His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik concluded a two-day state visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan on October 6, 2026, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries. The visit, which took place in the Kazakh capital of Astana, included high-level meetings, the signing of multiple agreements, and a business forum aimed at boosting cooperation across various economic sectors.
During the visit, Sultan Haitham and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held extensive bilateral talks at the Independence Palace, where they reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Oman and Kazakhstan, which spans over three decades. The leaders emphasized their shared vision to elevate their partnership by expanding ties in areas such as trade and investment, energy and mining, transport and logistics, food security, financial services, tourism, technology, and artificial intelligence.
In recognition of Sultan Haitham's contributions to enhancing bilateral relations, President Tokayev awarded him the Order of Altyn Qyran, Kazakhstan’s highest state decoration. The Sultan reciprocated by bestowing the ‘Al Said’ Order upon the Kazakh President, symbolizing the deep respect and strong ties between the two nations.
A key feature of the visit was the signing of a package of documents totaling 20 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding. These agreements covered a wide spectrum of fields, including reciprocal encouragement and protection of investments, air transport, energy, renewable energy, mining, healthcare, digital technologies, and cultural and academic cooperation. Among the agreements was the establishment of a joint Oman-Kazakhstan investment fund and the launch of the Oman-Kazakhstan Business Council, designed to foster stronger connections between the two countries’ private sectors.
The Sultan also visited the Astana International Financial Centre, where he was briefed on its role in attracting international investment and enhancing Kazakhstan’s financial markets. This visit underscored Oman’s interest in strengthening economic and investment cooperation and expanding institutional expertise in finance, including Islamic finance and fintech sectors.
The Oman-Kazakhstan Business Forum, held as part of the visit, gathered government officials and representatives from the business communities of both countries. Discussions focused on enhancing trade and investment opportunities, with particular attention to sectors such as food security, transport, logistics, mining, and energy. The forum also announced the activation of an electronic linkage between the Muscat Stock Exchange and the Astana International Exchange, facilitating cross-market trading for investors.
Officials highlighted the strategic complementarity between Kazakhstan’s position in Central Asia and Oman’s access to key maritime routes. Both sides expressed their commitment to developing transport corridors and increasing direct air connectivity to boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges.
Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi described the visit as the beginning of a new phase in bilateral relations, aiming to integrate economic interests with institutional cooperation and people-to-people ties. Similarly, the President of Oman Investment Authority, Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, emphasized the role of investment as a driver of economic diplomacy between the two nations.
The leaders also addressed broader regional and international issues, underscoring their shared commitment to peaceful dialogue, respect for international law, and multilateral cooperation.
The state visit concluded with Sultan Haitham expressing his gratitude to President Tokayev and the people of Kazakhstan for their hospitality and inviting the Kazakh President to visit Oman in the near future, signaling continued efforts to strengthen their strategic partnership.