MUSCAT: The Omani British Society (OBS) celebrated the 225th anniversary of the ‘Unshook Treaty of 1800’ between Oman and Great Britain at the Diplomatic Club on Monday.
The ‘Unshook Treaty’, one of the world’s oldest and most enduring diplomatic agreements, was signed on January 18, 1800, expressing the hope that 'the friendship of the two states may remain unshook until the end of time.
It also denotes the mutual respect, trust, and collaboration between the two nations over the past two centuries and twenty-five years.
The celebration also marked the launch of the Arabic version of the 'Unshook Agreement' that documented the mutual declaration for the relationship to remain steadfast and unshaken in 1800.
“The many historic ties between Oman and Britain are explained in a book named 'Unshook Till the End of Time', written by two former British ambassadors to Oman, Robert Alston (1986-1990) and Stuart Laing (2002-2005) and was first published in 2012.
"Launching the Arabic version of the same in 2025, at a time when we are celebrating the 225th anniversary of this historic agreement, is a befitting gift to the friendly bonds between the Sultanate of Oman and Britain," said Haifa al Khaifi, BOS Secretary-General.
Maggie Jeans said that the relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom can be traced back over two centuries, with the two sides always seeking to explore new ways of improving them on various fronts, including but not limited to diplomacy, education, trade and commerce, culture and people-to-people relations.
“I’m really grateful to those who have translated this book into Arabic because we hope that it will open up our work to a much wider audience, and Arabic-reading students and others will be able to make up their own minds about the importance of this history.” The reception, followed by a gala dinner, was graced by Dr Liane Saunders, British Ambassador to Oman, and Khalid bin Hashil al Muselhi, Under-Secretary of the Foreign Ministry for Administrative and Financial Affairs, who delivered the keynote address.
To mark this historic milestone, the evening’s programme included cultural performances and reflections celebrating the strength and continuity of this unique relationship, one that continues to shape regional dialogue, maritime security, and cultural and economic ties between Oman and the United Kingdom.
The book traces more than three centuries of diplomacy, maritime cooperation, political complexity and an enduring sense of trust between Muscat and London.
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