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Omani forts and castles represent a distinctive model of defensive architecture, constructed out of the need to ensure the security of coastal and inland regions. This architectural style transcended its purely military function to become an architectural text that generated cultural meanings and historical narratives. Thus, it may be examined through the integration of architectural studies with semiotics and hermeneutics, presenting Omani forts as symbolic productions connected to their historical and social contexts. The importance of this architecture becomes evident when recognized as a transboundary tradition extending to Bahrain, where Omani migrants contributed to the transfer of architectural characteristics through construction activities. This paper offers a historical reading of the transmission of Omani architecture and its relation to the artistic and cultural contexts of Bahrain. It inquiries into Omani influence within two historical contexts: the eighteenth century, when the Omanis built Arad Fort; and the mid-twentieth century, when they arrived as migrants and participated in residential construction. The study aims to understand their impact on the Bahraini architectural character, particularly given that they functioned as executing laborers under the supervision of Bahraini contractors. The study adopts historical and descriptive methods to examine Omani architectural influence, emphasizing the roles of design and execution as parallel authorities shaping the final form. The paper focuses on Omani craftsmen as cultural agents and intermediaries between Omani architecture and the new environment. Through comparative analysis, the study reveals two patterns of influence: direct and indirect, with Omani craftsmen remaining the principal common factor. This demonstrates how Omani architectural influence extended across time and space, highlighting its significance as a historical and transboundary phenomenon.

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