Oman: The Jewel of Arabia Expedition Project Set for London Launch.

London: Building upon the long-standing ties between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom, the expedition project 'Oman: The Jewel of Arabia' will be officially launched on Monday November 25, in London under the distinguished patronage of His Royal Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of the Sultanate of Oman, and His Royal Highness Prince William, Prince of Wales. According to Oman News Agency, the expedition is scheduled to begin in January of 2025 and will trace a historic route from Ras Al Hadd in the Wilayat of Sur, South Al Sharqiyah Governorate, following the coastline to the city of Salalah in the Dhofar Governorate. This 30-day journey will bring together Omani youth and British travel enthusiasts in a unique cultural exchange. The project aims to develop youth skills in exploration, heritage preservation, and sustainable environmental practices. It pays homage to British explorer Bertram Thomas, who in 1928 became the first European to cross the Rub' Al Khali desert (The Empty Quarter), following ancient Omani trade routes. The launch event will feature a display of artifacts from Thomas's historic expedition. This initiative is spearheaded by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in the United Kingdom. The expedition will be documented through a film and book, scheduled for publication upon completion, chronicling the journey and the participants' experiences.