Sunday 23 / February / 2025
Muscat: The National Museum on Sunday launched the Russian-language version of its website. The move comes in alignment with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, which aims to enhance digital transformation.
The launch ceremony was held under the patronage of Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museum.
The event was attended by Oleg Vladimirovich Levitin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Sultanate of Oman, along with several ambassadors, officials, and cultural enthusiasts.
In his speech at the event, Jamal Hassan Al Moosawi, Secretary-General of the National Museum, stated: “The launch of the Russian-language version of the National Museum’s website comes as part of the Russian Seasons in Oman and within a series of ongoing interactions with cultural and museum institutions in the Russian Federation to strengthen cultural and museum cooperation. This launch also coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two friendly nations.
“The National Museum is the first government entity in Oman to launch a website in Russian and the first museum in the Arab world and the Middle East to do so. This reflects our sincere desire to enhance cultural cooperation between the two countries and promote Oman’s cultural tourism assets to Russian-speaking visitors, allowing them to discover the history, civilization, and treasures of the Sultanate of Oman.”
The launch event also featured a visual presentation documenting the cultural and museum cooperation between the National Museum and its counterparts in the Russian Federation, which highlights the strong ties between the National Museum and museums and cultural institutions in Russia.
Additionally, the guests were given a special tour of the second exhibition in the “Hermitage Museum Corner” initiative: “Gifts of the Emirs of Bukhara and the Khans of Central Asia to the Russian Imperial Court,” allowing them to enjoy a unique collection of luxury artefacts made in Bukhara, Khiva, Khwarazm, and Kokand in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The launch of the Russian-language website serves as a gateway to introduce Russian-speaking tourists and residents to the rich cultural heritage of Oman. This contributes to the revitalization of cultural and museum tourism in Oman in general, and the National Museum in particular, providing an opportunity to showcase the Museum’s vital role, its key events and exhibitions, and its diverse activities.
It is worth noting that the Russian version of the National Museum’s website is the fourth version after the Arabic, English, and Chinese versions. Through its website in various languages, the Museum offers an interactive platform that helps build a digital bridge between cultures and provides global access to the cultural content of the Sultanate of Oman. -ONA
