Haitham bin Tarik, the sultan and prime minister of Oman, is scheduled to begin a two-day official visit to Egypt on Sunday. The visit will come in the wake of the Arab League summit on Friday, as well as the return of Syria to the Arab League, and in the middle of an intense conflict in Sudan.
Oman is an important country that has served as a center of meetings to discuss regional issues and end conflicts. Because it generally is neutral, it has often been open to Iran and also hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 2018.
The invitation was extended by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, according to Egyptian and Omani media reports.
“This comes in extension to the historical relations binding the Sultanate of Oman and the brotherly Arab Republic of Egypt and in affirmation of the keenness of the two countries’ leaderships in enhancing the firm bonds between them,” Oman’s Royal Court said in a statement.
What will the Sultan do during his visit?
English-language monthly news magazine Egypt Today reported: “During his visit, Sultan Haitham will discuss all aspects of cooperation between Egypt and Oman in order to boost their relations to a level that fulfills the desired goals in all fields and serves the two countries’ joint interests. The leadership of the two countries will also hold consultations and coordination that would contribute to enhancing joint Arab work.”
Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Minister of the Royal Court Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi and Minister of the Royal Office Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nu’amani will accompany the sultan during his trip, the report said.
“Also, Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hammad Al Busaidi, Minister of Finance Sultan bin Salem Al Habsi, Minister of Trade Qais Al Youssef and Oman’s Ambassador to Egypt Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Rahbi will be among the delegation,” it added.
The visit will be watched closely in the region as yet another example of the new diplomatic era and frequent visits by heads of state and high-level ministers from various countries. It is part of the wider regional integration taking place.