The Muscat Plan, launched at the United Nations, is an Omani international initiative that strengthens Oman’s soft power and supports its international presence through a significant initiative centred on understanding, peace, social cohesion, human dignity and addressing hate speech.

The plan was launched through a partnership between the Sultanate of Oman, the United Nations, the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations, the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect and the Religious and the Traditional Peacemakers Network. It aims to strengthen preventive approaches to addressing hate speech, incitement to violence and atrocity crimes through dialogue, mediation and the building of cohesive communities.

The Muscat Plan is the outcome of an international consultative process led by the United Nations in partnership with the Religious and Traditional Peacemakers Network, with the participation of religious and traditional leaders, indigenous peoples and international institutions from around the world. The process sought to develop a practical framework that strengthens the role of community leaders in conflict prevention and in promoting social cohesion and understanding among peoples and cultures.

The Muscat Plan reflects Oman’s growing engagement in international initiatives related to understanding, coexistence and peace, while reinforcing its position as a trusted international partner in the fields of dialogue, mediation and conflict prevention.

The plan is built upon several key pillars, including expanding international partnerships with the United Nations and relevant international institutions, empowering traditional and community leaders and enhancing their role in peacebuilding, supporting social cohesion and intercultural dialogue, backing international efforts to counter hate speech, incitement, extremism and social division, and advancing preventive approaches aimed at reducing conflicts before crises and disputes escalate.

The plan is based on a growing international conviction that preventing conflict and hate speech cannot be achieved solely through political or security measures. It also requires support for community, cultural and humanitarian partnerships capable of strengthening stability and understanding within societies.

The Plan builds on a cumulative process led by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs in the fields of understanding, coexistence and peace through the development of international initiatives and projects that have strengthened Oman’s presence within the spheres of soft power and humanitarian diplomacy.

It was preceded by the Message of Peace initiative, which helped introduce the Omani experience of tolerance, understanding and coexistence through exhibitions, international events and partnerships, while enhancing Oman’s presence in international forums concerned with dialogue and cultural and religious understanding.

The Human Amity initiative also provided a broader intellectual and humanitarian framework that promotes shared human values, advances civilisational dialogue, supports conflict prevention and strengthens community peace building through extensive international partnerships with institutions, academics and community actors.

The Muscat Plan continues this trajectory through an international approach that promotes community based prevention, supports mediation, understanding and social cohesion, addresses hate speech and incitement to violence and contributes to building more peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

The Muscat Plan will strengthen Oman’s international profile in areas related to understanding, peace building and humanitarian diplomacy, reinforcing its standing as an active international partner in initiatives promoting social peace and conflict prevention.

The Plan also enhances Oman’s international image and opens new opportunities for partnerships with United Nations bodies, as well as cultural, media and academic institutions engaged in dialogue, coexistence and understanding among peoples.

The impact of the Plan is expected to be felt on several levels, including strengthening international confidence in Oman’s role, expanding Oman’s participation in United Nations initiatives and supporting multilateral partnerships and relations. It will also enhance Oman’s international visibility through United Nations platforms and international media, associating the country with initiatives that promote peace and understanding.

The Plan highlights the Omani model of coexistence and moderation, supports Oman’s cultural and civilisational presence globally, strengthens its soft power and reinforces its role in conflict prevention and peace building while creating opportunities for future international initiatives and programmes.

The launch of the Muscat Plan marks the beginning of a developing international process that can be expanded and built upon, further strengthening Oman’s engagement in initiatives related to understanding, conflict prevention and community peacebuilding. The plan also opens new avenues for international partnerships and programmes focused on dialogue, social cohesion and humanitarian diplomacy, contributing to the sustainability of Oman’s international presence within United Nations initiatives with a humanitarian dimension.

The launch of the plan at the United Nations Headquarters in New York reflects the high level of international confidence in Oman’s approach of dialogue, moderation and mediation. It also strengthens Oman’s presence within the spheres of soft power and humanitarian diplomacy at both the regional and international levels.