London: A ceremony was held in the British capital London to launch the expedition dubbed ‘Sultanate of Oman: Jewel of the Arabia’ under the patronage of HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth and His Royal Highness Prince William, Prince of Wales.
The project aims to revive the 1928 journey by British explorer Bertram Thomas across the Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter) desert, highlight the cultural and natural heritage of the Sultanate of Oman and increase awareness of the importance of sustaining the environment.
The expedition also aims to enhance the Sultanate of Oman’s status as a global destination combining cultural and natural heritage as well as its commitment to supporting environmental sustainability efforts. The expedition will be documented by publishing a book and promotional materials that highlight the experience and open new horizons for cultural and tourism cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the whole world.
The 30-day expedition is scheduled to start in January 2025 from Ras Al Hadd in the north to Salalah in the south using a blend of traditional means of transportation such as camels and walking and modern ones such as four-wheel drive vehicles. A group of interested British people are participating in the expedition along with Omani youth reflecting cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The launch ceremony included a promotional film about the expedition and its objectives in addition to the launch of a dedicated website which will cover the expedition.
An accompanying exhibition was also held featuring historical artifacts from the first trip in 1928 providing an opportunity to learn about the Sultanate of Oman’s rich cultural heritage.
‘The Sultanate of Oman: Jewel of the Arabs’ is not merely an expedition but rather a bridge between the past and the future reflecting the spirit of cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom. — ONA
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