Dr. Majid Labbaf Khaneiki is a human geographer specializing in socio-hydrology and hydro-social cycles in local communities, where water underlies a complex nexus of social and economic structures. He began his academic training with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering and subsequently earned his master’s and PhD degrees in human geography from the University of Tehran, Iran. His PhD dissertation focused on water cooperation in traditional agrarian communities. Before joining the University of Nizwa in September 2021, he was a guest lecturer and researcher at the University of Augsburg in Germany, where he conducted a research project entitled “Hydro-Social Justice in the History of Iran” and taught a course on “Water Issues in the Middle East.” He has also served as a senior researcher and scientific advisor at the International Center on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures (UNESCO-ICQHS). Throughout his academic career, he has conducted or collaborated on more than 25 research projects addressing water-related issues in Oman, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, and Azerbaijan. He has authored 13 books, including “Cultural Dynamics of Water in Iranian Civilization”, which conceptualizes water as a pivotal element in the formation of Iran’s historical identity and cultural dynamics. His peer-reviewed articles have appeared in several international journals, including Water Security, Journal of Borderlands Studies, Water History, Journal of Historical Geography, Human Ecology, and Journal of Arid Environments. He teaches courses at the University of Nizwa while conducting research on the socio-hydrological dimensions of traditional irrigation systems in Oman. He is currently conducting a research project entitled “Falaj Systems and the Making of Omani Social Identity: Historical Foundations and Contemporary Implications,” funded by Oman’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. This project investigates the historical role of falaj irrigation systems in shaping social organization, community cooperation, and collective identity in Oman. Adopting a historical and socio-hydrological perspective, it examines how falaj-based water governance, including water allocation, collective labor, and institutional regulations, interacted with tribal structures and contributed to social cohesion and the formation of Omani identity. The research also explores the contemporary implications of these historical institutions for cultural heritage and sustainability.