Saudi-Omani Coordination Council Holds Inaugural Meeting in Muscat

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrives in Muscat. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrives in Muscat. (SPA)
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Saudi-Omani Coordination Council Holds Inaugural Meeting in Muscat

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrives in Muscat. (SPA)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah arrives in Muscat. (SPA)

The inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council was held in Muscat on Monday.

The meeting was co-chaired by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi.

Heads of subcommittees affiliated with the council and the heads of the General Secretariats of the Saudi-Omani Coordination Council also took part in the meeting.

Prince Faisal emphasized the continuous progress of Saudi-Omani relations, under the leaderships of both countries. These relations are steadily advancing to deepen cooperation and enhance the regional and international roles of both nations.  

This concerted effort aims to foster security and stability in the region while realizing the aspirations of their respective peoples, he added.

He said the Partnership Council is an effective platform that frames the work of the two neighboring countries and invests in their available capabilities, maximizing common benefits and interests.

He stressed that the consensus of points of view on all issues demonstrates the importance of continuing ongoing coordination on bilateral, regional and international issues, and enhancing political consultation on all issues of common interest.

Prince Faisal noted that the Kingdom is Oman’s third largest trading partner, and the second largest country that receives Omani exports. Trade between the two countries has grown by 245% over the past year, with a volume over the past five years reaching approximately $22 billion.

Moreover, he remarked that Coordination Council and its subcommittees in the political, security, economic and investment fields are an effective tool for deepening cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Oman, including combating terrorism, protecting waterways, and renewable and clean energy.

The delegations reviewed the distinguished bilateral relations and stressed the importance of continuing to support and develop coordination, and formulating common positions towards regional and international issues of common concern.

The subcommittees approved 55 initiatives that would enhance cooperation between the two countries in all fields and advance their relations to broader horizons.

The FMs emphasized the crucial importance of continually supporting and developing the work of the Council, its subcommittees, and maintaining constant coordination between both sides.  

They highlighted that such efforts would boost the Council's effectiveness as an institutional tool governing bilateral cooperation across various fields.  

The Council has given rise to five subcommittees: the Political and Diplomatic Coordination Committee, the Security and Justice Coordination Committee, the Coordination Committee in Culture, Media, Tourism, and Social Development, the Coordination Committee in Economy, Trade, and Industry, and the Coordination Committee in Energy, Investment, Environment, and Infrastructure.



Syrian President Expected to Visit Kuwait Soon

Syrian President Al-Sharaa welcoming Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya in December (Syrian Presidency)
Syrian President Al-Sharaa welcoming Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya in December (Syrian Presidency)
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Syrian President Expected to Visit Kuwait Soon

Syrian President Al-Sharaa welcoming Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya in December (Syrian Presidency)
Syrian President Al-Sharaa welcoming Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya in December (Syrian Presidency)

A diplomatic source told a Kuwaiti newspaper that Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa has expressed interest in visiting Kuwait in the near future. This came during the recent visit of Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya to Damascus.

The same source informed Al-Qabas that a Gulf ministerial meeting is scheduled to take place in Makkah during Ramadan, under Kuwait’s chairmanship, with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani invited to attend.

Following the fall of the previous Syrian regime, Damascus has seen a steady influx of regional and Western officials engaging in discussions with the new leadership to assess the country’s evolving policies. As part of his diplomatic outreach, Al-Sharaa has already visited Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.

On Saturday, Al-Sharaa and Al-Shibani met with a high-ranking Algerian delegation led by Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf.

According to a statement by the Algerian Foreign Ministry, Attaf conveyed Algeria’s full support for efforts to unify the Syrian people and affirmed his country’s readiness to contribute, both bilaterally and as the Arab representative on the UN Security Council, to rebuilding Syrian institutions and fostering security, stability, and economic growth.

The ministry noted that the meeting was an opportunity to reinforce long-standing ties between Syria and Algeria, as well as to discuss the latest developments in Syria and the broader region.

During a visit to Damascus in December, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister urged the international community to lift sanctions on Syria. He also emphasized that the country’s security is an essential pillar of regional stability, adding that the visit marked a new era of constructive Gulf-Syrian engagement.