Oman's unique natural riches on show at Expo 2023 Doha

The Sultanate of Oman is taking part in the Expo 2023 Doha Horticultural Exhibition which is being held on the theme of “Green Desert, Better Environment.”

The Oman Garden which puts the Sultanate's rich wildlife resources on show, is the result of a partnership between the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Agricultural Wealth, Fisheries and Water Resources and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism.

The Garden displays 1,600 specimens of trees and plants that were transported from the Sultanate's Botanical Garden and planted on the land around the Pavilion. The result is a living showcase of the Sultanate's natural beauty and its rich treasures of plant life.

Visitors to the Garden can view information about the plants by using QR Code technology and so learn about the unique plant diversity that flourishes in Oman's lands and mountains from Musandam in the North to Dhofar in the South.

The Garden recreates some of the Oman's key environments, simulating the agricultural terraces of Jabal Al Akhdar in Al Dakhiliyah, the Dhofar monsoon environment and the semi-arid environment.

It also displays some of the unique trees of the Sultanate, including the frankincense tree and the baobab tree found in Dhofar, the last significant preserve of such trees in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Oman Garden also allows visitors to learn about the engineering and cultural heritage of the centuries-old Omani aflaj irrigation system and how it reflects the values of cooperation, tolerance and dialogue among local communities.

Visitors can also enjoy exhibits from Oman's Botanical Garden and a fountain made of high-density Peridotite rocks. The rocks are common in all parts of Oman and are known for their property of capturing and storing carbon dioxide gas.

The Oman-based project 44.01 recently won the Earthshot environmental prize for its work on eliminating CO₂ by mineralising it in peridotite, so removing it from the atmosphere safely, efficiently and permanently.

The exhibition, in which 68 countries and international organisations are taking part, focuses on themes of sustainability, environmental awareness, technology, innovation and modern farming.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.