Bilateral Brief

The Sultanate of Oman is a strategic partner of India and an important interlocutor at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Arab League, and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) fora. India and Oman are linked by geography, history, and culture and enjoy warm and cordial relations. While people-to-people contact between India and Oman can be traced back 5000 years, diplomatic relations were established in 1955, and the relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership in 2008.

Political Relations:

2. Oman is a crucial pillar of India's West Asia Policy and its oldest regional strategic partner. The political engagement between the two countries has increasingly taken on a more strategic shape. The historical India-Oman bilateral ties were transformed into a strategic partnership in November 2008.

3. India and Oman have maintained steady diplomatic contact through regular high-level engagements: 

Visits from India to Oman:

a) Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Oman in February 2018. 

b) Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister visited Oman on 16 February 2025 to participate in the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC).

c) External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Oman on 23-25 December 2019.

d) Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry visited Oman on 27-28 January 2025 to co-chair the 11th session of India-Oman Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) and to participate in the India-Oman Joint Business Council (JBC) meeting.

e) Shri Vikram Misri, Deputy National Security Advisor visited Oman during 26-27 February 2024 for 9th round of Strategic Dialogue. 

f) Shri Giridhar Aramane, Defence Secretary visited Oman on 30-31 January 2024 to hold the 12th meeting of the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC).

g) Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan visited Oman on 18-19 October 2023.

h) Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff led a delegation to Oman from 30 July – 03 August, 2023.

i) Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser (NSA) of India paid an official visit to Oman on 25-27 June 2023.

j) Shri S. Somanath, Secretary of the Department of Space and ISRO Chairman, led a five-member delegation on an official visit to Oman on 14-15 June 2023.

k) Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary (CPV) & OIA, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India visited Oman on 27 February 2023 for India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group (IOSCG) meeting.

l) Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar visited Oman on 24-25 November 2022 to attend the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) in Muscat.

m) Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan visited Oman on 3-4 October 2022 and on 15-17 December 2020.

Visits from Oman to India:

a) His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, paid a State visit to India on 16-17 December 2023.

b) HH Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations & Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty Sultan visited India to participate in G20 Summit held on 09-10 September 2023.

c) Major General Pilot Khamis bin Hammad Al Ghafri, Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman led a delegation to India for Aero India 2025 from 09-11 February 2025.

d) H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy (SK), Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman visited India on 03-04 December 2024 for 13th India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group (IOSCG) meeting.

e) H.E. Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, visited India to prepare for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Oman and India.

f) H.E. Eng Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, visited India on 18 August 2023.

g) The Foreign Minister of Oman, H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi visited India on 01-03 March 2023 to participate in G20 Foreign Minister’s Meeting and Raisina Dialogue 2023.

h) Dr. Fatma Al Ajmi Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Administrative, Financial and Planning Affairs led 5 member delegation to India on 24-25 February 2023 to participate in 1st JWG meeting on Health. 

i)  H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Za'abi, Secretary General, Ministry of Defence led a delegation to India from 12 to 15 February 2023 for Aero India 2023.

j) H.E. Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of the Sultanate of Oman visited India in May 2022 to attend 10th JCM. 

k) The Foreign Minister of Oman, H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi (FMSB) visited India on 23-24 March 2022.

l) Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, then Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs (MRDA) visited India in September 2018.

G-20 Engagements:

4. As a mark of special friendship, India extended an invitation to the sultanate of Oman to participate in the G20 Summit and meetings as a guest country during India's Presidency in 2023. Oman actively participated in more than 150 meetings of the Working Groups, and 9 Omani Ministers travelled to India to participate in G20 Ministerial Meetings. HH Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations & Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty Sultan represented Oman in the G20 Summit held on 09-10 September 2023.

Important Telecons/Meetings:

5. At the HOS/HOG level, PM Modi and Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik held phone conversations in April 2020 and February 2021, discussing COVID-19 and bilateral cooperation. On 11 June 2024, PM Modi received a congratulatory call from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on his re-appointment as Prime Minister of India. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar held telecons with Oman's Foreign Minister in October 2023, February 2024, June 2024 and July 2024, April 2025. On 09 September 2024, EAM held a meeting with Oman's Foreign Minister on the sidelines of India-GCC Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh. 

Agreements and Bilateral Cooperation mechanisms:

6. Key bilateral agreements/MoUs between India and Oman cover cooperation in Health; Tourism; Information Technology; Military Cooperation; peaceful uses of Outer Space; visa exemption for diplomats/officials; Legal and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters; Extradition; legal and judicial cooperation in civil and commercial matters; Agriculture; Civil Aviation; Avoidance of Double Taxation; Standards and Measures; Manpower; Maritime Issues; Maritime Transport; Joint Investment Fund; and Cultural Cooperation. There are also MoUs for Cooperation between Oman’s National Defence College (NDC) and the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) of India; Cooperation between FSI and Omani Diplomatic Institute; and State Audit Institution of Oman and the Office of Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Protocol to amend DTAA was also signed during the visit of HCIM to Oman on 27-28 January 2025.

7. During the visit of Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan (MOSVM) in October 2022, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to link the payment systems between the two countries. Another MOU between Oman News Agency and Asia News International was exchanged. The MOU facilitates the exchange of news and information between both countries.

8. During the visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik to India in Dec. 2023, various MoUs/agreements inked were MoU for cooperation in IT, MoU between the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the National Center for Financial Information (FNCI) on intelligence exchange related to money laundering, associated predicate offenses, and terrorism financing, MoU in the field of Culture, MoU for the establishment of the ICCR Chair of Indian Studies-Hindi Language at Dhofar University and an Agreement addressing the gainful employment of accompanying persons of official employees.

Defence Cooperation:

9. Oman is India’s closest defense partner in Gulf region and defense cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between India and Oman. Oman is the first Gulf country with which all the three wings of India’s defense forces hold joint exercises. In recent years, both countries have cooperated in ensuring maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. In this regard, the first meeting of the Joint Maritime Committee constituted was held on 23 February 2022 virtually. On 30 July – 03 August, 2023, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff of India led a delegation to Oman and held important bilateral meetings. The first ever India-Oman Defence Industrial Seminar was held in Muscat on 24 September 2023. Shri Giridhar Aramane, Defence Secretary of the Republic of India visited Oman on 30-31 January 2024 to hold the 12th meeting of the India-Oman Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC). H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Nasir , the Secretary General, MoD, Sultanate of Oman and Air Vice Marshal Khamis Hammad Al-Ghafri, Commander Royal Air Force of Oman visited India in 2023 and 2025 respectively for AERO India International exhibition. The 6th High Level Meeting between Indian Coast Guard and Royal Oman Police Coast Guard was held in Muscat from 29-30 April 2025, the ICG delegation was led by Director General S Paramesh, DG ICG and  ROPCG was represented by Colonel Abdul Aziz Al Jabari, Commander ROPCG. There are regular Staff Talks at service level between the respective services.

Economic and Commercial Relations:

10.  The economic and commercial relations between India and Oman are robust and buoyant. Bilateral trade during  FY 2023-24 reached US$ 8.947 billion and and for the FY 2024-25 reached US$ 10.613  billion.  Investment flows, both ways, have been robust, as reflected in numerous joint ventures, established both in India and Oman. There are over 6,000 India-Oman joint ventures in Oman with estimated investment of over US$ 776 million. Indian companies have emerged as leading investors in Oman, particularly at Sohar and Salalah Free Zones. The cumulative FDI equity inflow from Oman to India during April 2000 to March 2025 is US$ 605.57 million.

India-Oman Bilateral Trade 11.  Bilateral trade during the last eight years is as under (values in US$ million):

12. Oman is India’s 28th largest trading partner in FY 2024-2025 with total trade of US$ 10.61 billion.   Oman is India’s 25th largest import source for the FY 2024-2025.India is among Oman’s top trading partners. India is the 4th largest source of Oman’s imports for the year 2025 after China for non oil imports and 3rd largest market for Oman’s non-oil exports for the year 2025 after Saudi Arabia.

13. The main items of India’s exports to Oman during the calendar year 2024 were Light oils and preparations; Aluminium oxide other than artificial corundum; Rice; Boilers, machinery and mechanical appliances, parts thereof; Aeroplanes and  Other aircraft and spacecraft;  Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; Other beauty / make up preparations;  Plastic and articles  thereof;  Iron  and  Steel; Ceramic products, etc.

14. The main items of India’s imports from Oman during the calendar year 2024 were Petroleum oil crude; Liquified Natural Gas; Urea including fertilizer grade; Organic chemicals; Anhydrous ammonia;  Sulphur, Earth and Stone, Plastering Materials, Lime; Plastic in  primary forms; Aeroplanes and other aircraft;  Iron ores and concentrates non-agglomerated, etc.

India-Oman Bilateral Investment 15. Oman-India Joint Investment Fund (OIJIF) is a 50-50 Joint Venture between the State Bank of India and the erstwhile State General Reserve Fund (which has now become Oman Investment Authority) of Oman. It was set up in July 2010 as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to invest in India. OIJIF commenced its operations in 2011 with an initial seed capital of US$ 100 million, fully invested across seven Indian companies from diversified sectors. In 2017, OIJIF invested its 2nd tranche of US$ 200 million in projects in India. After successful utilization of funds under tranche I and II, the 3rd OIJIF tranche worth US$ 300 million was announced during the visit of HM Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik to India in December 2023.

16. Oman India Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO), located at Sur (Oman), is a US$ 969 million joint venture between Oman Oil Company and  equal partners IFFCO and KRIBHCO of India. It started operations in January 2006. The plant produces anhydrous ammonia and granular urea. A long term Urea Off-take Agreement (UOTA) was initially signed in 2005 between GOI and OMIFCO under which India imports almost the entire production of 1.6 MTs of granulated urea and 0.255 MTs of ammonia, except small quantities to meet local requirements of Oman. On expiry of the initial UOTA in 2020, a fresh UOTA was finalized and signed in 2022 for offtake of I million tons of urea per year for a period of three years.

17. Several Indian firms have set up manufacturing units in Oman as joint ventures or in Special Economic Zones in various sectors like green hydrogen, green ammonia, green steel, construction and engineering, waste management, logistics, manufacturing, finance and capital, software solutions, communications, oil and gas etc.

Cultural Cooperation:

18. India and Oman share a close cultural bond rooted in millennia-old people-to-people exchanges and the presence of a substantial Indian community in Oman. A notable event was the announcement of the Gandhi Peace Prize for 2019, awarded to the Late HM Sultan Qaboos in March 2021, fostering immense goodwill for India.

19. Indian Embassy, in association with the National Archives of India (NAI), conducted a first of its kind special digitization and oral history project, titled ‘The Oman Collection – Archival Heritage of the Indian Community in Oman’ from 19 to 27 May 2024. Under this project, digitization of over 7,000 historical records of 32 old Indian diaspora families living in Oman for more than 250 years was done. These documents included personal diaries, account books, trade invoices, passports, letters, etc. These documents, dating from 1838 to early 20th century, were in English, Arabic, Gujarati and Hindi.

20. Embassy organized the landmark ‘Mandvi to Muscat’ lecture series for 8 months, starting in October 2023 and concluding in May 2024. The lecture series was inaugurated by then Hon’ble Minister of State for External Affairs of India Shri V. Muraleedharan on October 19, 2023 and concluded with a large public event on May 1, 2024. The primary objective of this lecture series was to rekindle awareness about the story and history of the Indian community in Oman and its remarkable contributions in strengthening India-Oman ties. The lecture series featured distinguished academics, historians, and anthropologists from Oman, India, the US, and the UAE, offering rich insights into the historical connections between India and Oman.

Indian Community in Oman:

21. Oman hosts a sizeable Indian community totalling approximately 660,299 individuals (506,902 males and 153,397 females) as of January 2025, according to the Govt. of Oman. 507,695 Indian nationals hold work visas, according to National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) data from April 2025. Some Indian families have established roots in Oman for more than 150-200 years. As of May 2025, 2001 individuals of Indian origin possess Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards. Thousands of Indians work as doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, teachers, lecturers, nurses, managers, etc. The role played by the Indian expatriate community in building Oman is often acknowledged by Omani Government. 22 Indian schools are offering a curriculum catering to the educational needs of more than 47353 students. 

22. Indian community in Oman is organized under Indian Social clubs in Muscat, Salalah, Sohar, and Sur. These clubs have several sub-groups called Linguistic Wings which cater to their members' cultural and social needs.

23. The Hindu merchant community has two temples, one over a century old, and cremation grounds. Churches have been permitted, and a Gurudwara has been there for over two decades, along with at least two other temporary structures used as Gurudwaras. Indian Embassy receives good support from local authorities in delivering services aimed at the welfare of the Indian community in Oman.

24. Outstanding contributions of Indians and People of Indian Origin in Oman to the strengthening of our bilateral relations have been recognized by the Government of India through Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards. The Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees from Oman are: ShriKanaksiKhimji (2003), Dr. P. Mohamed Ali (2004), P.N.C. Menon (2009), S.K. Virmani (2010), Kiran Asher (2012) R.M Parakh (2015) and Dr. Vinodan V. T. (2019).

June 2025