A Relationship of Unique Importance 2010 - 2019

The width and intensity of cooperation has flourished over the past ten years, putting the relationship on a still broader footing with a focus on the rising new generation in Oman and Britain. Joint activity has prospered in a growing number of sectors with the rapid development of the Omani economy and society and with the forward plans of Vision 2040 and the Renaissance Renewed.

This new era of cooperation was marked by the second State Visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to the Sultanate in November 2010.

Following the State Visit in which the Foreign Secretary William Hague accompanied The Queen a new governmental Joint Working Group was established in 2010 and has since met each year. In March 2019 Yousef bin Alawi, Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, and UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt signed a Joint Declaration on Enduring Friendship signalling both countries’ intent to continue strengthening and deepening the historic relationship across the board. In May 2019 the two ministers met again in London to sign the UK-Oman Comprehensive Agreement. This set out in detail the two countries’ shared commitment “to take the relationship into a new era of cooperation“.

The new Omani Ambassador HE Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Hinai presents credentials, February 2010

Foreign Secretary William Hague with HM Sultan Qaboos during the 2010 State Visit

Foreign Secretary William Hague in audience with HM Sultan Qaboos, December 2013

12th meeting of the Joint Working Group in Muscat in 2017 chaired by Alistair Burt MP Minister for the Middle East and HE Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi

Joint Declaration signed by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs HE Yousef bin Alawi, March 2019

An early product of the Comprehensive agreement: British and Omani specialists at Oman’s new Digital Hub

Oman’s Cyber Security Academy opens with British assistance

Omani and British officials meet in London to sign the 2018 agreement establishing Oman’s first Behavioural Insights Office

Defence relations also intensified. October 2018 saw the third of the major Saif Saree’a combined training exercises between British and Omani Armed Forces. In February 2019 at a time of high regional tension the British and Omani Defence Ministers signed an historic new Joint Defence Agreement renewing Britain’s commitment to the strategic partnership with Oman, to develop joint capabilities and to promote stability in the area.

Conference with Omani colleagues at the British Joint Logistics Base, Duqm, Exercise Saif Saree’a 3

British and Omani tank crews during exercise Saif Saree’a 3

Another aspect of defence cooperation: combined bands of the Royal Cavalry of Oman at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival

British and Omani Defence Ministers Gavin Williamson MP and HE Sayyid Badr bin Harub Al Busaidi sign the new Joint Defence Agreement, February 2019

The British Omani Society opened its London home in 2010 and launched its New Generation Group in 2014. Outward Bound Oman (OBO), an offshoot of the British educational charity was established in 2014. The scope of joint environmental research and training widened. Britain became the major foreign investor in the Sultanate with BP’s investment of $20 billion in gas projects; Vodafone entered the Omani telecommunications market. The Oman British Business Council (OBBC) was formed in 2017 to foster further commercial and industrial relations. Parliamentary links gained new impetus with a series of exchange visits leading up to that of the State Council Chairman to London in 2019.

HE Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi opens the new London home of the British Omani Society, with Chairman Richard Muir, October 2010

In August 2010 the Anglo Omani Society in cooperation with Dhofar University launched an annual intensive Arabic language course in Oman for British graduate students

Omani students celebrate National Day at Leeds University, 2013

New Generation Group first joint delegation on tour in Oman February 2013

New Generation Group joint delegation in London at No 10 Downing Street, 2014

Outward Bound Oman (OBO) Omani instructors train in Wales

OBO Executive Director Mark Evans with Mohammed Al Zadjali and Amur Al Wahaibi cross the Empty Quarter in 2015 replicating the 1935 crossing by British traveller Bertram Thomas

Oman Earthwatch Team at Wadi Sareen with Nigel Winser and Royal Geographical Society colleagues December 2012

Hadi Al Hikmani and Abdul Aziz Al Husseini Lecture at the Royal Geographical Society October 2016

The Oman Research Council participates for a fourth year (2019) in the London International Youth Science Forum

The 2019 cohort of Omani interns at the British School Muscat

Maimuna Al Sulaimani, member of the Oman National Human Rights Commission and Oman Supreme Court Lawyer lectures at the British Omani Society in London

Dr Halima Al Balushi, Senior Specialist in Blood Transfusion lectures at the British Omani Society on her pioneering research at Cambridge University

Omani author Jokha Al Harthi (left) in London to receive the 2019 Man-Booker Prize, the first Arabic writer to do so. The English translation by Marilyn Booth (right) was partly funded by the AOS

BP’s Khazzan tight gas project started up in 2017

Vodafone and Oman Future Telecommunications sign a strategic partnership agreement for a new mobile network

OBBC’s inaugural July 2018 reception at 34 Sackville Street

Members of the State Council and of the House of Lords hold discussions at the Oman Council, Muscat, February 2019

Members of the State Council in discussion with members of the House of Lords in the Lord Speaker’s office, Westminster, June 2019

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Oman in 2013 and again in 2016. At the end of the decade the pattern of official British Royal visits to Oman moved to include the next generation.

HRH The Prince of Wales touring the new National Museum in November 2016 with HH Sayyid Haitham bin Tarik Minister of Heritage and Culture

HH Sayyid Haitham bin Tarik Minister of Heritage and Culture greets HRH Prince William on arrival in Muscat, 3rd December 2019

HM Sultan Qaboos receives HRH Prince William, 6th December 2019