MUSCAT — His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Sunday conferred the Royal Commendation Order (First Class) on His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, during a ceremony held at Al Baraka Palace.

The honour—one of the highest civilian awards—was granted in recognition of Sayyid Badr’s contribution to strengthening Oman’s diplomacy, advancing the country’s foreign relations and representing the Sultanate on the global stage.

Sayyid Badr, who was appointed Foreign Minister in August 2020, has been a central figure in Oman’s international engagement, steering the country’s balanced and dialogue-driven foreign policy. Under his leadership, the Foreign Ministry has expanded strategic partnerships, supported regional stability initiatives and strengthened Oman’s role as a bridge in international diplomacy.

Prior to becoming Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr served for years as Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He played a key role in modernising the ministry’s institutional framework and driving Oman’s foreign policy vision under the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said and His Majesty Sultan Haitham.

Order of Royal Commendation is one of Oman’s distinguished national honours, awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary service to the nation across government, diplomacy and public affairs.

The ceremony forms part of this year’s National Day celebrations, during which His Majesty honoured several senior officials and military leaders for their contributions to national development.