Expo on Oman-Bahrain relations begins

Staff Reporter

MUSCAT, NOV 14

The National Museum inaugurated an exhibition highlighting the historical ties between Oman and Bahrain on Thursday. The exhibition titled "Historical Images of the Leaders of Oman and Bahrain coincides with the eighth session of the Oman-Bahrain Joint Committee. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy, Foreign Minister, and Dr Abdullatif Rashid al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, along with a number of distinguished guests and individuals interested in cultural and museum affairs were present.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Dr Fatma bint Mohammed al Balushi, Director-General of Museum Affairs, delivered a welcoming speech in which she stated: “The role of the camera has become indispensable, capturing pivotal moments and preserving them as enduring memories. Photographs are an integral part of the historical process, capturing events as they occurred and reviving memories of past times. We at the National Museum are pleased to host this exhibition that presents a collection of images documenting the fraternal relations between two brotherly nations. These images symbolise the depth of these ties and serve as motivation to further strengthen cooperation across various fields, particularly when the leaders of Oman and Bahrain exemplify such a positive legacy.”

In the context of cultural and museum cooperation, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the National Museum and Bahrain National Museum in October 2022 during an official visit by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Bahrain. The memorandum was signed by Sayyid Badr and Bahrain's Dr Ramzan bin Abdullah al Noaimi, Minister of Information.

The exhibition showcases photos that reflect the depth of the fraternal relations between the leaders of Oman and Bahrain over time, dating back to the era of Sultan Taimur bin Faisal to the Renaissance led by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. The exhibition also features selected artefacts symbolising the historic ties between the two nations, including a soft-stone stamp seal dating back to the period 1600-1100 BC (the Majan and Dilmun civilisations) from Nafa'a site in the Wilayat of Bidbid, and a painting titled “Ruined mosque at Bahrain — Arabian Gulf” by Captain Charles Golding Constable, dating back to 1843.

Additionally, the exhibition showcases an exact replica of a friendly letter from Sayyid Nader bin Faisal al Busaidy to Shaikh Isa bin Ali al Khalifa, the ruler of Bahrain, dated 1924.

The exhibition also includes a commemorative shield presented to the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos in 1982, on the occasion of laying the foundation stone for the King Fahd Causeway (Sea Bridge) between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as a ceremonial dagger belonging to the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, dating back to late 20th or early 21st century.

The exhibition features a museum publication titled "Collections of Maritime Science", a study of the manuscript "Collection of Benefits of the Principles and Foundations of Seamanship", authored by the Omani navigator Ahmed bin Majid al Saadi, which references “Bahrain” on numerous occasions.

A video was shown during the opening ceremony by the Ministry of Information, highlighting the historical and fraternal relations between the two brotherly countries.

The exhibition is open to the public for one week, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the shared history and strong ties established by the leaders of both nations over the past decades.