Sultan of Oman to pay state visit to the UAE on Monday

Sultan Haitham of Oman will visit the UAE on Monday for talks with President Sheikh Mohamed, state news agency Wam reported.

The two leaders will discuss the "deep-rooted, historical, and fraternal relations" between the countries, Wam said.

They will also discuss co-operation between the two nations and joint work in various fields of mutual interest, as well as regional and international issues.

Sultan Haitham was proclaimed ruler of Oman on January 11, 2020.

In its report on Oman-UAE ties, Oman News Agency said that the two leaders are keen to elevate relations and maintain security and stability in the region.

The two countries shared the same vision towards issues of mutual concern to the two countries’ peoples. Their relations represented the real meaning of fraternity and harmony over the past five decades.

Wam reported that Sultan Haitham’s state visit to the UAE and his meeting with Sheikh Mohamed will assume great importance.

The visit aims to promote and boost bilateral relations on a range of issues. During their meeting, the two leaders will exchange views on regional and international developments.

The joint supreme committee between the two countries, established in 1991, seeks to enhance ways of co-operation and co-ordination in economic, commercial, cultural and educational fields.

It also works to link electricity and communications networks, co-ordinate land transport services and transportation procedures between the two countries through various border crossings, and promote opportunities and areas of joint investment.

Dr Sayyid Al Busaidi, ambassador of Oman to the UAE, said the visit will contribute to accelerating and developing co-operation, integration and partnership.

He pointed out that the mutual visits of the leadership of the two countries culminated during the last period through the signing of 16 agreements and memorandums of understanding in various fields.

He affirmed to ONA that there is a leap in economic relations between Oman and the UAE. He also expected the visit will mean more joint investment co-operation.

He explained that Omani investment in the UAE included financial activities, insurance, manufacturing industries, real estate, professional and technical activities, wholesale and retail trade, information and communications.

Meanwhile, the list of the most important Emirati investments in Oman includes industrial, financial, banking, tourism, power generation, real estate activities, retail trade sectors and construction, he noted.

Dr Al Busaidi said that the UAE is one of the most important trading partners of the Sultanate of Oman.

He noted that Omani exports to the UAE during 2023 exceeded one billion Omani rials, marking an increase of 20.4 per cent compared to 2022.

Figures from the National Centre for Statistics and Information show that the volume of trade exchange between Oman and the UAE by the end of 2023 amounted to about 5.439 billion Omani rials, compared to 5.571 billion Omani rials by the end of 2022.

NCSI statistics also showed that the value of Omani products exported to the UAE by the end of last year amounted to more than 291.7 million Omani rials, represented by metal products, chemical industry products, related industries, and other products and commodities.

The value of products imported from the UAE was more than 837.7 million Omani rials. They included machinery, appliances, electrical equipment and other products.

Last September, Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, was received by Sultan Haitham in Muscat on a two-day tour.

The two leaders reflected on the long-standing ties between the UAE and the sultanate during cordial talks at Al Baraka Palace in the Omani capital.

Sultan Haitham also held a luncheon in honour of Sheikh Dr Sultan and his delegation.

Sheikh Mohamed made a state visit to Oman in September 2022.