The substantial investment, announced during the Sultan of Oman's three-day State Visit to the UK, aims to accelerate mutual investment and support the UK government’s commitment to driving growth nationwide. New agreements will build on the existing UK-Oman Sovereign Investment Partnership, fostering increased investment in key sectors such as renewable energy, technology, critical minerals, space, healthcare, and financial services.
UK Export Finance, the UK government’s export credit agency, will increase its financing capacity to £7 billion for UK exports to Oman, unlocking further trade and investment opportunities. A significant development includes an agreement for UK-founded Yamna, a global infrastructure development and investment company, to build a large-scale Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centre in Salalah. The initial phase is expected to exceed £1 billion and create over 100 highly skilled jobs in the UK through the export of British expertise.
“"I’m delighted to welcome His Majesty The Sultan to the UK - the UK and Oman have built a friendship which generates real benefits for people at home, and I look forward to shaping the next chapter of our relationship."
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, hosting His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik in Downing Street, highlighted shared priorities including economic growth, security, defence, and education. The Foreign and Defence Secretaries, along with the Minister for Trade, are also scheduled to meet with their Omani counterparts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The partnership also extends to maritime security, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance information-sharing and knowledge exchange with the Omani Maritime Security Centre. Furthermore, the Chevening Educational Scholarship Programme will return to Oman, welcoming applications from August 2027 to foster future leaders and build lifelong connections through British education institutions.
“"The UK-Oman relationship spans almost four centuries and is built on trust and collaboration. His Majesty The Sultan’s visit to the United Kingdom reinforces this partnership for the future age."
New agreements will also focus on the responsible use of AI in education, supporting English language learning and safe AI implementation in classrooms, as well as closer cooperation in space policy, scientific research, and innovation between the UK Space Agency and the Omani government. The State Visit, hosted by Their Majesties’ The King and Queen, celebrates the deep-rooted history and close ties between the people of Oman and the United Kingdom.
