embodies the growing ties with the Sultanate of Oman and the common concern for protecting human heritage.
Gegin praised the pioneering initiative of the National Records and Archives Authority and the National Museum to launch a training program for manuscript restoration for the benefit of Belarusian cadres to exchange experiences and develop preservation skills for future generations. The opening of the exhibition coincided with the organization of a specialized lecture presented by Kristina Yermak, which addressed the unique specificity of this common heritage and the innovation of the Belarusian Muslims of an accurate writing system to represent the sounds of their language in the Arabic alphabet.

Reflections on cultural tourism and hospitality movement in Muscat

​The continuation of the exhibition for several weeks contributes to revitalizing the cultural and cognitive tourism paths in Muscat Governorate, by attracting researchers, lovers of Islamic arts, and academic and diplomatic delegations interested in the treasures of rare manuscripts from inside and outside the Sultanate.

These specialized museum activities have a positive impact on raising hotel occupancy rates within accommodation and hospitality facilities adjacent to heritage monuments, as well as revitalizing the transportation, dining, and shopping sectors, which consolidates the Sultanate’s position as a leading tourist destination in preserving human history, and supports the growth of exhibition tourism and sustainable intellectual events in accordance with the highest international standards.