The Sultanate of Oman celebrated the Omani Craftsmen Day on March 3, 2019. As part of this event, the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) has that the total number of artisans registered with the Public Authority for Crafts Industries in Oman by the end of 2018 was 21,557, which is an increase of 1.96% compared to 21,142 literals in 2017revealed that the total number of artisans registered with the Public Authority for Crafts Industries in Oman by the end of 2018 was 21,557, which is an increase of 1.96% compared to 21,142 literals in 2017.

According to the NCSI data, the number of the female artisans by the end of 2018 reached 18,935, compared to 2,622 males. Among governorates, Dhofar topped the list with 6,531 artisans by the end of 2018, of which 6,042 were females.

Dhofar was followed by the Governorate of Al-Sharqiah North with 4,495 artisans, of which 4,099 were females and 396 were male artisans.

The number of artisans in the Governorate of Al-Batinah North reached 3,374, including 3,091 females and 283 male artisans. In Al Dakhliyah Governorate, the artisans' number reached 2,054, with 489 males and 1,565 females.

The total number of artisans in the Governorate of Al-Batinah South reached 1,391, with about 1,029 craftswomen and 362 craftsmen. In the Governorate of Al-Wusta, the number of artisans was 1,345, including 1,251 females and 94 males.

The remaining number of the artisans is distributed among the other Governorates in the country. Al Sharqiya South had 845 artisans (714 females and 131 males), Muscat Governorate had 489 artisans (402 female artisans and 87 males), and Al Dhahirah Governorate had 464 literals (348 females and 116 males). In addition to this, the Governorate of Musandam had 360 artisans (273 females and 87 males), and the Governorate of Al Buraymi had 209 artisans (121 females and 88 males).

The NCSI data also revealed that the largest number of Omani artisans practiced cotton textile industry, reaching 6,868 literals. Most of them were in the Governorate of Al Sharqiya North, with their number reaching 2,409.

This was followed by the woolen textile industry with 5,151 artisans. The governorate of Al Sharqiya North has 1.688 literals practicing the same activity.

The manufacturing of incense and cosmetics ranked third in terms of the number of craftsmen involved, with their number reaching 3,309 artisans. Most of them are in the Governorate of Dhofar, reaching 2.744 literals.

The number of craftsmen involved in weaving palm fronds reached 2,919. The number of those practicing the handicraft of Pottery and Porcelain reached 1,196 artisans. About 764 craftsmen were involved in the leather industry, 449 in the fishing devices industry, 307 in the wooden industry, 223 in silver crafts industry, and 156 in flower and herbal distillation industry, according to NCSI data.

As many as 98 artisans were involved in the copper and metal industry reached, 73 in the handicrafts of bone products, 25 in stone and gypsum industry, and 19 artisans in the musical instruments industry.

The Public Authority for Crafts Industries in Oman conducted 38 vocational training programs for 514 male and female artisans last year, in addition to 15 training programs for 248 artisans too. These professional training programs were aimed at improving the skills of artisans, in order to produce sophisticated and high-quality crafts.

The number of vocational training programs implemented during the period between 2013 and 2018 reached 177 programs, with the participation of 2,746 craftsmen and craftswomen, while the number of the training programs reached 66, with the participation of 1,015 male and female artisans.

The Public Authority for Crafts Industries in Oman encourages artisans, both from the training and artisanal production centers, as well as other skilled craftsmen to open their own craft establishments in order to increase their income and to continue the practice of handicrafts.

By the end of 2018, the total number of artisanal establishments dealing with different types of crafts in various governorates of the Sultanate reached 299 units.