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[00:12:20] attention also turns to the Emirate of
[00:12:23] Sharjah, which hosts the 45th
[00:12:26] edition of the Sharjah International
[00:12:30] Book Fair with a distinguished
[00:12:33] cultural participation from the Sultanate of Oman
[00:12:35] as the guest of honor for this session, and with an attendance that reflects
[00:12:39] the depth of the Omani cultural heritage and the richness of the cultural
[00:12:43] and literary scene. It also offers
[00:12:46] visitors such an opportunity to learn about
[00:12:50] Oman's history, literature, and arts,
[00:12:52] and also the creativity of Omani people. To talk
[00:12:56] more about this participation and the most
[00:12:59] prominent events and programs, we move now
[00:13:04] our colleague Fatima bint Juma Al-Hadabi. Welcome,
[00:13:08] Fatima, and good morning to you with us
[00:13:11] in the Morning Coffee program, and we will directly
[00:13:13] learn more about these prominent
[00:13:17] events and activities present in
[00:13:20] also the corner of the Sharjah Emirate exhibition.
[00:13:24] And
[00:13:45] Yes, Fatima, do you hear me? You are
[00:13:49] air.
[00:13:51] Good morning to culture, literature, and thought, Hawra.
[00:13:55] And dear viewers, good morning to Oman, as it is the guest
[00:13:58] of honor for this 45th edition of the
[00:14:02] Sharjah International Book Fair, which came under the slogan "Made of Stories." The Sultanate
[00:14:06] of Oman has a different story in this edition,
[00:14:09] telling about its heritage, culture, civilization, and its
[00:14:13] cultural, artistic, and literary experience.
[00:14:16] And here, specifically, the chapters of this story are renewed through
[00:14:20] the cultural program, distributed over 28
[00:14:23] cultural events, from various governmental
[00:14:27] and private institutions, which number 25 institutions and
[00:14:30] 17 publishing houses. So, an exceptional atmosphere
[00:14:34] surrounded by knowledge, and it will continue until
[00:14:37] the 15th of November, where words cross
[00:14:42] communication between cultures and civilizations.
[00:14:45] To talk more about the participation of the Sultanate of Oman in the Sharjah
[00:14:49] International Book Fair and about the cultural program, let me
[00:14:52] welcome Professor Khalfan Al-Abri, Director of Book Fairs at the Ministry
[00:14:55] of Culture, Sports, and Youth. Professor Khalfan,
[00:14:59] welcome. Good morning. Welcome here from the pavilion
[00:15:03] of the Sultanate of Oman at the Sharjah
[00:15:06] International Book Fair, where we are guests of honor for this session, God willing. Welcome,
[00:15:09] Professor. Let us begin by talking about what
[00:15:13] the Sultanate of Oman brings to the Sharjah International
[00:15:16] Book Fair, and how this Omani pavilion
[00:15:20] reflects the distinguished cultural presence.
[00:15:23] Of course, the Omani pavilion here at the Sharjah International Book Fair takes us on
[00:15:27] a historical, cultural,
[00:15:29] and diverse cultural journey, with what this pavilion contains of
[00:15:32] cultural and historical
[00:15:36] elements of multiple aspects. Many government institutions
[00:15:39] and civil society organizations and Omani publishing houses.
[00:15:42] We have, of course, considered all aspects in terms of design,
[00:15:45] in terms of cultural activities, and also
[00:15:48] the elements present here in this corner
[00:15:51] specifically. Indeed, we notice this great
[00:15:55] turnout and interest from visitors to learn about these elements. The first thing
[00:15:59] that greets the pavilion is a collection of rare Omani
[00:16:03] manuscripts. Then it takes us on a journey to the historical
[00:16:06] Omani figures who contributed to the making
[00:16:10] of many cultural and civilizational fields at the Arab
[00:16:13] and international levels. There is a highlighting of Omani
[00:16:17] cultural elements registered in the World List of Intangible Cultural
[00:16:20] Heritage. There are also
[00:16:23] highlights of the bilateral relations between
[00:16:26] the UAE and the Sultanate of Oman concerning maritime
[00:16:30] and historical aspects. In addition, there is a special corner
[00:16:34] for Arabic calligraphy, Omani costumes,
[00:16:37] as well as photography. Oman, people, land,
[00:16:40] civilization, and culture are present here. Customs and traditions through the Omani
[00:16:44] Majlis, enjoying coffee, dates, and Omani
[00:16:48] halwa, which is also made daily here at the festival grounds,
[00:16:52] and visitors taste it daily
[00:16:55] and hot. Also, there are, of course, Omani publications,
[00:16:58] Omani intellectual production, which we have also taken care to highlight
[00:17:02] significantly through the participation of approximately 27
[00:17:06] libraries and publishing houses. Government institutions are here to, of course,
[00:17:09] highlight this Omani intellectual production
[00:17:12] in general, in order to also provide
[00:17:16] these intellectual sources for various researchers, interested individuals, and visitors
[00:17:19] to this exhibition. Very nice. Okay, Professor Khalfan,
[00:17:23] perhaps the exhibition's slogan, "Made of Stories." What is the story that
[00:17:26] the Sultanate of Oman came to participate with? Perhaps the visitor to the pavilion
[00:17:33] maritime history. It is the story of Oman. Oman carries
[00:17:37] here its maritime history, its diverse history in
[00:17:40] all fields. No doubt, it is present here,
[00:17:44] that is, through all of this, it is embodied through all
[00:17:47] the corners, and also
[00:17:50] in harmony with the cultural program that was prepared for this
[00:17:53] participation in all cultural aspects. That is, there are
[00:17:57] poetry evenings, discussion sessions about Omani history,
[00:18:01] and even performing arts that harmonize
[00:18:05] with the theme. For example, yesterday, a theatrical performance
[00:18:08] was held. Oman, its history and its sails
[00:18:12] crossing through ancient centuries in this regard. So Oman tells
[00:18:15] its story here, history, culture, civilization,
[00:18:19] and literature, and it is diverse in all fields. Very nice. 28 cultural
[00:18:22] activities, perhaps, and you mentioned
[00:18:26] this cultural program, but what about the most prominent topics
[00:18:29] that came in this program?
[00:18:33] Thank God, of course, we took into account all aspects that we wanted to highlight
[00:18:36] through this participation. A group of poets, of course, are present
[00:18:42] popular poetry or classical poetry,
[00:18:44] of course, with the participation of, meaning a harmony between poets
[00:18:48] from both the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. There are
[00:18:51] specialized discussion sessions, seminars that
[00:18:54] relate to Oman's history, civilization, culture, and its extension
[00:18:59] times. This harmony, of course, we also
[00:19:03] took into account that there will be another program related to
[00:19:06] Omani cuisine, which
[00:19:09] traditional dishes over four days, God willing.
[00:19:13] There are traditional arts that will be presented daily here at the exhibition.
[00:19:17] A musical band also performs Omani national
[00:19:21] compositions daily as well. So this movement and this
[00:19:25] harmony and, that is, approximately 28 events, God willing,
[00:19:28] will enrich this participation during
[00:19:32] 11 days, God willing. God willing. Professor Khalfan Al-Abri, thank
[00:19:36] you very much, and all the best to you, God willing. Thank you very much, and we invite
[00:19:39] all visitors to the Sharjah Exhibition, God
[00:19:42] willing, to honor us with a visit to the pavilion of the Sultanate. Thank you very much.
[00:19:46] So, dear viewers, a rich cultural
[00:19:49] diversity here in the pavilion of the Sultanate of Oman at the Sharjah
[00:19:53] International Book Fair, where the visions of writers and thinkers intersect
[00:19:56] through dialogues that explore the dimensions of the Omani experience,
[00:20:00] its distinctiveness, and the richness of its sources
[00:20:04] and diverse tributaries. Now, I return to you in the studio.
[00:20:08] Thank you, colleague Fatima bint Juma Al-Hadabi. So,
[00:20:12] a cultural presence that opens new horizons
[00:20:15] for communication and knowledge exchange, and also gives
[00:20:19] Omani culture a wider space to introduce its
[00:20:23] cultural heritage and its contemporary innovations,
[00:20:26] thereby strengthening cultural communication
[00:20:29] bridges between the Sultanate of Oman and various
[00:20:33] cultures. Dear viewers, we continue with you in our
[00:20:37] segments, in our follow-ups, and our discussion
[00:20:40] spaces, in addition to diverse reports.
[00:20:44] We were talking about the pavilion of the Sultanate of Oman
[00:20:47] at the Sharjah Book Fair. In addition,
[00:20:52] events taking place in the Sultanate of Oman, but my
[00:20:55] question for Fathiya, since we were talking about the beautiful
[00:20:59] atmosphere, are you a fan of photography or
[00:21:02] not? Not really, but I am attracted to the creativity
[00:21:06] of Omani youth in aerial photography, especially
[00:21:09] using drones, and I inspire them with their words
[00:21:13] in this field. Absolutely. And of course,
[00:21:16] in a little while, we will certainly have one of our guests, but first,
[00:21:20] dear viewers, unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones,
[00:21:24] are modern technologies that open wide
[00:21:27] horizons in various fields, given
[00:21:31] the innovative
[00:21:34] in photography, monitoring, and performing many tasks
[00:21:37] with precision and efficiency. So, how have these technologies,
[00:21:41] dear viewers, contributed to the development of
[00:21:44] businesses, and what are their most prominent uses and also
[00:21:47] their future prospects? All
[00:22:13] Drones are no longer just a means
[00:22:17] of aerial photography, but have become modern
[00:22:20] technology that opens wide horizons in various sectors,
[00:22:24] including tourism and agriculture, offer in monitoring,
[00:22:28] documentation,
[00:22:31] that are difficult to photograph by traditional means. In the tourism
[00:22:35] sector, drones contribute to highlighting
[00:22:38] the natural and historical features
[00:22:41] that the Sultanate of Oman is rich in, through
[00:22:45] aerial shots that document the beauty of the terrain,
[00:22:48] beaches, mountains, and tourist attractions,
[00:22:52] and present an attractive
[00:22:55] destinations. As for the agricultural sector,
[00:22:58] its uses go beyond photography
[00:23:01] to include supporting farm monitoring operations
[00:23:05] and crop condition monitoring, all the way to using them
[00:23:08] to spray palm trees with pesticides using precise
[00:23:12] techniques that help cover agricultural areas and reduce
[00:23:16] effort and time.
[00:23:20] These uses are integrated with the role of laboratories
[00:23:23] in analyzing samples and diagnosing agricultural
[00:23:27] pests and determining appropriate pesticides and control
[00:23:30] methods, which enhances the efficiency of agricultural
[00:23:34] operations and preserves the safety of crops
[00:23:37] and the environment. These are modern technologies that combine
[00:23:40] innovation and practical application, and confirm
[00:23:44] the importance of utilizing technology in developing
[00:23:48] the tourism and agricultural sectors and enhancing
[00:24:11] So, the picture speaks from above, dear viewers. Beautiful shots
[00:24:17] report. All of them were captured
[00:24:20] by drones. There is no doubt that
[00:24:24] creativity has no limits when talent meets
[00:24:27] technology, and when ideas turn into
[00:24:30] artistic works that bear the imprint of Omani youth
[00:24:33] and their innovative capabilities. In an
[00:24:37] excellence, student Ghassan bin Adel
[00:24:40] Al-Hinai won first place in the award for the best
[00:24:44] integrated artistic product in the
[00:24:47] fourth edition of the Drone Photography
[00:24:50] Hackathon organized by the University of Technology and Applied
[00:24:53] Sciences in Sur with the participation of students from
[00:24:57] various branches of the university. We welcome in the Morning Coffee studio
[00:25:01] our guest Ghassan bin Adel Al-Hinai to learn
[00:25:04] from him about this experience and this competition and also
[00:25:08] his creative idea. Good morning to you, Ghassan. Welcome.
[00:25:11] Good morning, and may God reward you for this beautiful hosting.
[00:25:14] Thank you. Welcome, Ghassan. Ghassan, first,
[00:25:18] we congratulate you on this success and this
[00:25:21] achievement. First, let's talk more
[00:25:24] and inform the dear viewer about how
[00:25:27] you participated in the Hackathon competition.
[00:25:30] How did this participation come about? Well, this participation came about
[00:25:34] because I am interested in content creation and photography. So this
[00:25:37] was an opportunity from the university to utilize
[00:25:41] field. So we wanted to participate, we
[00:25:45] and the team that won first place. We wanted to participate in this competition, and it
[00:25:48] was our first participation. It was a beautiful experience. We learned a lot
[00:25:52] from it. That's great. Very nice.
[00:25:55] We and the viewers, Ghassan, would like
[00:25:58] the tools that
[00:26:01] project. Especially, Hawra, many people, including
[00:26:04] me, don't know much about photography using
[00:26:08] drones. I mean, some
[00:26:10] participants were also flying drones for the first time in this competition.
[00:26:14] Okay. So, in the competition, there are workshops, and through the workshops, you
[00:26:18] learn even if it's your first time flying a drone. So the tools we used
[00:26:22] were drones and artificial intelligence
[00:26:25] tools and editing. These were three things, without
[00:26:29] using ground photography, only aerial photography. Aha.
[00:26:32] Only aerial photography. Okay. Did you choose
[00:26:36] a specific scene
[00:26:39] for this drone photography?
[00:26:42] We thought of an idea so that there would be a story through
[00:26:45] our photography. We didn't want to just photograph randomly. There had to be a story
[00:26:49] and a script we wrote.
[00:26:51] And thank God, we succeeded in telling the story correctly. What was
[00:26:55] this story and tale
[00:26:58] that you told, I mean, about aerial photography? Yes.
[00:27:03] The competition was about the blue economy in the state of Sur.
[00:27:07] Yes. So we wanted to show the story
[00:27:10] was that a person or an old man,
[00:27:15] the role of an old man was a member of our team.
[00:27:18] Yes. So, more than just photographing, in the competition, you also have
[00:27:21] to be an actor. So we let him play the role of an old
[00:27:26] in the profession of shipbuilding and so on all his life. Aha. He wakes
[00:27:30] up and sees that the state of Sur is developing little by little.
[00:27:34] Aha. So by using artificial intelligence tools,
[00:27:37] we showed the development that will happen in the state of Sur in the future, God
[00:27:40] willing. Yes, beautiful
[00:27:44] shots, Hawra, we saw a little while ago
[00:27:47] of the winning story, documented,
[00:27:50] of course, by drones. You certainly faced
[00:27:54] challenges, Ghassan, whether in production or
[00:27:58] photography. What were the most prominent challenges
[00:28:01] while you were preparing
[00:28:05] and images from above, which turned out to be much more
[00:28:09] beautiful? Indeed. One of the biggest challenges we
[00:28:12] faced was time. I mean, the time was very tight. Within
[00:28:15] two days, you photograph and attend workshops and try to
[00:28:19] sleep and try to think. So time was tight, and this is the basis
[00:28:23] of the competition, so that you can produce a complete artistic
[00:28:28] So, thank God, we managed to overcome this challenge.
[00:28:31] Beautiful. And also that we saw
[00:28:35] a little while ago, this was all drone photography?
[00:28:38] Only drone. Only even if the photography was at ground
[00:28:41] level using a drone, you didn't use any other techniques
[00:28:46] scene? Never. Beautiful.
[00:28:50] Okay, how did you also pay attention to
[00:28:53] the field of editing so that you came
[00:28:59] and also won first place in the Hackathon
[00:29:03] competition? Of course, we wouldn't have won first
[00:29:06] place without the cooperation of the team and integrated teamwork.
[00:29:09] So we divided the roles, and at the same time, after
[00:29:13] we divided the roles, we cooperated in all the roles. During photography,
[00:29:16] we were together. During editing, we were together. So we had
[00:29:20] more than one award, not just first place. We won
[00:29:23] the award for best artistic production and the award
[00:29:28] Two awards. Salah Al-Balushi won first place in the award for best artistic
[00:29:32] production, and the award for best artistic direction was won
[00:29:35] by Moataz Al-Balushi. So, in artistic
[00:29:38] editing and knew how to use artificial intelligence
[00:29:42] tools correctly, given his academic specialization.
[00:29:45] Yes, certainly. As we know, Ghassan, that
[00:29:49] drone photography, or unmanned
[00:29:52] aerial vehicles, requires you to have a permit. You have now
[00:29:56] entered this field for a competition. Did
[00:29:58] you obtain the permit in advance, or
[00:30:02] were there parties that took this step? The parties that took
[00:30:06] this step, for example, the University of Technology obtained the permit. Yes.
[00:30:09] Yes, students do not have permits. The university gives
[00:30:12] permits to photograph in designated
[00:30:15] and permitted areas. Excellent.
[00:30:18] Beautiful. Okay, we talked, perhaps, about
[00:30:21] the challenges that
[00:30:24] work. But how did these
[00:30:27] workshops and programs contribute
[00:30:30] to developing your skills in drone photography?
[00:30:34] The workshop contributed significantly.
[00:30:37] For example, there was a drone workshop where you learn
[00:30:40] many things you didn't know about drones, that a drone is not just a flying
[00:30:43] tool. A drone is treated like a weapon. You must
[00:30:47] have a permit, know what is prohibited and what is not prohibited.
[00:30:51] You must know everything about drones before you fly them, because it's not a simple matter.
[00:30:54] Aha. And there were artificial intelligence tool workshops where you learn before you start
[00:30:58] applying. So