Indian Ocean Travel by TOURISMER

Showcase of Arts and Cultures of the Indian Ocean

The international recognition of Sufrat Ramadan fi Sur, awarded Best Film in the Urban–Rural Connectivity category in Spain, brings renewed attention to the distinctive culinary heritage of Sur and to the stories embedded in its food traditions. More than a celebration of Ramadan cuisine, the film offers a window into the historical and cultural forces that have shaped the city and its table over generations.

At the heart of this heritage lies Sur’s centuries-old relationship with the sea. As one of Oman’s historic maritime centres, the city flourished through seafaring, shipbuilding and commercial activity. Its sailors and merchants travelled across the Indian Ocean, connecting Sur with numerous ports and communities, particularly in India and East Africa.

These maritime connections facilitated much more than the exchange of goods. They also encouraged the circulation of ingredients, spices, cooking techniques, tastes and cultural practices. Over time, these influences were absorbed, adapted and transmitted within Suri households, becoming part of a culinary identity that is both deeply local and remarkably connected to the wider Indian Ocean world.

Sur’s cuisine can therefore be read as an edible maritime archive. Seafood recalls the city’s enduring relationship with the sea, while spices, rice, pulses, breads and particular methods of preparation reveal traces of historical journeys and encounters. Some foods found on Suri tables also evoke connections with East Africa and other communities that formed part of Oman’s maritime networks.

Yet Sur’s culinary heritage is not simply the result of influences arriving from elsewhere. Through generations of family transmission, local ingredients, religious traditions and community practices, these exchanges were continually reinterpreted and transformed into something distinctly Suri.

The Ramadan table captured in Sufrat Ramadan fi Sur gives this heritage a particularly powerful expression. It connects food with memory, family with community, and the contemporary city with its maritime past.

The film’s international award therefore celebrates more than a cinematic achievement. It highlights a living heritage in which Sur’s history of navigation, commerce and cultural exchange continues to be experienced through everyday culinary traditions.

To discover the cuisine of Sur is, ultimately, to retrace the maritime routes that helped shape the city itself.