“In 1972, Germany and Oman established diplomatic relations, shortly after the Sultanate of Oman became a member of the United Nations in 1971. On the 50th anniversary of this wonderful occasion, I wish to extend warm greetings to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and the people of Oman.
The relationship between Oman and Germany has always been strong and cordial.
We share a common vision of a rules-based international order, seeking peace and understanding between nations.
Germany and Oman are reliable partners – bilaterally and in international fora.
A first German Embassy in Muscat was opened in 1976. German Federal Presidents Richard von Weizsäcker and Christian Wulff visited the Sultanate in 1993 and 2011, as well as Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in 2005.
In 2017, we moved to a new and larger embassy in Al Khuwair, designed by a team of Omani and German architects – a visible investment into the future of Omani-German relations.
Beyond the political, Oman and Germany have been steadfast partners for many years in the area of education.
Since 2005, over 350 Omani students have come to study in Germany, returning with a Bachelor’s degree and a perfect command of the German language.
Since 2007, the German University of Technology (‘GUtech’) in Halban, in close cooperation with RWTH Aachen University in Germany, has become the flagship of bilateral co-operation in higher education.
At the Goethe-Institut Muscat, the German Language Centre in Oman you can take German classes of all levels and sit for exams.
The German language is also taught at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman Tourism College, Nizwa University and also at several Omani public schools.
In the economic field, we are closely working together on renewable energies and hydrogen, jointly shaping the energy market of the future. The German Industry & Commerce Office Oman (AHK) promotes trade and investment.
Not only renowned German carmakers but also global players such as Siemens, DBSchenker or DHL, as well as numerous small and medium businesses are well positioned in the Omani market, jointly with their local partners.
Did you know that most Omani banknotes are printed in Germany? And of course, every year, a shared love for spectacular nature, fascinating history, and rich cultural heritage draws German tourists to Oman and Omani tourists to Germany in great numbers.
The world has changed over the last 50 years, so have Germany and Oman.
However, German-Omani friendship has proven to be solid and lasting. May this friendship persist and grow over the next 50 years.
Thomas Friedrich Schneider
The writer is German Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman
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