MUSCAT : His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik will begin a state visit to Britain on Monday, October 19, as the two countries seek to expand investment, strengthen defence cooperation and coordinate on regional security, officials told Oman News Agency.

The visit, at the invitation of King Charles III, will be the first state visit to Britain by an Omani Sultan since 1982. It comes as both countries look to broaden an economic relationship in which Britain accounts for more than half of Oman’s accumulated foreign direct investment.

British direct investment in Oman reached RO 16.8 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026, up from RO 16.1 billion in 2025 and RO 14.9 billion in 2024, according to figures from the National Centre for Statistics and Information cited by ONA.

Bilateral trade totalled RO 387.9 million in the first seven months of 2026, exceeding the RO 384.7 million recorded for the whole of 2025.

Oman’s ambassador to Britain, His Excellency Badr bin Mohammed Al Mantheri, said the visit would provide an opportunity to advance cooperation in investment, trade, renewable energy, technology and innovation, alongside education, culture, defence and security.

“We look forward to the state visit giving additional momentum to mutual investment and opening the way for high-quality partnerships, particularly in clean energy, green hydrogen, technology, innovation, industry, financial services and tourism,” he told ONA.

“Our ambition is to turn the available opportunities into practical, sustainable projects and partnerships that deliver added value for both countries.”

British Ambassador to Oman Her Excellency Liane Saunders said the visit would focus on deepening economic and investment ties, modernising the defence relationship, expanding cooperation in culture, heritage, education and skills, and strengthening foreign policy coordination.

She said Britain accounted for more than 52% of foreign direct investment in Oman and was well placed to support the country’s economic diversification under Oman Vision 2040.

Renewable energy, green hydrogen, advanced manufacturing, financial services, technology, logistics, tourism, agricultural technology and education offered opportunities for further cooperation, she said.

The two countries signed an investment partnership in London in January 2022, bringing together the Oman Investment Authority and Britain’s Office for Investment to encourage high-value investment, including in clean energy and technology.

Saunders said British investment in Oman had continued to grow since that agreement. She added that the recent conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Britain and the Gulf Cooperation Council offered further scope to deepen trade and investment ties.

The trade figures showed that Oman exported goods worth RO 139 million to Britain in the first seven months of 2026 and imported RO 248.9 million.

In 2025, Omani exports to Britain totalled RO 242.7 million, while imports stood at RO 142 million, giving Oman a trade surplus of RO 100.6 million. Omani direct investment in Britain reached RO 84.6 million that year.

His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the visit could help turn longstanding ties into a broader economic partnership.

He identified renewable energy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, manufacturing, agricultural technology and food security as areas for investment and knowledge exchange.

The chamber was working to strengthen direct links between Omani and British companies through business meetings, delegation exchanges and greater access to information on markets and projects, he said.

Regional security will also feature in discussions, with both ambassadors highlighting the importance of diplomacy, de-escalation and maritime security.

Al Mantheri said Oman valued its regular consultation with Britain on regional and international issues, particularly amid the challenges facing the region.

He said continued dialogue could support political solutions, protect international shipping and trade, and strengthen prospects for peace.

Saunders said Britain valued Oman’s ability to maintain diplomatic channels and its support for a sustainable political settlement in Yemen.

The two countries would continue working closely to promote regional stability and freedom of navigation, she said.

The visit builds on a relationship shaped by agreements spanning more than two centuries. The countries marked the 225th anniversary of their 1800 bilateral treaty last year.

They signed a joint defence agreement in February 2019, followed in May that year by a comprehensive agreement on enduring friendship and bilateral cooperation covering political, military, cultural, economic and other ties.

His Majesty met King Charles at Windsor Castle in July 2025, when they discussed ways to build on the relationship and advance shared interests.

Education and skills remain another substantial part of the partnership. Around 3,000 Omani students study in Britain annually, Saunders said.

She said the visit would explore closer cooperation in research and innovation, technical and vocational education, skills development and education supported by artificial intelligence, alongside cultural, heritage and youth exchanges.

Al Mantheri called for more direct partnerships between universities and research institutions, with greater opportunities for young people to participate in academic exchanges, training and innovation.

Tourism also forms part of the relationship. British visitor arrivals in Oman rose to 103,500 in 2025 from 93,700 the previous year, while arrivals reached 61,886 in the first nine months of 2026, according to the statistics cited by ONA.

The Oman–UK Joint Working Group, established in 2010, held its 18th meeting in Muscat in September. Discussions covered education, vocational training, sport, tourism and cultural exchanges.

Business and cultural organisations also support bilateral links. The British Omani Society, founded in 1976, promotes mutual understanding through lectures, events, scholarships and educational assistance, while the Omani British Friendship Association encourages commercial partnerships and cooperation across education, culture, tourism and sport.

Saleh bin Mohammed Al Zakwani, chairman of the friendship association, said combining British expertise with Oman’s development priorities could help deliver the goals of Oman Vision 2040.

Al Mantheri said the relationship’s history provided a foundation for its next phase.

“We have a long history of friendship and trust, and at the same time a shared ambition for the future,” he said. “We see history not merely as a legacy we cherish, but as a foundation on which to build a more diverse and modern partnership.”

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