MUSCAT: The artificial coral reef project ‘Submerged Ecological Museum’ was inaugurated today in the Wilayat of Mirbat, Dhofar Governorate, following the completion of deployment operations for six marine sculptures off the wilayat’s coast, marking the first underwater sculpture project of its kind in Dhofar Governorate.
The project, launched under the auspices of Hamdan Hamad Al Juneibi, Wali of Mirbat, is funded by OQ Basic Industries (OQBI) in cooperation with the Environment Authority and several specialized partners. It aims to support marine biodiversity, create new habitats for marine life, and boost sustainable ecotourism opportunities in the governorate.
The project concept involves deploying six engineered concrete sculptures on the seabed at depths ranging between 20 and 22 meters to provide surfaces and spaces that marine life can gradually utilize, alongside creating a new tourism experience for diving and marine exploration enthusiasts.
The sculptures embody a number of wildlife, biodiversity, and natural heritage elements in the Sultanate of Oman, including a humpback whale weighing 14 tons, a green turtle weighing 11 tons, an Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin weighing 8 tons, an Arabian leopard weighing 8 tons, an Arabian gazelle weighing 8 tons, in addition to a frankincense tree weighing 11 tons.

Issam Said Al Bosi, Head of the Khawr Reserves Center at the Environment Authority in Dhofar Governorate and Project Director, explained that the initiative comes within efforts to support biodiversity by creating artificial coral reefs and safe habitats for marine species, thereby contributing to the sustainability of ecosystems and revivifying natural heritage in an innovative manner.
He stated that the project site was chosen following consideration of environmental factors, as a sandy area of low environmental sensitivity was selected while applying safety requirements during deployment operations. He emphasized that assessing the project’s environmental impact requires time to monitor how marine life utilizes the sculptures according to the site’s nature and surrounding conditions.
He added that the project is expected to serve as an educational platform that contributes to raising awareness of the importance of marine conservation and connecting future generations with their natural heritage, alongside leveraging the experiment’s results to develop future environmental initiatives.
For his part, Eng. Ehsan Al Jandal, Acting CEO of OQ Basic Industries (OQBI), affirmed that the project represents an initiative combining environmental responsibility with the enhancement of in-country value, noting that it reflects a long-term investment in the environment and society by supporting marine life and promoting sustainable tourism.
He added that executing the project with the participation of Omani entities reflects national capabilities and the importance of local content in implementing specialized projects and achieving sustainable value for the community.
The project witnessed the participation of Omani institutions led by Maladh Al Reef Company, which contributed to executing the works associated with designing, manufacturing, preparing, transporting, and deploying the sculptures at the designated site.
The project is expected to enhance the Wilayat of Mirbat’s attractiveness as a diving and marine exploration destination, particularly outside the Khareef season, creating new opportunities for diving centres, boat operators, and local tourism and service enterprises, thereby supporting economic activity in the wilayat throughout the year.
It is worth noting that the Submerged Ecological Museum project in the Wilayat of Mirbat comes within efforts aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability and responsibly utilizing the natural assets of Dhofar Governorate, in line with the targets of Oman Vision 2040 in the fields of sustainability, economic diversification, and in-country value enhancement.