Tunis: At the behest of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Dr. Hilal Abdullah Al Sinani, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Tunisia, received today the "Arab Cultural Excellence Medal" (Supreme Class). The medal was awarded by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) to His Majesty, during an official ceremony held at the Organization's headquarters in the Tunisian capital. This high-level medal, the first of its kind awarded by ALECSO since its founding in 1970, reflects Arab recognition of the distinguished cultural and civilizational standing of the Sultanate of Oman. It also acknowledges His Majesty's pioneering role in fostering culture and knowledge, and in advancing intellectual and cognitive development across the Arab world.
According to Oman News Agency, in his address, the Director-General of ALECSO stated that awarding the "ALECSO Arab Cultural Excellence Medal" to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik represents a moment of Arab gratitude to a leader who has made culture a national project and knowledge a civilizational vision. He praised the civilizational model achieved by the Sultanate of Oman under His Majesty's wise leadership - a model that balances authenticity and modernity, and strengthens culture as a soft power for development and a tool for embedding the values of peace, tolerance, and dialogue.
He noted that this honour is not limited to His Majesty personally, but rather recognizes a national and civilizational journey that has firmly established culture's role in building the future of the Arab individual. It also reaffirms Oman's presence in supporting joint Arab cultural action, preserving heritage, and promoting dialogue and rapprochement among peoples. He expressed the Organization's appreciation for the support it receives from the Sultanate of Oman and its pride in the cooperative relations between both sides in serving Arab culture and enhancing its global presence.
Dr. Hilal Abdullah Al Sinani, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Tunisia, affirmed in his address that awarding the Supreme Arab Cultural Excellence Medal to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik reflects ALECSO's recognition of His Majesty's leading role in championing culture and strengthening its position as a pillar of sustainable development and scientific progress.
He noted that Oman Vision 2040 has prioritized the Omani people and their cultural identity, while embedding the values of tolerance and civilizational dialogue. He confirmed that this honour reflects the alignment of the Sultanate of Oman's cultural vision with the Organization's goals of protecting Arab identity, supporting knowledge and innovation, preserving heritage, and promoting the Arabic language.
During the ceremony, a film was screened, featuring the intellectual and cultural vision of His Majesty the Sultan along with the achievements and rich tangible and intangible historical heritage realized in the Sultanate of Oman, deeply rooted in human history.
On this occasion, Sayyid Saud Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, stated that ALECSO's awarding of the Arab Cultural Excellence Medal (Supreme Class) to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik reflects His Majesty's high vision of establishing culture as a central pillar of comprehensive development and as a tributary to the values of dialogue, tolerance, and coexistence. It also recognizes His Majesty's ongoing commitment to supporting intellectual activity, thereby contributing to human understanding and regional and international stability, he added.
The minister affirmed that this honour acknowledges the civilizational standing the Sultanate of Oman has established in supporting culture and knowledge and enhancing their role in human development, as well as in building bridges of civilizational rapprochement among nations.
The Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth pointed out that the Sultanate of Oman, under the leadership of His Majesty the Sultan, continues to actively contribute to joint Arab cultural action and to strengthen intellectual partnerships that serve the goals of sustainable development, entrenching culture as a gateway to a more stable and prosperous future for generations to come.