The UNESCO has added Omani navigator Ahmed bin Majid to the list of influential world personalities, according to official sources.
The sources said the addition came through the efforts of the Oman National Committee for Education, Culture, and Sciences, along with that of the Office of Oman’s Permanent Representative to the UNESCO.
This came during the 41st session of the General Conference of UNESCO, which is being held from November 9 to 24 at the organization’s headquarters in Paris.
The announcement was during Oman’s participation in the conference. It also marks the 600th birth anniversary of the navigator.
Ahmed bin Majid, also called the Lion of the Sea, was best known for his seafaring literature around the Indian Ocean. His books may be found in libraries across the world and are considered references in principles of navigation, especially for their time.
He is often credited with inventing the Al Warda instrument (a wind compass) and the tri-sided wooden instrument for locating stars.
The five Omanis who joined the UNESCO’s list before Majid are linguist Al Khalil bin Ahmed al Farahidi (2005), physician-cum-pharmacist Rashid bin Omaira al Rustaqi (2013), social reformer Shaikh Nooreddin al Salmi (2015), physician Abu Mohammed Abdullah al Azdi (Ibn Dhahab), and poet Nassir bin Salim al Rowahi, both of whom were joined the UNESCO list in 2019.
