British Omani Society marks 225 years of UK–Oman friendship

LONDON: The British Omani Society (BOS) hosted its 2025 Annual Lunch at the Royal Air Force Club in London.
This year’s gathering celebrated a historic milestone — 225 years since the signing of the ‘Unshook Agreement’ of 1800, a landmark treaty that laid the foundation for the enduring and dynamic partnership between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Oman.
Richard Stanford, Chair of the British Omani Society, welcomed distinguished guests and highlighted the Society’s mission to strengthen the long-standing bonds of friendship, shared values and mutual respect between the two nations. He emphasised BOS’s ongoing commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding and empowering the next generation to shape a vibrant shared future.
Guests of Honour, Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali al Harthy, Under-Secretary of the Foreign Ministry for Political Affairs, and Hamish Falconer MP, UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan, addressed the audience, reflecting on the historic depth and promising future of UK–Omani relations.
Shaikh Khalifa commended the United Kingdom’s recognition of the State of Palestine, describing it as a “meaningful step in global diplomacy,” while Hamish Falconer lauded the Society’s work in sustaining and advancing bilateral collaboration through education, culture and youth engagement.
The event brought together senior officials, including Badr bin Mohammed al Mantheri, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the UK, and Liane Saunders, British Ambassador to Oman, alongside BOS members, dignitaries and alumni from youth exchange programmes.
The Annual Lunch served as a platform to reaffirm the strength of people-to-people ties and showcased the Society’s broad initiatives spanning youth empowerment, culture, business, education and sustainability.
Richard Stanford remarked, “We were delighted to again welcome a broad range of guests to this year’s Annual Lunch. This event underscores the importance of people-to-people ties, and we remain committed to deepening and expanding this vital relationship between our two countries.”