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Oman Pavilion

Set amidst the turquoise and azure waves of the Omani sea, the entry way of the Oman Pavilion echoes the architectural lines of the Port of Sohar, which once welcomed traders and sailors from across the seven seas.

Yeosu’s Expo 2012, themed “The Living Ocean and Coast,” raises awareness of the deterioration of our planet’s oceans. It serves as a launching pad for global initiatives, fostering international cooperation. That theme resonates strongly with the core values of the Sultanate of Oman, a coastal nation with an illustrious maritime history. Today, Oman’s deep commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable development is evident in its coordinated array of environment protection measures, its organized research and monitoring programs, and international joint-cooperation initiatives.

The challenge for the Oman Pavilion was to distil this wealth of information into a unified theme, encompassing the diverse facets of Oman’s relationship with its surrounding seas. The final pavilion theme emerged from many months of hard work, preparation, and discussion, and clearly reflects the Sultanate’s genuine concern and commitment to protecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity. It tells the story of Oman Nurturing Marine Wealth.

The end goal was to create a pavilion infused with an authentic Omani atmosphere; an environment conveying the visitor to another place and time. The pavilion succeeds in imparting a sense of the historic forces which influence Oman’s dedication to protecting and restoring our shared planet; especially in the context of the mysterious ocean on which the Omani people depend.

The pavilion is divided into five sections: Global Perspective – Oceans Under Threat, Historic Oman – Maritime Civilization & Traditions of the Fishing Village, Oman Today – Commercial Ports & Fishing Ports, Nurturing Marine Wealth Through Research & Understanding, and a 4-D Immersive Pavilion Theater.

Stepping through the reception area and into the first section of the pavilion, visitors find themselves in an ocean environment. Here they come face to face with the Omani turtle species, and learn about the conservation work of the Ras Al Hadd turtle reserve. A live satellite feed of Oman’s turtle tagging program can be viewed through internet-linked terminals, and a Virtual Aquarium brings visitors on-demand interaction with selected Omani marine species.

At the end of the undersea area, visitors step onboard a recreation of the majestic Omani Ganjah. Passing through it, they enter into a world of Omani maritime history, the foundation of the legends of Sindbad the Sailor. Entering a recreation of an Omani harbor — the distinctive cliffs and mountains of Oman in the distance — visitors then witness Oman’s ancient maritime connections, understanding the close relationship between the sea and Oman, and the skills of Omani seafarers with astronavigation which made long sea crossings possible. From the historic harbor, the environment transitions seamlessly to coast and beach, where a traditional Omani fishing village stands. The highlight here is the traditional communal management of marine resources called the Sea Sunnas, which Omani villagers have been practicing for generations. This is an example of Omani stewardship and guardianship over the environment. Exploring further, the visitor discovers the modern world of Oman, a complementary contrast to the historic information of fishing and trading heritage. An informative display gives insight into Oman’s fully modernized, centrally administered network of fishing ports, which help monitor marine populations, as well as provide economic opportunities for the fishing community. Displayed opposite are the well-regulated ports of Oman, balancing development and environmental protection with legislation.

The pavilion story now turns to a nurturing ground and wellspring of marine biodiversity — the coastal resource of the Mangrove Forest. Besides providing a necessary green belt in arid Oman, coastal mangroves are vital nurseries of marine creatures. In a very real sense, they nurture marine wealth. With increasingly sophisticated scientific techniques, we are beginning to understand how the marine environment holds many benefits we are not yet aware of. Two key examples of positive scientific work being carried out by researchers at the Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman are turned into artistic installations in this area.

As the last experience of the Pavilion, a state-of-the-art theatre takes visitors on a high-tech 4-D experience, which is both exciting and memorable. The theatre experience tells the visually exciting story of Omani artificial reef building, as one concrete part of the Sultanate’s measures toward nurturing marine wealth. It concludes by leaving the visitor with deeply cultural impressions of the authentic Omani maritime lifestyle. The presentation closes with the lingering fragrance of precious frankincense, a scent intrinsically connected with Oman’s ancient maritime history.