Observe · Regulate · Protect — since 2007. 19th OIMAP General Assembly: Singapore, 10–12 June 2026. Programme
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for the Art Market and Heritage
24 October 2026 · Updated at 07:47 GMT FR EN ES Member area Log in
Member States

Programmes in the Middle East

The training, heritage protection and market support programmes conducted with the four Middle Eastern States.

Updated : October 28, 2026· 3 min read

Programmes for a region on the move

Talatat: Portrait of Nefertiti (c. 1353–1347 BCE)
Talatat: Portrait of Nefertiti (c. 1353–1347 BCE)

OIMAP's programmes in the Middle East respond to the needs of four States: heritage protection, training of officials, structuring of sales and exchange of experience.

They are followed from the Geneva office and financed by the regular budget and voluntary contributions.

States request them through the request for assistance. The general framework is described on the cooperation page.

  • Programmes
  • Heritage
  • Training

Programmes in the Middle East in figures

4Programme strands
4Beneficiary States
8,940Staff trained, all countries (official)
15 daysResponse time (indicative)

Source: Member States Relations Directorate.

Distribution

Heritage protection30% (indicative)
Training of officers30% (indicative)
Market support25% (indicative)
Exchanges of experience15% (indicative)

Indicative breakdown of effort.

Heritage protection

The first strand helps States protect their sites and collections: inventories, marking, alert procedures and cooperation with customs. It draws on the 1954 Hague Protocol and the 1970 UNESCO Convention.

Actions are adapted to the situation of each State.

Tray Portraying Courtly Pleasures (1240s)
Tray Portraying Courtly Pleasures (1240s)
Kubjika–Navatman (1300s)
Kubjika–Navatman (1300s)
Tile, Minton(s) (ca. 1875)
Tile, Minton(s) (ca. 1875)

Training of officers

The second strand trains customs, police and heritage administration officials. The Organization has trained 8,940 officials worldwide.

Sessions are held in Geneva, in the capitals and online, and draw on the training catalogue.

Market support

The third strand supports States where the art market is taking shape: sale approval, import-export licences, certification, traceability. It draws on the services of the Desk and on the OIMAP 2019 Directives.

See also the certification section.

Exchanges of experience

The fourth strand brings the focal points together at regional meetings. They present their practices and results there, and prepare the annual plenary meeting.

The minutes are filed in the member area.

Programmes and audiences

Regional offer (indicative)
ProgrammeAudienceFormat
Basic trainingFront-line officersThree days
Heritage inventoryNational departmentsCase by case
Workshop on salesAdministrations and professionalsTwo days
Regional meetingFocal pointsOnce a year

Milestones

  1. First requests

    Legal support to Lebanon.

  2. Accessions

    The United Arab Emirates and Qatar join the region.

  3. First workshops

    Regional training cycle (indicative).

  4. General Assembly

    The focal points meet in Singapore.

An online request

View of the Château of Pierrefonds, François-Louis Français (c. 1870)
View of the Château of Pierrefonds, François-Louis Français (c. 1870)
Head for a Feline Incense Burner (1150–1200)
Head for a Feline Incense Burner (1150–1200)
Black-Figure Dinos (Mixing Vessel): Warships (Int.); Heroic Scenes (Top), Antimenes Painter (c. 520–515 BCE)
Black-Figure Dinos (Mixing Vessel): Warships (Int.); Heroic Scenes (Top), Antimenes Painter (c. 520–515 BCE)

In person or online

Royal Round Tent Made for Muhammad Shah (1834–48)

In person

On site
  • Practical exercises
  • Direct contacts
  • Teaching equipment

For practice.

Pendant with Two-Armed Blue Deity on a Lotus with Nagas (serpent divinities) (1600s or 1700s)

Online

Remote
  • No travel required
  • Adapted schedules
  • Downloadable materials

To reach more officials.

Benefiting from a programme

  1. Identify

    The national need.

  2. Consult

    The available strands.

  3. Submit

    The request for assistance.

  4. Take part

    In the selected actions.

  5. Evaluate

    The results.

Before submitting a request

A curator

Mortar (1100s–1200s)
« The inventory workshops gave us a common method. Our collections are now described in the same way as those of the other States. »
Rania Said, curator (example)

Glossary of programmes

Inventory
Descriptive list of a set of objects.
Marking
Physical or digital identification of an object.
Sale approval
Authorization to put a work up for sale.
Review
Annual evaluation.

Evaluation of programmes

Each programme is subject to an annual review: participants, results, feedback from States. Regional figures are indicative until the annual report is published.

Given the recent accessions, the review is subject to special examination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the programmes fee-based?

They are funded by the Organization; States cover their own travel costs.

Who can benefit?

The four Member States are up to date with their obligations.

How do I register?

Through the online request for assistance.

Where can the training be found?

Useful Documents

Contacts

The Grotto of Posillipo, Hubert Robert (c. 1769)
The Grotto of Posillipo, Hubert Robert (c. 1769)
Member States Relations DirectorateParis — Headquarters+33 1 00 00 08 00membres@oimap.exampleMonday to Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Submit a request for assistance

Landscape with Castle and Shepherds, Achille Etna Michallon (1814)

Technical cooperation form.

Request for assistance
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