Monday 03 / August / 2026
Salalah: The documentary exhibition "A Nation's Memory in the Land of Frankincense," organised by the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) at the "Return of the Past" events site in the Wilayat of Salalah, sees a growing turnout of citizens, residents, and tourists.
The exhibition provides an educational experience that evokes milestones of Omani history, presenting them through modern methods that blend document authenticity with digital transformation and artificial intelligence technologies.
The exhibition features more than 1,200 documentary exhibits, both printed and digital, distributed across several corners documenting the history of the Sultanate of Oman and its cultural heritage. It focuses on the history of Dhofar Governorate, Omani relations with various countries around the world, and Omani-Gulf relations, alongside manuscripts, coins, postage stamps, historical maps, and interactive digital content.
Smart digital platforms captured the attention of visitors, enabling them to interact directly with documentary content, obtain information, and receive answers to their queries through artificial intelligence technologies. Meanwhile, the manuscripts and historical documents corners attracted those interested in Omani heritage due to samples reflecting the richness and diversity of the documentary legacy. The children's corner also enjoyed wide engagement from families through educational and interactive activities aimed at strengthening young people's connection to their nation's history and documents.
The exhibition also reflected the National Records and Archives Authority's commitment to making knowledge accessible to all members of society by providing adapted services for persons with disabilities, including sign language and assistive technologies, ensuring a more inclusive experience and enhancing access to documentary content across all its categories.
A number of visitors expressed their admiration for the diverse educational content presented by the exhibition, emphasizing that modern display methods added a new dimension to the experience of exploring Omani history, simplified information, and enriched the visit.
Fahad Salim Bait Omani Al Jabri said that the exhibition presents an outstanding model in employing modern technologies to serve history and national identity, noting that the diversity of documents, alongside interactive digital platforms, created an experience that combines entertainment and insight while catering to various age groups.
For her part, Manal Saleh Al Salmi explained that what distinguishes the exhibition is the integration of original documents with modern technology, allowing visitors to review verified historical information in an engaging manner. She expressed her admiration for the documents featured in the international relations corner, which reflect the depth of historical relations connecting the Sultanate of Oman with its regional and international surroundings.
Ahmed Said Al Balushi pointed out that the children's corner is one of the exhibition's key highlights due to the interactive activities it offers, which contribute to introducing youth to the value of national documents and consolidating concepts of identity and belonging in a way that combines learning with entertainment.
The exhibition continues to welcome visitors until 20 August as part of the National Records and Archives Authority's efforts aimed at promoting documentary culture, highlighting the cultural value of national documents, and presenting them in modern educational formats that keep pace with digital transformation, underscoring their role in preserving national memory and connecting generations to the history of the Sultanate of Oman and its cultural heritage.
