National Library: Beacon preserving culture, knowledge for generations

MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Wednesday issued Royal Decree No 36/2026 establishing the National Library of Oman and promulgating its system, which is a Royal affirmation of the supreme commitment to preserving Omani culture, safeguarding national memory, and consolidating the status of knowledge as a defining feature of identity and a civilisational beacon for nations and peoples.
Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al Busaidy, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, stated in a press remark that the issuance of the Royal Decree represents a Royal foundation from His Majesty the Sultan that translates his enlightened vision aimed at preserving Omani culture, safeguarding national memory, and consolidating the status of knowledge as a hallmark of identity and a civilisational tributary for generations present and future.
The minister elaborated that the National Library of Oman constitutes an integral component of the monumental Sayyid Tarik bin Taimour Cultural Complex, serving as a comprehensive national repository for Omani intellectual output. The library will dedicate its efforts to the systematic collection, enumeration, organisation and dissemination of Omani publications, facilitating access both locally and internationally in accordance with approved policies that preserve rights and intrinsic value while supporting education, learning, scientific research and enriching the cultural landscape.
He affirmed that this beacon of knowledge has charted its course to register its distinguished presence in the forums of science, learning, research, and culture, with steadfast attention to preserving Omani intellectual heritage and an ambitious vision opening horizons of inspiration and discovery — enriching the passionate researcher, inspiring the discerning thinker and assisting the astute scholar in their noble pursuits.
The minister further emphasised that the Sultanate of Oman holds firm conviction that the authentic narrative of its history and civilisational journey must be presented from its original sources and through its own voice, expressing the depth of its cultural roots and the richness of its intellectual product. Through the National Library of Oman, the nation shall remain forever — as it has always been — a radiant planet in the cultural firmament, proceeding to bring the features of its identity and civilisational message closer to the world, and assisting generations to advance with rooted foundations and conscious minds.
He described this establishment as a watershed moment in the cultural and intellectual trajectory of the Sultanate of Oman, reflecting a wise national commitment to preserving and protecting intellectual heritage, expanding its domestic resonance and enhancing its radiance within the international cultural sphere. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth will proceed with determination to achieve the library's national objectives in a manner that amplifies its far-reaching impact and befits the Sultanate of Oman, its esteemed standing and its glorious journey through history.
The establishment of this national landmark within the Sayyid Tarik bin Taimour Cultural Complex, situated in the Airport Heights area of Muscat Governorate, ensures the creation of a comprehensive national reference for Omani intellectual output, guaranteeing the sustainability of knowledge content, documenting its trajectories, and making it accessible to interested parties locally and internationally according to approved frameworks and policies.
The library constitutes a fundamental pillar in the national cultural landscape, representing an eternal memory of the nation's history and a cognitive and civilisational source. It aims to deposit all Omani works, collect and manage national intellectual output in all its traditional and modern forms, thereby contributing to safeguarding Omani memory and enhancing the cultural identity of the Sultanate of Oman. It stands as a cultural and knowledge beacon, introducing Omani intellectual production to the world and providing access to all interested parties and researchers.
Through this monumental project, the ministry aspires to encompass all publications, works, printed materials and academic theses issued about the Sultanate of Oman, alongside documenting the proceedings of conferences and seminars that have discussed the nation, thereby establishing a comprehensive reference for Omani history and culture that will serve as an enduring testament to the nation's intellectual legacy.
In a testament to the project's commitment to building a conscious generation proud of its identity, the National Library of Oman will include a dedicated children's library in an independent building, containing diverse collections of books, publications, educational games, and everything pertaining to children's culture and developing a love of reading from an early age — instilling concepts of identity, values, and belonging among the young generation.
The library will further contribute to enhancing cooperation and information exchange with peer institutions at regional and international levels, representing the Sultanate of Oman in forums related to its competencies, thereby supporting its cultural presence and facilitating the sharing of expertise and knowledge across borders.
It is noteworthy that the Sayyid Tarik bin Taimour Cultural Complex represents a monumental civilisational, cultural and scientific achievement, constituting a premier cultural and artistic destination for advancing literary, theatrical and research endeavours. The project encompasses a building area of 80,200 square metres on land spanning 400,000 square metres, comprising principal components including the National Library of Oman, the National Theatre, the Children's Library, the House of Arts, the House of Cinema, the Literary Forum, and the National Records and Archives Authority, alongside supporting facilities such as exhibition spaces, workshops and public gardens — creating an integrated cultural ecosystem that will serve as a beacon for generations to come.