Friday 08 / December / 2023
Muscat: The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism inaugurated the second edition of the Meteorite exhibition in the Sultanate of Oman on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, in cooperation with the Office of the Governor of the Al Dakhiliyah, at the Nizwa Gate Building in the Governorate of Al Dakhiliyah.
The opening of the exhibition was sponsored by His Excellency Sheikh Hilal bin Said Al Hajri, Governor of Al Dakhiliyah.
The exhibition is being held in its second edition, is a translation of the efforts implemented by the Ministry to introduce the importance of meteorites, invest them in a sustainable manner, and diversify the museum system, which contributes to enhancing heritage and tourist destinations in various governorates. Through this exhibition, the Ministry displays a number of rare meteorites of global scientific importance and exceptional value, including the iron meteorite.
The exhibition also includes a presentation of the meteorite monitoring devices project in the Sultanate, through which the Ministry was able to monitor and document a number of meteorites as they entered the airspace of Oman and determine their falling locations.
Riya bint Mohammed Al Kindi, Director General of Museums, said: " The General Directorate of Museums worked to implement the meteorites exhibition in the Sultanate of Oman as one of the distinguished museum destinations, which is transported throughout the governorates of the Sultanate of Oman annually. It is expected to witness a wide turnout to visit the exhibition and see the rare meteorite samples present. "
" The exhibition is planned to continue until the end of March 2024, to provide the opportunity for those interested, researchers, and school and university students to visit it and learn more about the field of meteorites, " Al Kindi added.
Engineer Hussein bin Ali Al Ghafri (Director of the Geological Heritage Department) indicated that the opening of this exhibition comes as a translation of the Ministry’s efforts and plans to introduce this important aspect of cultural heritage, and make it available to the public after completing the requirements for study and chemical analysis. In addition to other scientific projects in the field of research and study of meteorites, which resulted in the documentation of more than 7,000 pieces of meteorite weighing more than 6,000 kilograms.
The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism also seeks to preserve meteorites and ensure their sustainability and investment in accordance with scientific principles and the best international practices.
