Tuesday 20 / May / 2025
Venice: The Sultanate of Oman's pavilion at the 19th Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025 was opened on Thursday.
The Omani pavilion is titled “Athar” and themed "Integrating Human and Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Architecture". The opening ceremony was held under the auspices of HH Sayyid Nizar Al Julanda Al Said, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Italian Republic.
Sayyid Said bin Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture (Commissioner General of the Sultanate of Oman pavilion at the Venice Biennale of Architecture 2025), said in a speech at the opening ceremony that the Sultanate of Oman’s participation in the event provides an opportunity to showcase the features of the Omani architectural identity, rooted in authenticity and open to the concepts of modernisation, sustainability and innovation.
“It is not just a design participation, but rather an integrated experience that portrays the life of the Omani society, through narrative and visual concepts blended with architectural creativity,” Sayyyid Said explained.
He pointed out that this will be Oman’s first participation in the architectural extravaganza and, accordingly, it constitutes a milestone in our cultural and architectural presence in the international arena.
“We have sought to make our presence a true expression of the spirit of the Omani land, incarnating the country’s deep connection to nature, its adherence to authentic values and its aspirations for a future based on respect and renewed vision,” Sayyid Said added.
“The overall vision of our participation in the event is based on the ‘Omani sabla’, a typical manifestation of space for communication, decision-making, and dialogue,” Sayyid Said explained. (Sabla is a traditional social gathering place for Omani citizens during social occasions)
The Omani sabla, he added, constitutes a fundamental pillar of social life and an inspiring model for present and future architecture.
The Omani pavilion was curated by architect Majida Al Hanai, who crafted a design experience that blends Omani craftsmanship, spatial narrative and material innovation, much in line with the Biennale’s theme of "Integrating Human and Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Architecture."
By reimagining the sabla within a contemporary architectural vision, the pavilion highlights the role of the sabla as an adaptable model that connects past and present, reflecting authentic Omani values of hospitality, dialogue, and community spirit.
Oman’s pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale will be open throughout of the Biennale’s period from 10 May to 23 November 2025.
