According to a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady, the sultan expressed his appreciation for Egypt’s efforts in supporting Oman on all levels in addition to the Egyptian expat community’s contributions to the development of the gulf country.            

There are currently 65,000 Egyptians living and working in Oman.

bin Tarik added that Oman was keen to boost bilateral relations in all fields in the upcoming period by boosting and increasing Omani investments in Egypt.

For his part, El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for the strong strategic relations between the two countries, adding that Egypt was keen to boost and diversify all aspects of these ties.

The president also lauded the current coordination and unification of vision between Egypt and Oman concerning issues of mutual concern, whether regionally or internationally.

This is the second time El-Sisi has visited Oman since assuming power. In his first visit, in 2018, El-Sisi met with the late sultan Qaboos bin Said; it was the first time an Egyptian president had visited Oman since 2009.  

This is also his first meeting with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who ascended to the throne in 2020.

El-Sisi is currently on a two-day visit to Oman, after which, he will be visiting the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Earlier this month, El-Sisi met with several Arab leaders in Egypt, receiving the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo.

Moreover, El-Sisi recently hosted a trilateral summit in Sharm El-Sheikh with both Bahraini King Hamad and Jordanian King Abdullah II, during which he affirmed Egypt’s keenness to expand cooperation with the two countries and boost joint Arab action to face regional and international challenges.

Aside from the focus on bilateral economic relations, El-Sisi’s meetings and current tour come less than three week before the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit (GCC+3 Summit) that will be held in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah from 15 to 16 July.

The summit will bring together the leaders of the GCC as well as the US, Egypt, and Iraq.

Egyptian-Omani Economic relations

Trade exchange between Egypt and Oman amounted to $500 million in 2020, according to previous statements by Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea.

Moreover, Omani investments in the Egyptian market reached $77.5 million through 92 companies in the fields of industry, tourism, construction, and agriculture, Gamea said.

Meanwhile, Egyptian investments in Oman recorded $680 million through 142 companies specialised in the fields of infrastructure, road projects, and real estate investment.

In January, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi signed six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation and conclude the 15th session of the Egyptian-Omani Joint Committee in Muscat.