MUSCAT : Project owner Engineer Iman bint Saleh Al-Saltiyah said the initiative was launched in 2012 with the belief that meaningful tourism allows visitors to engage deeply with the spirit of a place and its people. The project began as a social responsibility programme of Omran Company, initially focusing on empowering 50 local women through training in hospitality, entrepreneurship, and English and Italian languages to prepare them for roles in tourism and cultural activity.

She explained that Zaree Khasab transforms tourists from passive observers into active participants through hands-on sensory experiences that include pottery-making, henna art, wearing traditional Omani attire and enjoying authentic Omani hospitality and cuisine reflective of Musandam’s traditions.

At the heart of the project is pottery, particularly at its Basah Beach branch, where visitors work with clay and a potter’s wheel to create personalised souvenirs inspired by Musandam’s marine and mountain landscapes. Each piece, she said, carries a story and travels with the visitor as a cultural ambassador of the governorate.

Beyond visitor engagement, the project has played a significant role in empowering women by turning homes into small-scale production workshops. Women have been trained and certified as professional craftswomen and trainers, supported with marketing opportunities that contribute to a sustainable creative economy and generate direct and indirect employment.

The experience is further enriched through licensed female tour guides approved by the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, ensuring accurate, professional narration of Musandam’s history and culture.

Looking ahead, Al-Saltiyah said the next phase will see the project expand beyond Khasab to the Dibba Archaeological Site Visitors Center, linking cultural tourism with historic locations and broadening access to Musandam’s tangible and intangible heritage.

Internationally, the project has represented Oman at major platforms such as the Arabian Travel Market, the Maritime Heritage Exhibition in France, and the Zayed Heritage Festival, positioning Zari Khasab as a bridge for cultural exchange.

Institutional support has also been key, with OQ Company backing the establishment of a permanent tent at Khasab Port to welcome cruise visitors, alongside continued support from the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the Office of the Governor of Musandam.

Al-Saltiyah added that the recent visit of the wife of His Majesty the Sultan underscored leadership support for national heritage-based projects and women’s empowerment.

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