Dhofar University Cultural Week 2025

The “Dhofar University Cultural Week 2025” was inaugurated this morning by Professor Amer bin Ali Al Rawas, Vice Chancellor of the University. This event underscores the University’s commitment to fostering student activities across various fields, recognizing their role in skill refinement, creativity enhancement, and personality development. This year’s Cultural Week, held from April 29 to May 1, 2025, takes place in the Conference Hall at Dhofar University. The opening ceremony featured the National Anthem, a recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, and a speech by the event supervisor, Mr. Hassan bin Saeed Kashob, who highlighted the University’s pioneering role in supporting student activities as a platform for talent honing, creativity enhancement, and personality building.

Event Supervisor’s Message: Launching an Exceptional Edition with Quality Partnerships

In his speech, Mr. Hassan Kashob emphasized the unique aspects of this year’s Cultural Week, which includes participation from distinguished academic and arts institutions such as the University of Technology and Applied Sciences – Salalah Branch, and the Vocational University. Additionally, the third edition of the Dhofar University Student Theater Festival was launched, aiming to promote performing arts within the university environment and encourage students to engage in artistic creativity with the participation of artists and specialists.

Events Programme: Diverse Creativity Between Heritage and Innovation

This year’s Cultural Week features a series of high-quality events, including student exhibitions showcasing innovation projects and academic achievements, sports and entertainment activities at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment, and theatrical performances where student teams compete under the supervision of performing arts experts. The opening ceremony included a visual presentation documenting the progress of the Cultural Week over the years, live artistic performances, a traditional “Omani art of Bara’a” performance, and singing intervals reflecting cultural diversity.

University’s Vice Chancellor: “Culture is a Pillar for Building a Generation Aware of Its Heritage and Open to the World”

Professor Amer bin Ali Al Rawas, Vice Chancellor of Dhofar University, opened the student exhibition accompanying the events, stating: “At Dhofar University, we are proud of our continuous support for activities that enrich students’ awareness and enhance their connection to their heritage, while also opening up horizons for dialogue with global cultures. Through this week, we aim to create a stimulating environment that combines authenticity and modernity, and emphasizes the role of culture as a bridge to sustainable development.”

The first day concluded with various cultural performances, with events organized throughout the three days at multiple locations within the university campus and the Sultan Qaboos Complex, and live broadcasts available on the University’s digital platforms.

The Importance of Cultural Week and the Dhofar University Theater Festival

Mr. Ahmed Maroof Al Yafei, Director of the festival and head of the Student Activities Department at the University, remarked: “Drama is a world that only those who live their passion and work in it can understand. Since taking responsibility for student activities, I have realized that instilling a culture of theater within the university is a beautiful challenge. Together with the team, we sought to establish an incubating environment for art and theater. We started with annual Theater Day celebrations, launched the first theatrical competition, and the experience evolved into a comprehensive festival, then into a new adventure in street theatre. Today, we are experiencing the third edition of the festival with ambitions that extend beyond the local to international horizons.”

The festival, generously sponsored by the university administration, aims to highlight young talents, hone students’ artistic skills, and create an artistic cultural platform that contributes to building a conscious and creative generation in various fields of the arts.