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The project “Conservation and Adaptive Reuse of Traditional Structures and Open Spaces at Misfat al-‘Abriyin” (2016-2019) has been selected amongst 18 projects from 12 Arab countries for ICCROM Sharjah Award for Good Practices in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management 2023-2024.

On 26th November 2024, at a closed meeting in Sharjah, Ali H. Al-Mahrooqi, Administration Manager at Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, presented the project to the Jury Committee, composed of Sheikh Ebrahim AlKhalifa (Bahrain), the Deputy Director of the Arab Regional Centre for World Heritage (ARC-WH), HE Marwa Al Aqroubi (UAE), the Executive Director of House of Wisdom in Sharjah, Dr. Farouk Yaghmour, (Jordan), architect Najet Hedhly (Tunisia), architect Sumaya Dabbagh (Saudi Arabia), architect Abeer Seikaly (Jordan).

The project realises, through architectural and urban interventions, some of the key goals of the Heritage and Tourism Development Plan for the mountain oasis settlement of Misfat al-‘Abriyin, Oman. Initiated by the former Ministry of Tourism, now Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, and funded by Bank Muscat through their Corporate Social Responsibility scheme, the project was undertaken by University of Liverpool’s ArCHIAM Centre in collaboration with Architectural Wall Systems and Misfat Community Cooperative, Al-Misfah Al-Ahliyah L.L.C.

The project has significantly re-activated Misfat’s local economy, driven a remarkable increase in tourism visitation to Ad-Dakhiliyah Governorate and enhanced capacity within Al-Misfah Al-Ahliyah L.L.C., which has since advised governments and municipalities, both in Oman and overseas, on heritage-led development initiatives.