A symposium was organised by Nizwa University and Al Khalil bin Ahmed al Farahidi Center to celebrate the inclusion of the Sultanate of Oman’s legendary navigator and cartographer Ahmed bin Majid in the list of influential world personalities by Unesco.

The symposium was held under auspices by Prof. Dr. Abdulaziz bin Yahya al Kindi, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and was attended by Dr Issa al Ameri, Dean of Sciences and Arts College, heads of departments, academics, researchers, students from the Sultanate of Oman and abroad.

Prof Dr Al Kindi, stressed the importance of the symposium and thanked the organisers. Then Dr. Khalifa al Qasabi, Head of the Department of Education and Human Studies, gave a speech in which he talked about Ahmed bin Majid and his role in the science of maritime navigation.

Dr Suleiman al Husseini, Director of the Al Khalil bin Ahmed Al Farahidi Center, gave a speech about Al Khalil bin Ahmed Al Farahidi Center and its role in Arab and Islamic Studies.

The symposium was moderated by Dr Salim bin Mohammad al Hinai, Assistant Professor at the University of Nizwa. Dr. Mohammad bin Hamad al Shuaili presented a working paper in which he reviewed the political situation of the Islamic world during the time of Ahmed bin Majid, when foreign powers invaded the Sultanate of Oman.

Al Shuaili pointed out that Ahmed bin Majid had lived during the first Al Nabahani period and therefore did not meet with the Portuguese directly.

The second working paper by Dr Mohamed bin Nasser Bu Hijam from Algeria discussed the theory of Ahmed bin Majid of bringing Portuguese to India. The paper said although long identified in the West as the navigator who helped Vasco da Gama find his way from Africa to India, contemporary research has shown Ibn Majid is unlikely even to have met da Gama.

The paper also discussed the contributions of Ahmed bin Majid in cartography and science of maritime navigation, which helped ships to avoid dangers in the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea or the Mediterranean.

Dr Hamad bin Juwaid al Ghailani’s paper spoke about the sailor’s works on navigation and maps.

Professor Khaled al Rahbi in his working paper spoke about articles, research and documentaries on Ahmed bin Majid.