The intersection of heritage and high technology took center stage in Dhofar this year as the Sultan Qaboos Youth Compound for Culture and Entertainment hosted the Writers Forum 2026. Running from late April through mid-May, the event brought Oman’s literary minds to Salalah to address a singular question: How does an ancient culture maintain its identity in the era of artificial intelligence?
Organized by the Dhofar Center for Culture, Heritage, and Creativity, alongside the Omani Society for Writers and Literati and the Omani Disability Association, the forum bypassed generic literary discussions. Instead, it confronted the immediate realities of modern technology.
Culture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
The core of the event was the symposium titled “Culture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” The discussions moved past the usual anxieties about automation to examine how AI directly shapes cognitive awareness and cultural production.
Omani writers, intellectuals, and technologists debated the mechanics of preserving intangible cultural heritage when algorithms increasingly dictate how stories are told and consumed. The consensus was clear: Oman must actively participate in training and building these technological models, ensuring they reflect local values rather than adopting imported cultural defaults.
Inclusion and Preservation
The forum also emphasized active social inclusion. By partnering with the Omani Disability Association, organizers ensured that the push toward modernization leaves no segment of the population behind. The accompanying book fair and workshops focused on making literature and creative tools accessible to all, reinforcing reading as a foundational habit regardless of technological shifts.
While AI promises efficiency, the Salalah forum reminded attendees that cultural heritage relies on human continuity. As Oman accelerates toward its Vision 2040 goals, the insights generated at this forum provide a necessary framework. Technological adoption must run parallel to cultural preservation.
Hassan Al Maqbali
Content Creator & Website Manager at Omanspire
Hassan Al Maqbali is a dedicated content creator and the website manager at Omanspire, where he writes passionately about Oman's culture, history, and the timeless stories that shape the nation’s identity. His work reflects a deep love for the Sultanate and a commitment to sharing its beauty with the world.
Driven by a desire to widen global understanding of Oman, Hassan creates narratives that present the country through diverse perspectives—capturing its people, heritage, landscapes, and evolving cultural heartbeat. Through Omanspire, he hopes to bring readers closer to the spirit of Oman, one story at a time.
