Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Conducts First Omani State Visit to UK Since 1982

Sultan Haitham bin Tariq conducted a state visit to the United Kingdom on October 18, 2026, marking the first such visit by an Omani Sultan to Britain since 1982. The visit emphasizes a diplomatic relationship established in 1798 that has transitioned from early maritime trade to modern strategic cooperation in technology and defense.

Economic ties currently drive the partnership, with the United Kingdom serving as the largest foreign investor in Oman as of 2025, with approximately US$42bn in direct investment. This financial relationship is supported by a 2022 sovereign investment partnership between the Oman Investment Authority and the British Investment Office, which focuses on technology and clean energy.

Defense cooperation remains a central pillar of the bilateral relationship, underpinned by a joint defense agreement signed in 2019. The state visit serves to reinforce these long-term strategic bonds between the two nations.