Omani Women’s Association exhibition opens at Al-Bawsala Summer Forum in Khasab
The Omani Women’s Association exhibition opened recently in Khasab as part of the Al-Bawsala Summer Forum, showcasing a wide range of crafts and community activities. The exhibit brought together local artisans and volunteers to present handmade products, cultural demonstrations and skills-focused workshops intended for children, youth and adults.
Ali bin Ahmed Al-Mashni, Director General of the General Directorate of Housing and Urban Planning for Musandam Governorate, attended the opening and toured the exhibition. He viewed displays of traditional handicrafts, culinary demonstrations and sustainability projects while meeting participants and organizers.
Omani Women’s Association exhibition features diverse craft and education booths
The exhibition included multiple themed booths that highlighted both traditional and contemporary skills. Visitors encountered a henna corner, a children’s activity corner, a traditional perfume stall, crochet and sewing displays, visual arts and a kitchen area demonstrating local recipes. Meanwhile, a recycling corner focused on environmental awareness and practical reuse techniques.
Additonally, language-learning corners offered Arabic and English activities for young learners, and dedicated spaces promoted innovation and creative thinking. The array of booths also featured incense making, embroidery, family production stalls and a showcase of women artisans selling locally made goods.
Program goals emphasize skill development and cultural preservation
Organizers said the Al-Bawsala Summer Forum aims to channel children’s and youths’ free time into constructive, educational pursuits during the school break. According to Asma bint Mohammed Al Shehi, president of the Omani Women’s Association in Khasab, the program places priority on developing artistic, linguistic and technical skills while reinforcing cultural values.
The Omani Women’s Association exhibition supports those goals by offering hands-on workshops and demonstrations that teach practical skills. These sessions are designed to strengthen craft techniques, encourage problem-solving and introduce basic scientific thinking to participants. Furthermore, the initiative seeks to preserve Omani heritage through traditional crafts and storytelling elements incorporated in several stalls.
Community engagement, environmental awareness and women’s participation
The exhibition served as a platform to promote broader social objectives, including environmental stewardship and greater female participation in community activities. The recycling corner, in particular, aimed to raise awareness about waste reduction and creative reuse, using example projects to illustrate simple household approaches to sustainability.
Organizers also highlighted efforts to encourage women to engage in sports and public life, and to support small-scale entrepreneurship. The family production and women artisans’ corner provided marketing exposure for home-based producers and helped link craft activities to potential income streams for households in Musandam and beyond.
Visitor experience and learning opportunities
Visitors to the exhibition reported access to a mix of demonstrations, interactive learning and retail opportunities. Children’s programming was tailored to build language skills and creativity, while adult-focused workshops addressed sewing, embroidery and basic business skills for cottage industries. Therefore, the event blended cultural appreciation with capacity building.
In addition to stalls, the exhibition included short activity sessions where participants could try henna application, basic crochet, or small-scale incense making under instructor guidance. These moments were intended to build confidence and spark continued interest in traditional crafts among younger attendees.
Implications for local craft economies and future programming
The Omani Women’s Association exhibition contributes to local craft economies by increasing visibility for artisans and encouraging skill transmission across generations. By linking cultural heritage with skill development and modest commercial activity, the exhibit may help sustain traditional crafts while enabling diversification of household incomes.
Officials and organizers indicated that similar forums could serve as recurring opportunities for training and market access. The combination of public exposure, short-form workshops and community networking supports a small-scale ecosystem for crafts and family enterprises in Khasab and the wider Musandam Governorate.
What to watch next
Organizers said the Al-Bawsala Summer Forum will continue to stage activities through the summer period, with additional workshops and community events planned. Readers should watch for announcements about follow-up training sessions and seasonal markets that could expand opportunities for the women artisans who participated in the exhibition.
Meanwhile, local authorities and the Omani Women’s Association in Khasab are expected to assess outcomes from the event to inform future programming, including potential partnerships to scale training and environmental outreach across the governorate.
