His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman arrived in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Monday to begin a two-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding opportunities for partnership and investment between the two countries.
Upon arrival at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport, Sultan Haitham was received by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who extended a warm welcome to the Omani delegation. The arrival ceremony featured a handshake between the Sultan and Kazakh officials, as well as members of Oman’s embassy in Astana. President Tokayev also greeted the Omani delegation accompanying His Majesty. Following the greetings, the new Sultan and the Kazakh president inspected a Guard of Honour parade.
In a gesture underscoring the significance of the visit, the Sultan’s aircraft was escorted into Kazakh airspace by the Kazakh Air Forces, a demonstration of the warm diplomatic ties between the two nations.
The state visit follows an official invitation from President Tokayev to Sultan Haitham. It is designed to further deepen the existing diplomatic and economic connections between Oman and Kazakhstan by exploring new avenues for cooperation and mutual benefit in sectors such as trade, investment, and defense.
An official reception is scheduled for Tuesday at the Palace of Independence in Astana, where official discussions and potential agreements may be expected.
Prior to departure from Oman, Sultan Haitham was seen off at Royal Airport by members of the Omani royal family, government ministers, and military officials, highlighting the high level of importance attributed to this visit.
The Sultan is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation including HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs; Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court; General Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani, Minister of the Royal Office; Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister; Sultan bin Salim al Habsi, Minister of Finance; Dr. Hamed bin Said al Aufi, Head of the Private Office; Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority; Anwar bin Hilal al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion; and Shaikh Dr Salah bin Salim Jaaboub, Oman's Ambassador to Kazakhstan.