MUSCAT : A high-level delegation of senior royals, ministers and officials will accompany His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on a state visit to the United Kingdom on Monday, as the two countries seek to deepen trade, expand investment and strengthen defence cooperation.

The visit, beginning October 19 at the invitation of King Charles III, will be the first state visit to Britain by an Omani Sultan since 1982, according to Oman News Agency.

It comes amid growing economic ties, with British direct investment in Oman reaching RO 16.8 billion at the end of June 2026, compared with RO 16.1 billion in 2025 and RO 14.9 billion in 2024, according to National Centre for Statistics and Information figures cited by ONA.

Britain accounts for more than 52% of Oman’s accumulated foreign direct investment, making it a major partner in the country’s economic diversification efforts under Oman Vision 2040.

Bilateral trade reached 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 exports to Britain totalled RO 139 million during the period, while imports stood at RO 248.9 million.

The accompanying delegation includes His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, and His Highness Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs.

Foreign Minister His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi and His Excellency Anwar bin Hilal Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, will also join the visit.

The Diwan of Royal Court said the two leaders would discuss ways to advance cooperation across various sectors and consult on regional and international developments.

Oman’s Ambassador to Britain, His Excellency Badr bin Mohammed Al Mantheri, said the visit offered an opportunity to develop partnerships in clean energy, green hydrogen, technology, industry, financial services and tourism.

He told ONA that the aim was to translate investment opportunities into practical, sustainable projects that deliver 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 and expanding cooperation in education, skills, culture and heritage.

She identified renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, financial services, technology, logistics, tourism and agricultural technology as areas with potential for further cooperation.

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 investment in sectors including clean energy and technology.

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

Omani direct investment in Britain reached RO 84.6 million in 2025, according to the figures cited by ONA.

His Excellency Sheikh Faisal bin Abdullah Al Rawas, chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the visit could help broaden the economic partnership, particularly in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, manufacturing and food security.

The chamber was working to strengthen links between companies through business meetings, delegation exchanges and improved access to market and project information, he said.

Defence and regional security will also feature in discussions. Both ambassadors highlighted the importance of diplomacy, de-escalation, maritime security and freedom of navigation.

Al Mantheri said continued consultation could support political solutions and help protect international shipping and trade. Saunders highlighted Oman’s role in maintaining diplomatic channels and supporting a sustainable political settlement in Yemen.

The visit builds on agreements including a joint defence agreement signed in February 2019 and a comprehensive agreement on enduring friendship and bilateral cooperation signed in May that year.

Education and tourism are also expected to feature. Around 3,000 Omani students study in Britain annually, Saunders said, while British visitor arrivals in Oman rose to 103,500 in 2025 from 93,700 a year earlier.

The official delegation will also comprise His Highness Sayyid Lu’ai bin Ghalib Al Said, Secretary-General of the Diwan of Royal Court; Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court; His Excellency General Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office; and His Excellency Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior.

Other members include His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Said Al Aufi, Head of the Private Office; Her Excellency Dr. Madiha bint Ahmed Al Shaibani, Minister of Education; His Excellency Nasser bin Khamis Al Jashmi, Chairman of the Tax Authority; His Excellency Hussein bin Ali bin Abdul Latif, Adviser at the Private Office; and Ambassador Al Mantheri.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.