Oman strengthens cultural legacy with creation of national library

MUSCAT – Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik issued a royal decree on Wednesday establishing the National Library of Oman and promulgating its governing statute, in a move described as a landmark step to safeguard Omani culture, preserve the nation’s memory and entrench knowledge as a defining pillar of national identity.

The decree provides for the creation of the National Library of Oman as a legal entity enjoying financial and administrative autonomy, reporting directly to the minister of culture, sports and youth. It will assume responsibility for key cultural and archival functions, marking a significant restructuring of heritage management in the Sultanate.

According to the decree, all allocations, assets, rights and obligations of the Manuscripts Department within the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth will be transferred to the new institution, along with its employees and their financial grades. The authority to collect, restore, document, authenticate and publish Omani manuscripts will also be transferred from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism to the National Library.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth Sayyid Saud bin Hilal al-Busaidy said the royal decree reflects the sultan’s enlightened vision aimed at preserving Omani culture, safeguarding national memory and consolidating knowledge as a civilisational beacon for present and future generations.

He explained that the National Library of Oman forms a central component of the Sayyid Tarik bin Taimour Cultural Complex in the Airport Heights area of Muscat Governorate. The complex is one of the Sultanate’s largest cultural undertakings, spanning a built-up area of 80,200 square metres on land measuring 400,000 square metres.

The library is intended to serve as a comprehensive national repository for Omani intellectual output. It will undertake the systematic collection, cataloguing, organisation and dissemination of Omani publications, facilitating access both domestically and internationally in accordance with approved policies that protect rights and preserve intrinsic value, while supporting education, learning and scientific research.

The minister described the institution as a beacon of knowledge poised to establish a distinguished presence in forums of science, research and culture, with a steadfast commitment to preserving Omani intellectual heritage and an ambitious vision opening new horizons of inspiration and discovery.

He stressed that the Oman believes the authentic narrative of its history and civilisational journey must be presented from its original sources and expressed in its own voice. Through the National Library of Oman, the country seeks to project the depth of its cultural roots and the richness of its intellectual production, ensuring that future generations advance with strong foundations and informed minds.

The establishment is regarded as a watershed moment in Oman’s cultural and intellectual trajectory, reflecting a strategic national commitment to preserving and protecting intellectual heritage, broadening its domestic reach and enhancing its presence on the international cultural stage.

The library will function as a permanent record of the nation’s history and as a central knowledge resource. It aims to receive and deposit all Omani publications, manage national intellectual output in both traditional and modern formats, and document academic theses, printed works and the proceedings of conferences and seminars relating to Oman, thereby creating a unified reference for Omani history and culture.

As part of its mission to instil identity, values and a sense of belonging among younger generations, the National Library will include a dedicated children’s library housed in a separate building. This facility will offer diverse collections of books, publications and educational games designed to foster a love of reading from an early age.

The institution will also enhance cooperation and information exchange with peer libraries and cultural bodies at regional and international levels, representing the Sultanate in specialised forums and facilitating the sharing of expertise and knowledge.

The broader Sayyid Tarik bin Taimour Cultural Complex will comprise several major facilities, including the National Theatre, the House of Arts, the House of Cinema, the Literary Forum and the National Records and Archives Authority, alongside exhibition halls, workshops and public gardens, forming an integrated cultural ecosystem intended to serve generations to come.

The decree stipulates that the chairman of the board of trustees of the National Library will issue the necessary regulations and decisions to implement its provisions. It also cancels any prior regulations that contradict the new statute and mandates publication in the Official Gazette, with immediate effect from the date of issue.