Oman, France Set to Elevate Strategic Partnership During Sultan Haitham’s Official Visit

Muscat, The Gulf Observer: The Sultanate of Oman and the French Republic are poised to further strengthen their long-standing strategic partnership as His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik embarks on an official visit to France on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations that span more than five decades.

The visit underscores Oman’s foreign policy of balanced diplomacy, openness and constructive international engagement under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. It also reflects the shared commitment of both nations to expanding cooperation in political, economic, investment, cultural and scientific fields while enhancing coordination on regional and international issues.

Diplomatic relations between Oman and France were formally established in 1972, with ambassadors exchanged in 1974, although ties between the two countries date back to the eighteenth century through maritime trade across the Indian Ocean and East Africa. Since then, bilateral cooperation has steadily expanded to include energy, defence, education, technology and political coordination.

In recent years, relations have reached a new level of strategic cooperation. His Majesty Sultan Haitham and French President Emmanuel Macron have maintained regular consultations, most recently during a telephone conversation on May 31, 2026, discussing regional developments, maritime security, international trade and opportunities for deeper bilateral cooperation.

The two countries are increasingly collaborating in high-growth sectors such as renewable energy, clean technologies, logistics, infrastructure, space, tourism, food security, advanced industries and defence. Their first Strategic Dialogue, held in Paris in April 2026, further reinforced commitments to expand economic, cultural and educational cooperation.

Economic relations continue to show strong momentum. During the MIPIM 2026 international property exhibition in Cannes, Oman signed 17 investment and development agreements worth more than RO762 million, covering future cities and integrated residential projects.

Trade between Oman and France exceeded RO100 million in 2025, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information. French exports to Oman rose to RO70.8 million, while Omani exports—including aluminium, iron, polyethylene and pharmaceuticals—surpassed RO29 million.

French business participation in Oman has also grown significantly, with nearly 300 companies registered by the end of 2025, representing an increase of almost 30 percent compared to the previous year. French investment capital similarly recorded notable growth, reflecting increasing confidence in Oman’s investment climate.

The Oman-France Business Council continues to play a key role in promoting bilateral trade and investment, while French companies are expected to participate prominently in the second edition of the “Advantage Oman” investment forum scheduled for October 2026 in Muscat.

Oman’s Ambassador to France, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Araimi, described the royal visit as an important milestone that reflects the continued growth of the strategic partnership. He said the visit is expected to result in the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding in economic, commercial and investment sectors, opening new avenues for cooperation.

He highlighted successful joint projects including the LNG partnership between OQ Group and TotalEnergies, the Manah 1 solar project, power and water projects in Barka and Sohar, and the OmanSat-1 satellite initiative as examples of growing bilateral collaboration.

French Ambassador to Oman Nabil Hajlaoui also emphasized the significance of the visit, noting that it comes at a critical regional moment and is expected to inject fresh momentum into bilateral relations through the launch of major strategic projects.

He revealed that agreements and projects worth approximately US$2.25 billion are expected to be announced during the visit across sectors including energy transition, transport, water treatment, environmental technologies, space and digital innovation. French companies have already invested more than US$1.7 billion in Oman’s energy sector over the past two years.

The ambassador reaffirmed France’s appreciation for Oman’s diplomatic efforts in promoting peace, dialogue and regional stability, noting the close alignment between both countries on international law and peaceful conflict resolution.

The visit is also expected to deepen educational and cultural cooperation. Currently, 59 Omani students are enrolled in French universities, while 38 Omani doctors are receiving specialized medical training in France. Joint language programmes, scholarships and academic exchanges continue to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two nations.

Business leaders in Oman have welcomed the visit, describing it as a catalyst for expanding private-sector partnerships in renewable energy, green hydrogen, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, logistics, tourism and the blue economy in line with Oman Vision 2040.

The official visit is widely expected to open a new chapter in Oman-France relations by strengthening strategic cooperation, attracting quality investments and promoting sustainable economic development while reinforcing both countries’ shared commitment to dialogue, peace and international cooperation.