CDAA dealing with fire in Wilayat Barka
Muscat: The Civil Defence and Ambulance Authority (CDAA), is dealing with a fire that broke out in a warehouse in the industrial area of Barka, South Al Batinah Governorate.
CDAA said in a statement, "Firefighting teams from the Civil Defence and Ambulance Department in South Al Batinah Governorate are dealing with a fire that broke out in a warehouse in the industrial area of Barka. Extinguishing operations are still underway to control the fire."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times of Oman
3 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Environmental situation in Oman is stable, no signs of elevated radiation
Muscat: The Environment Authority (EA) has confirmed that the environmental situation in the Sultanate of Oman is stable, with no signs of elevated radiation levels or any abnormal environmental impacts recorded so far. The EA noted that it is closely monitoring recent developments related to the targeting of nuclear sites in the region, in light of the ongoing escalation and the potential transboundary environmental repercussions. The EA confirmed that it operates within an integrated national system, in coordination with the relevant authorities, to monitor environmental and radiation data in real-time, through the radiation monitoring and early warning system deployed across the Sultanate of Oman's various governorates, in addition to continuous connectivity with relevant regional and international centers. The EA said that it monitors and follows up around the clock are continuing, as part of its role in protecting the environment and ensuring the safety of people and natural resources in Oman.


Times of Oman
3 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Study finds aflaj vital for Oman's social and economic wellbeing
MUSCAT: Oman's traditional aflaj systems — centuries-old channels that once shaped where and how communities lived — are facing mounting threats that could undermine their role as cornerstones of Omani society. A new research study warns that rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation, and changing social dynamics now endanger more than water access: They put at risk a long-standing model of cooperation, resilience, and balance. 'This isn't just about infrastructure or heritage,' says Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, principal investigator of the study and UNESCO Chair on Aflaj Studies and Archaeo-Hydrology at the University of Nizwa. 'The aflaj are a living system that have sustained communities not only through water, but through social collaboration and shared responsibility.' The study, 'Aflaj Systems and Social Cohesion in Oman, Dakhiliyah Region', funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation under its Block Funding Programme, positions the aflaj as much more than functional irrigation tools. It finds that these systems have long served as organising structures for intertribal cooperation, economic interdependence, and conflict resolution — contributing to Oman's unique socio-environmental equilibrium. In challenging earlier anthropological portrayals of tribal societies as territorially insular, the researchers introduce the concept of 'hydro-tribalism' — a framework that explains how shared water management, rather than fixed land boundaries, has shaped tribal interaction in Oman. The falaj, they argue, functions as a unifying force, compelling cooperation due to the technical and geographic realities of water flow. 'Falaj systems cross tribal lines by necessity,' explains Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki. 'To maintain and benefit from a shared water source, tribes had to develop mechanisms of negotiation, joint investment, and trust. That's where the real power of the aflaj lies — it made collaboration essential.' The study's methodology combined ethnographic fieldwork in northern Oman, in-depth interviews with local falaj stakeholders, and a comprehensive literature review from archival and online sources. It reveals how falaj-based cooperation facilitated not only social cohesion but also supported a broader hydro-economic network —with communities investing collectively in farming systems, coordinating planting schedules, and sustaining commerce through waqf-funded infrastructure. These networks, the study suggests, have been instrumental in maintaining social balance and economic sustainability in often harsh environmental conditions. However, that equilibrium is increasingly fragile. 'With urban development encroaching on falaj zones and climate variability reducing water flow, the entire system is at risk of breakdown,' Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki warns. 'We're not just talking about losing an irrigation method — we're talking about the erosion of centuries of social architecture.' The report calls for urgent action, including legal protection for falaj routes, educational efforts to revive traditional knowledge among younger generations, and integrated planning policies that recognise aflaj as both environmental and cultural assets. The researchers stress that the value of the system lies not only in its technical ingenuity, but in the social intelligence it embodies. 'Falaj governance is rooted in equity and consensus. It's a model of sustainability that deserves more than admiration — it demands protection,' says Dr. Labbaf Khaneiki. The research, published in the Journal of Arabian Studies and GeoJournal, was conducted by a multidisciplinary team including Dr. Abdullah Al Ghafri, Amjad Al Rawahi, Dr. Khalifa Al Kindi, Dr. Nasser Al Saadi, Zahra Al Abri, and Ishaq Al Shabibi — each contributing critical expertise in hydrology, history, and cultural studies.


Times of Oman
6 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Research project explores the role of aflaj in Omani tribal society
Muscat: For a research project the role of falaj water management systems in shaping social cohesion and economic sustainability within Omani tribal communities is being studied, according to Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, Assistant Professor and UNESCO Chair on Aflaj Studies and Archaeo- Hydrology at the University of Nizwa. The project, 'Aflaj Systems and Social Cohesion in Oman, Dakhiliyah Region', is a pioneering research project funded by the block funding programme of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. While many Western anthropologists have portrayed tribal societies as territorially insular and resistant to external influences, the findings of this study challenge this notion. The aflaj system instead emerges as a central organising principle that transcends tribal boundaries, fostering cooperation and economic interdependence. For the methodology, Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki and his team employed an inductive qualitative approach, drawing on archival research and ethnographic fieldwork in northern Oman. They conducted in-depth interviews with local aflaj stakeholders, complemented by an extensive literature review using both hard copy and online sources. The findings of the study reveal that the aflaj irrigation system in the Sultanate of Oman functions more than a method of water distribution—it serves as a foundation for what the researchers' term 'hydro-tribalism,' a social structure where intertribal cooperation is driven by the technical and geographic demands of shared water resources. Contrary to western anthropological depictions of tribalism as territorially rigid and insular, the falaj system promotes collaboration across tribal lines, compelling communities to adapt spatially and socially to the hydrological realities of water's mobility. This dynamic reframes the aflaj as a central organising force that tempers territorial disputes and facilitates shared governance. Moreover, the research highlights how the aflaj system underpins a broader hydro-economic network that transcends tribal divisions through collective investment, standardised agricultural practices, and trade enabled by waqf-supported infrastructure. This interdependence has historically fostered social cohesion and economic sustainability. However, the system now faces existential threats from urbanisation and environmental degradation. Preserving the aflaj is critical not only for water management, but also for safeguarding the social and economic fabric it sustains, offering a valuable model for resilience and sustainable development in an era of climate and societal pressures. Through this study, Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki recommends safeguarding afalaj systems not only as a water supply source, but also as a social asset that has enabled Omanis to live in perfect harmony with both others and nature. The lessons embedded in the aflaj system offer invaluable insights into sustainable development, demonstrating how cooperation can prevail over territorialism in shaping resilient societies. This research project was published in the Journal of Arabian Studies and GeoJournal. The research team consisted of Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki, Dr. Abdullah Al Ghafri, Amjad Al Rawahi, Dr Khalifa Al Kindi, Dr. Nasser Al Saadi, Ms. Zahra Al Abri, and Ishaq Al Shabibi.