The Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Conservation is a global model that reflects the Sultanate’s leading role in addressing environmental and development issues. It is a pioneering initiative, launched at the outset of the Renaissance, to protect and preserve the environment by balancing comprehensive development needs with the conservation of natural resources. It is the first Arab prize to be awarded internationally in the field of environmental protection, under the patronage of His Majesty and with UNESCO’s endorsement. Since its launch in 1991, the prize has reached all five continents and honoured numerous figures working in the environmental field.
A set of scientific criteria governs the prize. Individuals, groups, institutions, or organizations must have made outstanding contributions in areas such as environmental research, natural-resources management, environmental education and training, promoting environmental awareness through effective communication, and the establishment and management of nature reserves.
The prize is awarded every two years through UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, in recognition of outstanding contributions aligned with UNESCO’s policies and programmes. The Bureau of the International Coordinating Council of the MAB Programme selects the laureates, without regard to nationality, ethnic origin, gender, language, profession, or religious or political beliefs.
The prize is given only once to any individual, group, institution, or organization. Nominations are considered biennially for outstanding contributions to environmental management or protection, particularly in the areas of environmental and natural-resources research, training, education, awareness-raising, and the establishment and management of protected areas. The prize reflects the Sultanate’s global outlook on the importance of the participation of individuals, peoples, and governments in ensuring the safety of the planet’s environment, and it stands as recognition of exceptional efforts in environmental protection—especially within UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme.
Nominations are submitted through the Programme’s intergovernmental scientific system, which oversees environmental projects and activities at the level of Member States and provides essential scientific information for environmental management. National commissions in each Member State coordinate with the competent authorities responsible for environmental issues to facilitate rigorous, evidence-based evaluation of candidates.
The first laureate, in 1991, was the Institute for the Environment in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. In 1993 the prize went to Professor Jan Jenik of the Czech Republic; in 1995 to the authorities responsible for managing the Lake Malawi National Park in Africa. In 1997 it was shared between the Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alexandria (Arab Republic of Egypt) and Sri Lanka’s Forest Department. In 1999 it was awarded to the Charles Darwin Foundation, Galápagos (Republic of Ecuador), one of the UNESCO-listed reserves; in 2001 to the Chad Volunteers Association for Environmental Protection (Republic of Chad); and in 2003 to Professor Peter Johan Schei, a biodiversity specialist (Kingdom of Norway), together with the Ecology Centre in Venezuela.
In 2005 the Bureau of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme awarded the prize jointly to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Australia) and Mexican professor Ernesto Enkerlin Hoeflich, Chair of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas in Mexico. In 2007 the prize was shared by Dr. Julius Oszlányi, Director of the Institute of Landscape Ecology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (Slovakia), and the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). In 2009 it went to the National Parks Authority under Spain’s Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affairs. Owing to the Sultanate’s efforts and the wide international appreciation of them, Oman was ranked among the world’s ten most environmentally engaged countries.
Among the most notable steps taken to support culture, arts, and heritage—reflected in achievements at the local, Arab, and international levels—was the establishment of the Sultan Qaboos Prize for Culture, Arts and Literature. The prize, launched on 10 March 2012 by Royal Decree No. 18/2011 (issued on 27 February 2011), affirms His Majesty’s commitment to intellectual accomplishment and underscores Oman’s historic role in promoting cultural awareness—an essential rung on the ladder of civilization and human progress. It provides strong support to intellectuals, artists, and accomplished writers in the Sultanate.
The Sultan Qaboos Prize for Voluntary Work is the first of its kind in the Sultanate of Oman. It supports and encourages voluntary efforts from all segments of society and across institutions, offering a distinctive opportunity to honour individuals and organizations that contribute ideas and projects without seeking return. The prize promotes and spreads the culture of voluntary work, highlights its importance to families and communities, and emphasizes the role of NGOs and voluntary associations as partners in national, social, and sustainable development. It also fosters constructive competition among associations, institutions, and individuals engaged in community service, and strengthens cooperation and social responsibility between governmental bodies and national voluntary organizations.
The establishment of this award translates His Majesty’s 2008 address to the Council of Oman, which emphasized leveraging information and communications technology as a principal driver of development in the third millennium, and highlighted the need for a national strategy to develop citizens’ capabilities in IT. The award aims to create a qualitative shift in e-services by honouring digital projects that demonstrate exceptional innovation and achievement, applying international standards to assess progress, supporting the Oman Digital Strategy, and promoting ICT use in economic, social, and cultural development.
The award recognizes public- and private-sector institutions that use information technology to increase productivity and performance and improve efficiency in meeting citizens’ needs. It showcases leadership and innovation in ICT through time- and cost-saving measures that improve procedures (or eliminate ineffective ones) and facilitate access to quality services, as well as strengthened communication and information flows within organizations.
The Sultan Qaboos Sailing Trophy was established by the directive of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said. It was launched in Stavanger, Kingdom of Norway, in July 2011 in collaboration with the International Sail Training association. The Ministry of Defence, represented by the Royal Navy of Oman, oversees the Trophy in cooperation with the international sail-training community. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious global awards in the world of sailing, supporting sail-training and strengthening bonds of friendship among crews participating in international sailing events.
The Sultan Qaboos Competition for Craft Proficiency reflects extensive engagement with all segments of society, especially artisans. The competition—first held in 2010—bears His Majesty’s name and underscores his interest in the cultural and national value of craft industries and in Omani craftspeople.
The competition fields include: (1) Craft production (works made from adapted raw materials); (2) Distinguished craft projects (assessed against project-management, product-development, training, transmission of expertise, and marketing standards); (3) Studies and research on crafts (including market development and adapting raw materials for new craft industries); (4) Photography (best photographic image of a craft product); and (5) Drawing (best artwork representing a craft in an expressive style).
To enrich cultural life and the Arabic library, the Sultan Qaboos Encyclopedia of Arabic Names was issued as a personal initiative of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, begun in October 1985. The encyclopedia is the product of extensive research by more than 150 scholars from various Arab countries, providing linguistic, social, historical, political, and literary analyses of nearly seven million Arabic names using modern scientific and statistical methods. It filled an important gap in the Arabic library and offered a model of collaboration among outstanding researchers across the Arab world.
Its material was collected from twelve Arab countries—Oman, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar—by specialists in language and the social sciences. The encyclopedia is divided into two parts: a lexicon of Arabic names that analyses over 18,000 names (with statistical, linguistic, social, and historical notes) and a registry that addresses names in terms of their origins. Statistically, “Muhammad” ranked first among common male names, and “Amal” (“hope”) led among common female names. In 1995, at a ceremony in Paris, a courtesy copy was presented to UNESCO for deposit in the World Public Library. The work resonated strongly with readers and researchers in the humanities; some Arab radio programmes also devoted airtime to it. It remains a unique, unprecedented contribution in modern Arab cultural history and a significant addition to the Arabic library.
The Sultanate supported UNESCO’s global initiative to study the Silk Roads and the ancient land and maritime caravan routes that linked the world’s peoples through trade. Given the project’s importance, Oman’s geographical position, and its role in human exchange between East and West, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said directed that the Royal Yacht Fulk Al Salamah with its crew be dedicated to UNESCO for the maritime expedition, in recognition of the scientific benefits and positive outcomes that strengthen bonds among nations.
The Silk Roads study included both land and sea journeys. One of the maritime routes started from Istanbul and ended in the city of Quanzhou in China; another began in Odessa, Russia, and ended in Guangzhou, China. The overland journey began in Venice, passed through 21 ports—including Muscat and Salalah—and ended in Osaka, Japan. Fulk Al Salamah sailed the same sea-lanes traversed by Marco Polo in his quest for silk and spices. The expedition aimed to explore how Eastern and Western civilizations influenced one another and how knowledge and techniques were exchanged through trade—especially in silk, coveted by royalty and the wealthy since the second millennium BCE. The Maritime Silk Roads voyage lasted for more than four months, from October to March 1991, and produced 182 papers presented in 19 international symposia on cultural interaction among peoples along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, in addition to daily onboard lectures by participating scholars and intellectuals.
In recognition of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s efforts for the progress and welfare of his people, his contribution to regional and international peace and relations, his concern for environmental issues, and his support for human rights, a new rose variety was named in his honour: the Sultan Qaboos Rose. The naming initiative came from the World Federation of Rose Societies (based in the Netherlands) as a tribute to His Majesty’s impact locally and internationally.
The International Federation of Flower Associations officially presented the rose to His Majesty during the twentieth National Day celebrations in November 1990. The rose was the result of lengthy research by breeders to produce a new cultivar with bright colour, fine fragrance, and long stems, capable of blooming in both warm and cold climates. It was first exhibited publicly in April 1990 at the Osaka Garden Show in Japan, where the Sultanate received three major awards—a silver medal, a bronze medal, and the International Friendship Prize—recognizing Oman’s active participation and distinguished presence.
The international jury, comprising neutral experts from eight countries, praised the rose. It also attracted attention at the Chelsea Flower Show in London in May 1990 for its vivid red colour, pure fragrance, and its ability to grow in both Arab and European gardens. The rose was celebrated on stamps and postcards and at international exhibitions, conveying Oman’s message of friendship to the world.
The project aims to help a turbulent world to rise again and achieve a balanced future where people enjoy dignity and basic human rights. The project involves improving lives, adopting a global system of ethics and nurturing spiritual values.
- Sultan Qaboos Chair in Desert Farming, Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain (founded 1994)
- Sultan Qaboos Chair of Arabic Studies, Peking University, China (founded 2007)
- Sultan Qaboos Chair of Quantitative Water Management, Utrecht University, Netherlands (founded 2005)
- Sultan of Oman Chair of Oriental Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands (founded 2008)
- Sultan Qaboos Chair in Middle Eastern Studies, University of Tokyo, Japan (founded 2010)
- Sultan Qaboos Professorship in Arabic and Islamic Literature, Georgetown University, USA (founded 1980)
- Sultan of Oman Professorship in International Relations, Harvard University, USA (founded 2003)
- Sultan of Oman Professorship in Arabic Language, Georgetown University, USA (founded 1993)
- Sultan Qaboos Chair for Middle East Studies, College of William & Mary, USA (founded 2011)
- Sultan of Oman Chair for Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Melbourne, Australia (founded 2003)
- Sultan of Oman Fellowship in Islamic Studies, Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, University of Oxford, UK (founded 2004)
- Sultan Qaboos Professorship of Modern Arabic Studies, University of Cambridge, UK (founded 2005)
- Sultan Qaboos Professorship for Abrahamic Faiths and Shared Values, University of Cambridge, UK (founded 2011)
- Sultanate of Oman Chair (Oman Studies Unit), Al al-Bayt University, Jordan (founded 1997)
- Sultan Qaboos Information Technology Chair, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan (founded 2004)
- Oman Information Technology Chair, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan (founded 2004)
Opened on 3 June 2016, overlooking the coastal road. The site covers 12,536 m², with a built-up area of 3,836 m²; the remaining area includes landscaping, green spaces, external works, and parking. The mosque comprises a main prayer hall for up to 1,088 worshipers; an entrance hall for up to 200; and a women’s prayer hall for 120. Facilities include an imams’ and preachers’ room, a library, four classrooms, an administration office, three study halls, and two minarets 46 metres high. The dome rises to 30.636 metres with a diameter of 13 metres.
Inaugurated on 27 November 2015. The site spans 92,265 m²; construction covers 6,715 m². The main hall accommodates 2,500 worshipers; the women’s hall 285. It includes a library, classrooms, and two minarets over 49 metres high. The architectural design features a dome 2.16 metres in diameter and 33.55 metres high, with fine ornaments that combine classical Islamic art with modern architecture.
Located near the intersection linking Al Dakhiliyah with the Governorates of Muscat and Dhofar. The site area is 80,000 m²; built-up area 13,000 m². Facilities include the main prayer hall, a women’s hall, a library, classrooms, and four minarets over 80 metres high. The main prayer hall covers 3,546 m² (capacity 4,500), with outdoor prayer areas for up to 5,300, and a central courtyard of 916 m². The women’s hall exceeds 312 m² (capacity 434). The dome is 27 metres in diameter and 55 metres high, and four minarets define the main hall’s corners.
Inaugurated on 10 July 2015. The design reflects Omani architecture, with inscriptions and Islamic decorations across walls and ceilings. The main hall features a 32-metre dome and two 48-metre minarets. The site covers 92,267 m² (built-up 5,826 m²); the remaining area is landscaped with parking and space for future expansion. The main hall (1,866 m²) accommodates 2,592 worshipers; the lobby 301; the courtyard (550 m²) 400. The women’s area (262 m²) accommodates 363. Facilities include a library, three study halls, two minarets (>48 m), parking for 700 cars, green spaces, a small children’s park, and 26 washrooms.
Inaugurated on 19 June 2015 in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah. The site covers 41,473 m²; built-up area 5,700 m². Facilities include a main hall, VIP lounge, preachers’ room, library, three classrooms, maintenance room, administration office, and guard room. The mosque accommodates more than 2,400 worshipers, with a central area for an additional 1,000. The women’s area covers 200 m². There are dedicated facilities for persons with disabilities and two minarets over 50 feet high, parking for 400 cars, green spaces, and a small children’s play area.
Inaugurated on 3 October 2014. Site area 20,220 m²; built-up 3,183 m². The main hall (stated as 829.444 m²) accommodates 1,152 worshipers. The women’s hall (124.5 m²) accommodates 166. Facilities include a library, three classrooms, and an administration office.
Inaugurated on 17 May 2013 in the Governorate of Musandam. Site area 18,256 m²; built-up 3,000 m². The main hall (772.84 m²) accommodates 1,030 worshipers; the women’s hall (215 m²) accommodates 286. Facilities include a library, three classrooms, and an administration office.
Opened on 10 December 2010. Accommodates 3,750 worshipers. Includes a main hall, open courtyard, and a women’s hall; a Qur’an school with three classrooms; a library; and administrative offices.
Opened on 17 December 2010 on a 2,880 m² footprint; capacity up to 1,600. It includes a main prayer hall, an additional hall, a women’s hall, and a Qur’an memorization school with three classrooms and a library, plus administrative offices.
Opened on 18 December 2009, near the central market, the Sultan Qaboos Institute for Islamic Studies, and other government departments. Total site area 9,677 m²; built-up 2,825 m²; capacity 1,916. The main hall (795 m²) and a women’s hall (208 m²; capacity 295) are complemented by a library and year-round activities, including religious seminars, lectures, and classes.
Opened on 10 July 2009. Total site area 40,139 m² within a walled compound with four gates; built-up area 7,360 m². The main hall (2,500 m²) accommodates 3,200. The central dome is 15 metres in diameter and 36 metres high, with a 6-metre-diameter chandelier 9 metres high, plus smaller chandeliers. The central area (920 m²) accommodates 1,260; a surrounding lobby (855 m²) accommodates 970. The women’s hall (267 m²) accommodates 350 and is equipped with audio-visual links. Facilities include four classrooms (for 80 students), offices, services, and an upper rear floor. The southern side houses a library with print and electronic sections, computers, reading furniture, projectors, and a 160-seat lecture hall. A secondary dome crowns the main entrance at 23 metres; two minarets rise 65 metres. Marble cladding and decorative plaster are used extensively; the mihrab is fully clad in marble with ornamental pieces. External prayer areas (10,604 m²) are paved in marble, with site levels raised circa 80 centimetres above surrounding roads; parking is provided.
Opened on 1 November 2008. The mosque occupies a prominent, accessible site and forms a landmark in Manah. The square main hall (built-up 796 m²) is topped by a dome 12.4 metres in diameter and 24.7 metres high. Total capacity exceeds 1,800. The walls are decorated with Qur’anic verses and Islamic ornament. The mihrab features porcelain mosaics topped with plaster muqarnas; crystal chandeliers illuminate the hall. Doors are crafted from Indian teak with Islamic designs. Two minarets flank the main entrance, each 40.5 metres high, in tapering conical form and decorated with marble mosaics. A women’s hall occupies the upper floor. Other facilities include a library, mosque administration, three Qur’an-teaching classrooms, and ablution and sanitary areas. Landscaping surrounds the mosque, with parking for up to 250 cars.
The largest mosque commissioned by Sultan Qaboos bin Said, located in the Governorate of Muscat. Construction was initiated in 1992 and took six years. The Bousher site was selected near the road linking Seeb with central Muscat, ensuring easy access from the suburbs and city centre. The site occupies 416,000 m²; the total floor area is approximately 40,000 m². The mosque stands on a platform 1.8 metres above the site level, reflecting the Omani tradition of elevating mosques above nearby residential or public buildings and valley floors.
Three passageways cross from the access area to the mosque platform through three entrances, each with its own forecourt. The main entrance lies on the plan’s horizontal axis and is terminated by a minaret 91.3 metres (300 feet) high. East and west of the main entrance are two secondary entrances, all leading to the outer courtyard surrounding the prayer halls. The courtyard extends over 24,400 m².
The main prayer hall is a square (external dimensions 74.4 × 74.4 metres) with a central dome rising 50 metres above the floor. The dome and main minaret form the chief visual features. East of the main hall lies the women’s prayer hall. A group of arcades surrounds the inner courtyard and women’s hall, with six domes at the façade entrances. The main hall accommodates over 6,500 worshipers; the women’s hall 750; the courtyard 8,000; and, together with the inner courtyard and arcades, the total capacity reaches 20,000.
Inaugurated on Friday, 9 Rajab 1424 AH (6 September 2003), under the patronage of His Excellency Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture. Located on the road leading to the town, the mosque occupies a 25,001 m² site; built-up area is 2,700 m². The main hall (830 m²) accommodates about 1,100 worshipers; the women’s hall (152 m²) accommodates about 210. There are two separate Qur’an classrooms, an office, and a library (each 18 m²). A covered, air-conditioned area (152 m²) in front of the main hall can hold up to 250 worshipers. The main dome rises 26 metres above the prayer-hall floor.
Located in Al Ma‘moor on the main road connecting Nizwa, Bahla, and Ibri. Built on a 40,000 m² site, it is one of Bahla’s most important landmarks. It was inaugurated on Friday, 23 Jumada II 1421 AH (22 September 2000) under the patronage of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos. The design harmonizes tradition and modernity. The main hall (45 × 30 metres; 1,350 m²) accommodates about 2,250 worshipers. An open courtyard with covered arcades behind the main hall increases total capacity to about 4,000. The women’s hall (17.65 × 10 metres; 176.5 m²) accommodates about 300. The library (5.45 × 10 metres; 54.5 m²) serves readers. Two domes crown the mosque: the larger above the main hall (26.5 metres high) and the second above the entrance behind the courtyard. Two minarets (49.5 metres high) stand on either side of the entrance. A Qur’an school operates on site.
Inaugurated on Friday, 27 Sha‘ban 1405 AH (17 May 1985) under the patronage of Sheikh Malik bin Mohammed Al-Abri. Located on the main road to Al Buraimi, the mosque serves a large population and travellers to neighbouring countries. The main site area is 2,346 m², with capacity for up to 3,500 worshipers. An additional area of 3,155 m² accommodates overflow prayers on Fridays and religious occasions. The mosque, one of the largest in the town, features a prominent dome and high minaret, an iron perimeter, landscaped garden, and a library of religious, scientific, and cultural works.
Inaugurated on Friday, 19 Ramadan 1432 AH (19 August 2011) under the patronage of His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Saud bin Harib Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs. Located on the road to the town centre, the mosque occupies 49,999 m²; built-up area 2,963 m². The main hall (830 m²) accommodates about 1,185 worshipers; the women’s hall (180 m²) accommodates 257; and the library is 32 m².
Located in the heart of the town. Inaugurated on Friday, 9 Rajab 1424 AH (6 September 2003) under the patronage of His Excellency Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Minister of Heritage and Culture. Site area 15,808 m²; built-up 2,719 m². The main hall (830 m²) accommodates about 1,100; the women’s hall (177 m²) about 235. Two separate Qur’an study halls (48 m² each) are accessed via the minaret entrances on either side.
Inaugurated on Friday, 8 Rajab 1414 AH (10 December 1993) under the patronage of His Majesty the Sultan. The main hall (1,263.8 m²) accommodates 2,016 worshipers; the women’s hall (189 m²) accommodates 252. The mosque hosts lectures and classes throughout the year.
Inaugurated on Friday, 11 Muharram 1432 AH (17 December 2010) under the patronage of His Excellency Sayyid Saud bin Ibrahim Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior. The mosque comprises the main hall, an additional hall, and a women’s hall. A Qur’an school with three classrooms and a library operates on site, with administrative offices for both the mosque and the school. The site area is 28,433 m²; built-up 2,880 m²; capacity 1,600 (including 200 in the women’s hall).
Inaugurated on 28 October 2016. Site area 181,000 m²; built-up 28,778 m²; remaining area landscaped with green spaces, external works, and parking. The main hall accommodates 4,600 worshipers; the women’s hall 740. Facilities include a library, classrooms, maintenance and administration offices, four minarets more than 84 metres high, and a 45-metre dome. The mosque lies opposite Bayt Bahjat Al Andhar, near Al Suwaihrah Roundabout, and is a cultural landmark in the historic city of Sohar.
Inaugurated on 2 June 2017. Total site area 37,558 m²; the mosque building covers 5,750 m², with the remainder landscaped and allocated for parking and external works. The main hall accommodates about 2,600 worshipers; the lobby up to 300. It includes three classrooms for Qur’an memorization and an entrance hall. A large dome rises 32 metres (diameter 14.6 metres) and two minarets rise 48 metres. The women’s hall accommodates 360; administration offices, roads, and parking for about 590 cars are provided, along with service areas. The mosque is one of the town’s most important landmarks and an architectural addition to the series of Sultan Qaboos Mosques established across the Sultanate to strengthen citizens’ religious and spiritual life and enhance their scientific and cultural development.
The mosque includes a main hall for 2,592 worshipers and a women’s hall for 357. It also contains a public library, several classrooms, administration and maintenance offices, and stores. The remaining site is landscaped with outdoor works and parking. The total site area is 61,802 m²; built-up area 9,172 m².