Tuesday 22 / September / 2026
Muscat: The 7th GCC Universities and Higher Education Institutions Theatre Festival will open on Wednesday at Al Murooj Theatre in Salalah. The festival is organised by the University of Technology and Applied Sciences, under the supervision of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The opening ceremony will be held under the patronage of His Excellency Professor Dr. Mahad Said Ba’Owain, Minister of Labour, with the participation of a number of prominent artists from across the GCC countries. The ceremony will feature a range of artistic performances highlighting the cultural heritage and artistic traditions of the Sultanate of Oman.
The Governorate of Dhofar will host this GCC theatrical event from September 23 to 29, 2026, at the Sultan Qaboos Youth Complex for Culture and Entertainment in Salalah.
Held under the slogan “Our Heritage Unites Us, and Theatre Brings Us Together,” the festival will feature the participation of universities and higher education institutions presenting a variety of artistic and creative productions. It will also include critical and dialogue sessions addressing various aspects of theatre, with discussions involving artists, theatre practitioners, prominent figures in the arts, and those interested in the field.
The GCC University Theatre Festival is regarded as an important platform for developing student talents, fostering artistic creativity, and providing a space for dialogue and cultural and intellectual exchange among students of higher education institutions across the GCC countries. It contributes to advancing university theatre, discovering emerging talents, and building bridges of cooperation among Gulf academic institutions.
The festival also represents an opportunity for brothers from across the GCC to come together on one stage, reflecting the spirit of fraternity and strengthening channels of communication that contribute to constructive dialogue and reinforce the shared Gulf identity. It further highlights the importance of preserving values, customs, and traditions, while addressing a range of social, youth-related, and contemporary issues through artistic expression.
Dr. Ahmed Ali Al Shahri, Assistant Vice Chancellor of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences in Salalah and Chairman of the Festival Supervisory Committee, said that GCC university theatre represents an important cultural and creative tributary in the development of higher education institutions, given its active role in shaping students’ personalities and refining their talents. He added that it also contributes to consolidating the values of dialogue and teamwork and strengthening the presence of culture and the arts within the university environment.
He noted that university theatre goes beyond being a space for presenting artistic performances, describing it as a platform for raising awareness, a broad space for expressing community issues and youth aspirations, and a cultural tool that contributes to embodying the Gulf cultural identity, preserving its authentic components, and presenting them through contemporary artistic perspectives capable of engaging new generations.
Dr. Al Shahri also affirmed the readiness of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences to host this major artistic event, noting that preparations had begun at an early stage through the formation of the artistic committees and selection of adjudicators, as well as preparations for the accompanying programmes and activities throughout the festival.
He concluded by expressing his confidence that this year’s university theatre festival will be distinctive, particularly given the selection of Dhofar Governorate as the host location, owing to its status as a leading tourism destination and its rich natural beauty and cultural and civilizational heritage.
