The Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland have engaged in extensive cooperation in various fields due to their deep historical relations that date back several centuries. The official visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to Britain, which will take place at the invitation of His Majesty King Charles III in the next two days, reflects the enduring friendship between Oman and Britain and the leadership's willingness of both countries to strengthen these relations in various fields.
Development of Oman's Relations with Countries of the World
His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq has always emphasized the development of Oman's relations with various countries around the world, basing the principles of Oman's renaissance on mutual respect, creating values of peace and international security, and maximizing common interests. In this context, he met with King Charles III at Windsor Castle in July 2025 and emphasized the importance of investing in the historical relations between the two countries.
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The awarding of the Knight Grand Cross by the late Queen Elizabeth II to His Majesty the Sultan in 2021 underscores the depth of these relations and the bonds between the two countries and their peoples. In line with enhancing strategic partnerships and expanding interests, His Majesty has also taken a special interest in meeting with British Prime Ministers.
Expansion of Economic and Trade Cooperation
Recent years have witnessed numerous meetings between senior officials of the two countries aimed at expanding and creating new partnerships in political, economic, and cultural fields. One of these meetings was the visit of HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, with His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales at Windsor Castle.
In January 2022, the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), and Britain, represented by the UK Office for Investment (OfI), signed an agreement for investment cooperation in London. This agreement aims to strengthen the economic relations between the two countries and increase the volume of high-value investments in specific areas such as clean energy and information technology.
Statistics published by the National Center for Statistics and Information in Oman indicate that in 2025, the trade balance between the Sultanate of Oman and Britain recorded a surplus of 100.6 million Omani Rials in favor of the Sultanate of Oman. In the same year, Oman's exports to Britain reached approximately 242.7 million Omani Rials, while Oman's imports from Britain amounted to 142 million Omani Rials.
Preliminary statistics also show that in the first seven months of 2026, the volume of trade exchange reached 387.9 million Omani Rials. Meanwhile, the number of visitors from Britain to Oman increased from 93,700 in 2025 to 103,500.
Several groups have been formed between the Sultanate of Oman and Britain, including the British Omani Society, established in 1976 and supported by the Sultanate of Oman. This society helps strengthen friendships and mutual understanding between cultures and prepares the next generation to shape a shared and successful future.
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