Oman and Brunei agree strategic partnership, seek wider investment ties

Oman and Brunei agreed to establish a strategic partnership during Sultan Haitham bin Tarik's November 2–4, 2026, state visit to Brunei, with investment and trade expansion among their priorities, according to a joint statement published by Oman's foreign ministry.

The statement, signed on November 3, described the trip as the first state visit to Brunei by an Omani sultan. Sultan Haitham travelled at the invitation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The countries established diplomatic relations on March 24, 1984.

The leaders met at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan before holding broader official talks. Those discussions addressed manufacturing and mining, alongside energy, petrochemicals, aquaculture and food security, the Omani ministry said.

In his speech, Sultan Haitham pointed to the Oman Brunei Investment Company as an existing vehicle for economic cooperation. He expressed hope that it would identify and pursue investments in additional sectors, building on the two countries' economic ties.

He said bilateral trade fell short of what the partnership could support and expressed confidence that it could grow. Linking closer economic ties to Oman's effort to increase non-oil revenues, he described Brunei as a gateway to broader Asian markets.

The Sultan identified renewable energy and oil and gas as possible areas for partnerships, together with food security, logistics and maritime transport. He also pointed to opportunities involving technology, innovation, entrepreneurship and education.

Alongside those prospective investments, the leaders witnessed the signing of a visa-exemption agreement applying to diplomatic, special, service and official passport holders. They also witnessed memoranda addressing farming and fisheries, workforce development, economic and strategic planning, and cooperation in health, the joint statement said.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi set out a wider cooperation agenda in remarks to the Oman News Agency. He said trade, investment and economic ties would be priorities, together with tourism, energy, culture and education, with technological advances and artificial intelligence also being used.