A nation’s archive is an invaluable and essential repository of research and knowledge. It houses vital information about history, civilisation, and the human sciences. Scientific research constitutes a cornerstone of genuine development in any society, providing viable truths that contribute to the success of national plans.
Since its creation under Royal Decree (60/2007), the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) has grown steadily, advancing without interruption in its mission to preserve, collect, classify, and archive records of significant value to the nation. It has employed tools and methodologies tested for excellence in the processes of preserving records of all relevant types. The NRAA is scientific in its approach and steadfast in its mission, assuming responsibility for managing the documentary records of government agencies and other official bodies. It continually examines the outcomes of innovative scientific and technological research in the field to ensure optimal preservation methods, while maintaining accessibility for scholars, academics, and interested parties.
The NRAA stores more than six million documents, both printed and digital, in various storage formats. The archive continues to expand, reflecting both the efforts made by the NRAA and the increase in the volume of documents emanating from the various authorities in the Sultanate of Oman. Alongside the official state archive lies the historic and contemporary folk record of the Omani people, comprising a substantial archive of approximately 400,000 printed documents and 177,000 manuscripts.
Under the terms of reference assigned to it, the NRAA serves as the Sultanate of Oman’s representative body in maintaining an open flow of exchange with counterpart institutions abroad. To date, it has sponsored 22 major scientific conferences and seminars. Exhibitions remain among the most important direct channels through which the NRAA engages with domestic and international audiences. To date, the Authority has either hosted or attended more than 100 document exhibitions, both within the Sultanate and overseas.
Since 2012, the NRAA has worked diligently to record and preserve for posterity the wealth of wisdom contained in the nation’s collective ‘oral memory’. To this end, it has established a dedicated studio equipped with audio and visual aids that have significantly facilitated and accelerated the collection process. As of September 2022, it had conducted 517 interviews with 509 individuals, producing a total of 1,088 hours of audio and visual recordings. The interviews are subsequently transcribed for ease of storage and circulation.
In the processing of archival documents prior to storage, restoration is often necessary, with the aim of returning them to their original condition, or as near to that state as possible. Once a manuscript has been analysed for its composition, including the specifications of the paper and inks used, suitable chemical treatments are selected. In this manner, a total of 256,299 pages, representing 80,201 documents, had been restored, along with 1,906 manuscripts, 169,050 book pages, 131 files comprising 6,025 pages, 99 pamphlets, and 924 maps.