MUSCAT : This makes Salalah the first city in the Sultanate of Oman, the second among the GCC states, and the third in the Arab world to achieve this distinction.

His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Said Hamid Al Harthy, Wali of Salalah, affirmed to Oman News Agency that Salalah’s recognition as an international Resilience Hub by the UNDRR represents a strategic milestone that transcends the honorary dimension, constituting an institutional commitment to a proactive readiness methodology.

He stated that the significance of this programme lies in its role as a cornerstone within the comprehensive strategy of Dhofar Governorate. It works to enhance the resilience of infrastructure and urban systems in the face of changes and risks, directly contributing to the objectives of Oman Vision 2040, specifically within the sustainable cities pillar. He noted that this designation ensures improved institutional response efficiency and enhances the Sultanate of Oman’s indicators in international reports, thereby boosting the global competitiveness of Omani cities as safe and stable environments for quality investment.

For his part, Eng. Said Salim Al Huraizi, member and rapporteur of the technical team and head of the executive team for Salalah’s registration, explained that the city’s international recognition as a Resilience Hub is the culmination of a professional working methodology based on a strategic roadmap with clear pathways, coordinated with the UNDRR.

He pointed out that through this recognition, Salalah will work to transfer its successful expertise and experiences to other cities in the Sultanate of Oman and globally, aiming to disseminate this leading practice and exchange technical knowledge in building resilient and disaster-resistant cities.

Mamdooh Salim Al Marhoon, Director of the Environmental Control Office at the Environment Authority and National Focal Point for the Sendai Framework, also affirmed that this achievement reflects ongoing efforts to achieve sustainable development and enhance quality of life, serving as an impetus to continue work and innovation, thereby strengthening Salalah’s global standing.

He noted that this accomplishment contributes to raising the Sultanate of Oman’s ranking in international reports and enhances Salalah’s attractiveness as a safe investment environment by aligning local plans with international standards and adopting best practices in response and recovery.

The MCR2030 programme is a leading global initiative aimed at enabling cities to transition from ‘response’ to ‘proactive preparedness’ by 2030 through the provision of comprehensive technical and knowledge-based support for risk monitoring. Its importance lies in building structural communication bridges that ensure the alignment of national policies with field needs, thereby creating a resilient urban environment capable of protecting its developmental assets and ensuring resource sustainability amidst rapid changes.

The programme’s objectives include embedding institutional and community awareness by deepening local understanding of disaster risks and climate challenges to ensure a proactive response based on accurate data; governing disaster risk reduction strategies by enabling cities to formulate and implement resilient action plans aligned with international standards and the national emergency management system; and activating knowledge and technical exchange through building professional communication networks to share expertise and advanced technical solutions among cities and international partners, thereby enhancing preparedness and innovation in crisis response.

The benefits of Salalah’s recognition as a Resilience Hub are evident in improving the Sultanate of Oman’s evaluation in Sendai Framework reports and global disaster risk reduction indices; establishing Salalah as the first Omani city on the international map in recognition of the efficiency of Dhofar Governorate’s risk management system; and enhancing the city’s position as a safe environment for foreign and local investments by ensuring asset protection against crises.

Furthermore, this recognition enables direct communication with UN experts to adopt best practices in response and recovery, aligns local plans with international standards to improve field and institutional efficiency, and transforms society from a ‘service recipient’ into an ‘active partner’ in risk management and the promotion of a resilience culture.

It is worth noting that the Sultanate of Oman bases its emergency management on a comprehensive strategic risk management tool, the National Risk Register, which provides a scientific forward-looking vision aimed at preparedness and integration to mitigate human and material impacts. Additionally, the National Committee for Emergency Management works on preparedness, response, and raising community awareness.

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