Bism allah Al Rahman al Rahim,

Your Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitam Al Said,

Honourable Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, patron of this ceremony,

Your Highnesses and Excellencies,

Our honorable guests,

Peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you.

It gives me a great pleasure to welcome the patron of this ceremony, His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitam Al Said, the honourable Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth and Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Princess Zahra Aga Khan and all the guests of the Sultanate of Oman at the Aga Khan Awards for Architecture.

Your Highness the patron of the ceremony,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Sultanate of Oman’s hosting of the ceremony of the Aga Khan Awards for Architecture and Music and its accompanying events support[s] the objectives of Oman’s cultural strategy, which calls for an identity open to the cultures of peoples; affirms the continuous support for culture, literature and the arts; achieves one of the most important axes, the promotion of cultural communication; and puts the role of the Sultanate of Oman on the world map of culture as well as achieves partnership and integration with local and international institutions in the cultural fields. Also, this hosting fully confirms the extent of the Sultanate of Oman’s ability and its high-class elements to host such global events, in addition to promoting the Sultanate of Oman as a leading cultural destination.

The patron of the ceremony,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Sultanate of Oman has enjoyed a distinguished hosting in which, for the first time, the two Aga Khan Award ceremonies for architecture and music meet in one country. Also, this event coincides with the celebration of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in its 45th anniversary since its establishment in 1977. The Award works to promote and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of communities in which Muslims have a significant presence in the areas of contemporary design, social housing and community development.

In conclusion, we congratulate the winning projects of this cycle, with wishes that one of the winning projects will be from the Sultanate of Oman in the following cycles of the Award.

May peace, God's mercy and blessings be upon you.