The royal visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to Singapore, scheduled from December 13 to 15, 2023, stands as a testament to the continued strengthening of ties between two seafaring nations.
“This is a historic visit. It is the first in many respects: It will be Oman’s first ever State Visit to Singapore; it is His Majesty’s first official visit to East Asia; it is the first state visit hosted by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who was elected in September 2023,” a note from the Singapore Embassy in Oman said.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on February 21, 1985, and since then, various sectors have witnessed a steady ascent in cooperation. The year 2022 witnessed numerous significant developments, and in December, the first Singapore-Oman Strategic Dialogue (SOSD) took place. This dialogue reflected the mutual commitment to elevate bilateral ties, leading to the decision to upgrade both nations' Consulates General to Embassies headed by a Chargé d'affaires.
The bilateral relations, historically nurtured through the Singapore-Oman Bilateral Consultations (SOBC) and the Singapore-Oman Joint Committee (SOJC), reached new heights with the SOSD co-chaired at the Ministerial level. Several governmental and business-to-business exchanges ensued, including meetings at international forums like the G20, where both Oman and Singapore were special guests of the Indian Presidency.
Despite geographical separation, Oman and Singapore share commonalities as maritime nations, reliant on open trade and a rules-based international order. Both nations embarked on parallel paths of development post-nationhood, fostering ties in education, healthcare, trade links, and communication systems. Their historical connections date back centuries, intertwined through early trade routes.
Two notable initiatives exemplify this shared history. First, the symbolic route of the Jewel of Muscat mirrored the paths of ancient traders, linking Asia and the Middle East. Second, the redevelopment of Muscat Street in Kampong Glam, Singapore, featuring Omani-style archways and murals, highlights the cultural interplay between the two nations.
Oman established a Consulate-General in Singapore in May 2011, reciprocated by the opening of the Consulate-General of Singapore in Muscat on August 15, 2013. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (GSFTA), signed in 2008 and enforced in 2013, marked the first FTA between the GCC and a non-Middle East country. This agreement has facilitated access to GCC markets, including Oman, and ongoing efforts are under way to upgrade it to address the demands of the digital economy.
Further strengthening economic ties, Singapore and Oman ratified a Bilateral Investment Treaty in August 2009 and an Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement in April 2006. The latter provides relief from double taxation when income is subject to tax in both countries.
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