Arab Recognition of Oman’s Cultural Vision and Civilizational Approach
Interviewed by Douha Essaafi
The awarding of the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has attracted wide attention across Arab cultural and intellectual circles, reflecting the advanced position the Sultanate of Oman has attained within the Arab cultural and knowledge landscape.
In this interview, the Ambassador discusses the cultural, civilizational, and political significance of this prestigious recognition, the role of Omani diplomacy in promoting dialogue, moderation, and openness, and the growing impact of Oman’s soft power in strengthening the Sultanate’s regional and international presence.
1 / Your Excellency, to begin with, how do you view the awarding of the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, and what does this honor reflect regarding Oman’s presence within the Arab cultural landscape?
It is indeed a source of great pride and deep appreciation to witness this prominent Arab cultural event, represented by the awarding of the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal, in its highest category, by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik — may God protect and preserve him.
This recognition, hosted by the sisterly Republic of Tunisia and granted for the first time since the establishment of ALECSO in 1972, more than fifty-five years ago, represents a landmark moment in the history of Arab cultural cooperation. It reflects high-level Arab appreciation for the position that the Sultanate of Oman has come to occupy within the Arab cultural and intellectual sphere.
This medal cannot merely be viewed as a symbolic distinction; rather, it constitutes recognition of a national path that has placed culture at the heart of Oman’s development project, made the human being the center of progress, and adopted identity as the foundation for balanced openness to the world. His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik has devoted significant attention to culture, education, and scientific research as essential tools for building people and shaping the future, which is clearly embodied in Oman Vision 2040.
The award also reflects Oman’s growing cultural presence in the Arab world through its continuous efforts to preserve heritage, support the Arabic language, strengthen intellectual production, and promote the values of dialogue, tolerance, and rapprochement among peoples.
Ultimately, this medal represents recognition of a comprehensive cultural journey and confirms that the Sultanate of Oman has become an influential actor within the Arab cultural equation through a balanced model that combines authenticity with openness and continuity with renewal.
2/ Given that this medal is being awarded for the first time since the establishment of ALECSO more than five decades ago, what symbolic, political, and cultural significance do you see in the selection of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik as the first Arab leader to receive this honor?
The awarding of the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal, in its highest category, by ALECSO to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik as the first Arab leader to receive this distinction since the organization’s establishment in 1972 carries profound meanings that extend beyond ceremonial recognition to deeper symbolic and civilizational dimensions.
This medal, which was created to represent the highest level of cultural recognition, reflects ALECSO’s commitment to honoring figures who have directly contributed to supporting Arab culture, strengthening its presence, preserving its identity, and advancing joint Arab action in the fields of education, culture, and science.
Therefore, the selection of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik as the first Arab leader to receive this award reflects broad Arab appreciation for the Omani approach that places culture at the center of modern state-building, regards human development as the foundation of progress, and considers knowledge a principal driver of advancement.
This choice also carries clear political and cultural significance, particularly in recognizing Oman’s role in promoting moderation and dialogue, strengthening understanding among Arab nations, and supporting Arab causes in various international forums through a balanced vision based on wisdom, calmness, and effectiveness.
At a deeper symbolic level, granting this medal to His Majesty reflects recognition of a comprehensive civilizational approach that has made culture a means for building people, Arab-Islamic identity a unifying framework, and enlightened openness a bridge for communication with the world. This has made the Omani experience a model that enjoys respect and appreciation in both Arab and international circles.
3/ ALECSO praised His Majesty’s efforts in supporting Arab culture, strengthening joint Arab action, and advocating for Arab causes. How does Omani diplomacy embody these principles in its Arab and international relations?
Under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Omani diplomacy embodies in a practical and balanced manner the principles highlighted by ALECSO in the rationale behind awarding this prestigious medal.
Omani diplomacy is founded on a deeply rooted vision that views culture not as a secondary dimension of international relations, but rather as a fundamental pillar for building bridges among peoples, promoting understanding, and reinforcing stability. From this perspective, the Sultanate of Oman has devoted special attention to supporting Arab culture and strengthening its presence in regional and international forums, based on the belief that cultural identity constitutes the foundation of a nation’s soft power.
At the same time, Oman pursues a foreign policy based on dialogue, balance, and mutual respect, away from tension and polarization, which has enabled the Sultanate to become an active contributor to joint Arab action and to the advancement of cooperation in the fields of education, culture, and science.
The features of this approach are also reflected in Oman’s continuous support for joint Arab institutions, foremost among them ALECSO, through active participation in cultural and intellectual initiatives aimed at strengthening Arab integration, preserving identity, and supporting sustainable intellectual development throughout the Arab world.
In this context, what the organization emphasized in the rationale behind the award reflects a practical reality in which Omani diplomacy and the Arab cultural vision converge toward a common objective: making culture a tool for rapprochement among nations and peoples, a means for promoting peace, supporting Arab causes, and reinforcing solidarity and joint action.
Thus, the Omani experience in cultural diplomacy represents a balanced model that combines steadfastness in principles with openness to the world, while preserving identity and contributing to the construction of a more cooperative and stable Arab environment.
4/ Based on your experience as Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Tunisia, how is the Omani approach based on moderation, dialogue, and civilizational openness perceived within Arab cultural and intellectual circles, particularly amid the transformations taking place in the region?
Within Arab cultural and intellectual circles, and particularly in the Republic of Tunisia, the Omani approach based on moderation, dialogue, and civilizational openness is widely regarded as a distinguished and respected model, especially in light of the rapid transformations and complex political and intellectual challenges facing the Arab region.
This approach, which has been established through many years of diplomatic and cultural engagement, is founded on firm principles, most notably prioritizing dialogue over conflict, promoting understanding instead of division, and adopting wisdom and calmness in managing regional and international relations. This has made the Sultanate of Oman a trusted party in various international forums and enabled it to play balancing and mediating roles within its regional environment.
The Omani experience is also viewed as one that successfully combines authenticity and openness. Oman preserves its national identity and deeply rooted Arab and Islamic values while simultaneously engaging with other cultures in a spirit of mutual respect and civilizational interaction, far from isolation or dissolution.
From a cultural and intellectual perspective, this approach receives particular appreciation because it offers a practical model for the role of culture in strengthening stability, promoting tolerance, and building bridges of understanding among peoples — values that are urgently needed at the present stage.
Through my work as Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Tunisia, we have clearly observed this appreciation across intellectual, academic, and cultural circles, where Oman is viewed as a space for dialogue, a platform for rapprochement, and a voice advocating rationality and moderation in a changing Arab and international environment.
Accordingly, the Omani approach is not merely perceived as a diplomatic choice, but rather as a civilizational vision based on the belief that stability and progress can only be achieved through dialogue, openness, and mutual respect among nations and peoples.
5/ To what extent can prestigious Arab recognitions such as this contribute to strengthening Oman’s soft power and consolidating the Sultanate’s role as a bridge for cultural and intellectual communication among Arab countries?
The awarding of the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal, in its highest category, by ALECSO to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik represents, in essence, the culmination of a comprehensive cultural journey and at the same time reflects a clear enhancement of Oman’s soft power within both the Arab and international spheres.
Such prestigious recognitions should not be viewed solely from a ceremonial perspective; rather, they represent Arab acknowledgment of a state that has made culture, knowledge, and identity central pillars of its modern development project, thereby establishing a balanced and influential presence within its regional and international surroundings.
This medal, issued by a distinguished Arab institution, also reinforces the image of the Sultanate of Oman as a bridge for cultural and intellectual communication among Arab countries and as a platform for dialogue and rapprochement based on moderation, openness, and understanding, away from tension and polarization.
In this regard, Oman’s soft power is not based merely on media discourse, but rather on a long-standing institutional and cultural accumulation reflected in major national projects, including support for cultural institutions, the development of the National Museum, the launch of the Omani Encyclopedia, the preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and the strengthening of partnerships with international and regional organizations, foremost among them UNESCO and ALECSO.
This integrated framework of achievements has made the Sultanate of Oman a model in transforming culture into an effective and balanced instrument of influence that strengthens the country’s presence through knowledge, thought, and dialogue rather than through noise or polarization.
We would also like to extend our highest appreciation and gratitude to ALECSO for this generous initiative, which reflects the spirit of mutual respect, confirms the depth of Arab cultural ties, and supports the advancement of joint Arab action.
At the same time, we renew our appreciation for the great attention devoted by the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to culture as a pillar of development, a bridge for civilizational communication, and a foundation for building the Omani individual and strengthening Oman’s Arab and international presence.
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