The official visit by Omani Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Egypt last week at the invitation of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi heralds a new era in relations between the two countries in the domains of industry, economy and investment.
During his visit, both countries signed a number of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to strengthen economic ties, build on the previous partnerships made during President Sisi’s visit to Oman in June 2022.
Recent years have witnessed an important movement represented in official, high-level visits between the two countries and the coming period will witness further exchange visits between the two countries.
The friendly relations between Egypt and Oman represent an ideal example of how Arab relations should be in terms of solidarity, coherence and co-operation in the face of crises and challenges.
Along the path of the centuries-old relations between the two countries are important milestones that established the foundations of their strong ties. These well-established historic relations are a robust model that has been unaffected by any regional or international political transformation.
The history of Omani-Egyptian relations, which dates back 3,500 years, started with cultural communication between Omani and Pharaonic ruling families. Omani frankincense played a pivotal role in the unique communication which continues to this day.
Oman’s support for Egypt during the 1979 Egypt-Israel peace process, which resulted in Egypt’s recapture of the rest of its land in Sinai, is perhaps one of the most well-known political positions between Egypt and Oman. The people of Egypt still remember with appreciation and respect the remarkable historic decision of the Omani leadership.
The first visit by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi to Oman in February 2018 established a new phase of strong relations between the two countries and opened new horizons to enhance co-operation in all fields.
In June 2022, the president again visited Oman, building bridges of co-operation arising from the two countries’ shared visions on various issues in the region. The two countries’ signing of several agreements, MoUs and executive programmes is an indicator of the coherence of both countries’ vision for development: Egypt 2030 and Oman 2040.
Indeed, Egypt and Oman have promising opportunities for investment and achieving economic integrity. Oman with its growing economy, attractive business climate and legislation for foreign investors are favourable for Egyptian investors. In the meantime, Egypt’s recent introduction of new facilities to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) is considered an opportunity for Omani investors to earn high profits.
“Sultan Haitham’s visit to Egypt, his first since assuming power in 2020, comes at a critical time, especially after the Arab Summit in Jeddah, and amid major political and economic challenges in Arab and international arenas.
The depth of relations between the two countries motivates co-ordination in all fields to fulfill their common goals. Also, understanding exists between the two countries on regional issues and so they represent important players in settling Arab issues. In addition, the foreign policy of both countries is based on respect for international law, peace settlement and neutrality. In light of this, both countries played a vital mediating role in many conflicts and crises in the region.
Both countries share the same position on crises in Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Syria and others. Moreover, continued consultations and partnership between Egypt serve the interests of both countries and the whole region.
Mohamed Fahmy is the editor-in-chief
of The Egyptian Gazette and
Egyptian Mail newspapers
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