Muscat – His Majesty’s upcoming visit to Spain marks a pivotal moment in more than five decades of friendship between the two nations.

Over the past fifty years, Omani-Spanish relations have been characterised by mutual respect and constructive cooperation, contributing to the consolidation of a strong partnership covering various fields, most notably the political and economic aspects.
This is evinced through the exchange of views, meetings, and bilateral agreements, including the visit of His Majesty King Felipe VI of the Kingdom of Spain and his meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haitham to offer his condolences on the passing of Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

In October last year, the two leaders reviewed bilateral relations and exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues of mutual interest during a phone call.

Former Spanish King Juan Carlos I also made several visits to the Sultanate of Oman, the last of which was in 2014, during which several agreements and memoranda of understanding were signed in various fields.
Commenting on the upcoming visit of His Majesty, His Excellency Thamir Faiz Khalfan Al Alawi. Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Kingdom of Spain, said: “This historic visit embodies the depth and strength of the close friendship between the two countries and peoples. The meeting between the two leaders will be a strong incentive to expand the strategic partnership between the two countries, which has existed since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, to broader horizons in all fields.”

His Excellency explained that at the heart of the evolving partnership is a growing focus on economic cooperation and investment integration, with the Oman-Spain Joint Private Equity Fund (SOPEF) standing out as a key success story. Launched in 2018 through collaboration between the Oman Investment Authority and Spain’s government-owned COFIDES, the fund has grown to a value of RO 133 million, investing in 11 Spanish companies across sectors such as renewable energy, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing.

The Ambassador further pointed out that Spain is now the third-largest European investor in Oman among GCC countries, with Spanish investments valued at approximately RO 37 million. Additionally, over 30 Spanish companies are currently operating in Oman in sectors like water management, solar and wind energy, and industrial engineering.

Trade exchange between the two nations reached RO 94 million by the end of 2024, with Oman exporting goods worth RO 33.8 million – including aluminum, plastics, and fish – while imports from Spain stood at RO 60.4 million, featuring products such as vehicles, aircraft, and chemicals.

The relationship between Oman and Spain extends beyond commerce into the cultural and historical realms. The two countries share centuries-old ties dating back to the Arab presence in Andalusia. Among the prominent figures connecting both cultures is Abdullah bin Muhammad al-Azdi al-Sahari, a pioneering Omani physician and author, who lived in 11th-century Spain.

Among other indications of the deep-rooted historical communication relations between the two countries, Spanish researchers have identified royal emblems of the kings of Spain engraved on some of the ancient cannons in the forts and castles of Oman, especially the cannons in Jabrin Fort.

His Excellency added that the Sultanate of Oman is committed to enhancing and highlighting its cultural, heritage, tourism and academic wealth, in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040. This is evident in tourism events, particularly this year’s participation in the International Tourism Exhibition (FITUR), the most important tourism exhibition in the world. This participation was crowned by the Sultanate of Oman’s pavilion winning the Best Innovative Design Pavilion Award at the last edition of the exhibition, which enhances the media image of the Sultanate of Oman as a tourist destination for the Spanish public.
On the political front, both nations continue to show close alignment on regional and global issues. In multilateral forums, such as the United Nations, Oman and Spain have consistently supported similar positions on peace, security, and the Palestinian cause, emphasizing the two-state solution and the right to self-determination.

His Excellency Francisco Javier Simonet, Ambassador of Spain to Oman, described the bilateral relationship as strong, friendly, and respectful, with great potential for expansion in sectors including clean energy, logistics, civil aviation, defence, and even space cooperation. He stressed the importance of language exchange and educational initiatives to further enhance academic and professional ties between the two countries.

His Excellency Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, Chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, underscored the economic significance of His Majesty’s visit, describing it as a “milestone in bilateral relations”. He highlighted new opportunities for cooperation in tourism, digital economy, food security, and medical tourism, and reaffirmed Oman’s ambition to leverage the Spanish market as a gateway to Europe.

He also praised the Oman-Spain Fund’s role in transferring knowledge and technology, which has brought tangible benefits to both economies.