Embassy of India

Muscat

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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:

President’s visit:

President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma visited Oman in 1996.

Vice-President’s visit:

Vice-President Shri Krishna Kant visited Oman in 1999.

PM’s visit:

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Oman in December 2025. EAM, CIM, NSA, and Secretary (CPV&OIA) also accompanied him.
• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi visited Oman in February 2018.
• Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh visited Oman in 2008.
• Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Oman in 1998.
• Prime Minister Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao visited Oman in 1993.
• Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi visited Oman in 1985.

EAM’s visit:

• Dr. S. Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister visited Oman on 09-10 July 2026.
• External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar also visited Oman on 16 February 2025 to participate in the 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC).
• External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Oman on 23-25 December 2019.
• External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj visited Oman on 17 February 2015.

CIM’s visit:

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.

Other visits:

• Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) of India, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal visited Muscat on 14 January 2026, to attend the welcome ceremony of the Indian Naval Sailing Vessel INSV Kaundinya.
• Shri Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV) & OIA, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India visited Oman on 3-4 December 2025 for India-Oman Strategic Consultative Group (IOSCG) meeting.
• Shri Vikram Misri, Deputy National Security Advisor visited Oman during 26-27 February 2024 for 9th round of Strategic Dialogue.
• 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).
• Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Muraleedharan visited Oman on 18-19 October 2023.
• Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff led a delegation to Oman from 30 July – 03 August, 2023.
• Shri Ajit Doval, National Security Adviser (NSA) of India paid an official visit to Oman on 25-27 June 2023.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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:

Sultan’s visit:

• His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik, paid a State visit to India on 16-17 December 2023.
• Late Sultan Qaboos visited India in 1997.
  
  
• Other recent visits:
• 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.
• H.E. Saeed Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology visited India in February 2026 to participate in AI Impact Summit 2026.
• H.E. Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister visited India in January 2026 to participate in India-Arab Foreign Ministers Meeting.
• H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al Zaabi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence Sultanate of Oman visited India from 23-24 November 2025 to attend the 13th Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) meeting. 
• 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.
• H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Alharthy, 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.
• 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.
• H.E. Eng Said bin Hamoud Al Maawali, Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, visited India on 18 August 2023.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The Foreign Minister of Oman, H.E. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi (FMSB) visited India on 23-24 March 2022.
• H.E. Sayyid Badr al-Busaidi, then Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs (MRDA) visited India in September 2018.
• H.H. Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers visited India in December 2007.

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. PM also held telecons twice in March 2026 to discuss about the regional developments. EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar held telecons with Oman's Foreign Minister in October 2023, February 2024, June 2024, July 2024, April 2025, December 2025, March 2026 and May 2026. On 09 September 2024, EAM held a meeting with Oman's Foreign Minister on the sidelines of India-GCC Ministerial Meeting in Riyadh. EAM also held a meeting with FM Badr on the sidelines of IAFMM in New Delhi in January 2026.

Agreements and Bilateral Cooperation mechanisms:

6. Key bilateral agreements/MoUs between India and Oman cover cooperation in digital payment systems; 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 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.
   
   
8. During the visit of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi, to Oman in December 2025, various MoUs/Agreements signed were Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), MoU on Maritime Heritage and Museums, MoU on Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills Development, MoU on Agriculture and Allied Sectors, Joint Maritime Vision Document, and EPC on Millet Cultivation and Agri-food Innovation.

Defence Cooperation:

9. Oman is one of India’s closest defence partner in the Gulf region, and defence cooperation has emerged as a key pillar of the strategic partnership between India and Oman. Notably, India has the highest number of Defence MoUs with Oman, when compared with any country in West Asia. The 10th edition of Strategic Dialogue between India and Oman, co-chaired by Shri Pavan Kapoor, Deputy National Security Advisor, India and Major General Idris Abdulrahman Al-Kindi, Secretary General of the National Security Council, Sultanate of Oman, was held on 27 February 2025, in New Delhi. The 13th edition of Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMCC) between India and Oman, co-chaired by Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary, India and Dr Mohammed bin Nasser Al Za’abi, Secretary General of MoD, Oman was held on 24 November 2025, in New Delhi.

10. Staff Talks at the Service level and an apex-level High Level Meeting between the Coast Guards of the two countries are held annually. Also, Oman is the only Gulf country with which all three Services of India’s Armed Forces hold joint exercises biennially. The 14th edition of the bilateral Navy exercise ‘Naseem Al-Bahr’ was conducted off Goa from 13 to 18 October 2024, the 7th edition of the bilateral Air Force exercise ‘Eastern Bridge’ was conducted in Masirah, Oman from 12 to 22 September 2024 and the 5th edition of bilateral Army exercise ‘Al- Najah’ was conducted from 12 to 26 September 2024 in Oman. The next editions of all three exercises are planned in end 2026.
    
    
11. Ports in Oman have emerged as critical enablers for India Navy's regional deployments, supporting regular OTRs of warships on maritime security missions in Western Indian Ocean. As regards defence industrial collaboration, the first ever India-Oman Defence Industrial Seminar was held in Muscat on 24 September 2023, with the second edition planned in end 2026. The two countries also collaborate in Shipbuilding and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) activities. In recent high-level Service visits, Air Vice Marshal Khamis Hammad Al-Ghafri, Commander Royal Air Force of Oman visited India in February 2025 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 to 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. Also, Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command visited Oman in January 26, whilst INSV Kaundinya, on her maiden sea voyage, was deployed in Muscat.

Economic and Commercial Relations:

12. The economic and commercial relations between India and Oman are robust and buoyant. Bilateral trade during FY 2023–2024 reached US$ 8.947 billion, while trade during FY 2024–25 increased significantly to US$ 10.613 billion. Currently, bilateral trade during FY 2025–2026 has reached US$ 11.187 billion.
    
    
13. Bilateral investment flows have been robust, as reflected in numerous joint ventures established in both India and Oman. There are over 6,000 India–Oman joint ventures operating in Oman, estimated to have contributed nearly US$ 7.5 billion to Oman’s economy over a long period through total capital investments, including outward direct investment of approximately US$ 675 million, investments across various sectors, and third-country investments made by Indian investors in Oman. The cumulative FDI equity inflow from Oman to India during the period April 2000 to March 2025 stood at approximately US$ 605.57 million, while another official estimate places the figure at US$ 610.08 million.

14. Oman ranks as India’s 27th largest trading partner in FY 2025–26, with a total bilateral trade value of US$ 11.187 billion. It is also India’s 26th largest source of imports during the same period. India, in turn, remains among Oman’s top trading partners, emerging as the 3rd largest source of Oman’s non-oil imports after UAE and China the 3rd largest destination for Omani non-oil exports, followed by UAE and Saudi Arabia. Beyond India, Oman’s key trading partners in 2026 include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China, and the United States—countries that also feature prominently in Oman’s import profile, alongside Kuwait.

15. In 2026, India’s principal exports to Oman comprised a diverse range of products reflecting both industrial and consumer demand. The key export items included Petroleum products, Processed Minerals, Products of Iron & Steel etc. India also exported ship, boat and floating structure, Basmati Rice, Buffallo Meat, Chemical & Allied products,Ceramics and allied products and Motor vehicles. These categories underline the strong industrial linkage and the growing diversification of India’s export basket to Oman.

16. India’s imports from Oman were dominated by energy and industrial inputs, underscoring the synergy of the two economies. The principal import items included  petroleum products and crude petroleum which together account for a significant portion of the bilateral trade value. Other major imports comprised Fertilizers, Dye Intermediates, Inorganic Chemicals, Iron and Ore, Plastic Raw Materials, Bulk Mineral and ores, Aircraft Spacecrafts and parts and Sulphur Unroasted Iron Pyrite. These items highlight Oman’s role as a key supplier of energy resources, fertilizers, and industrial raw materials to India.

Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA)

17. During the official visit of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to the Sultanate of Oman on 17–18 December 2025, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Oman was signed by the Commerce Ministers of the two countries in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik at Al Barakah Palace. Subsequently, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik issued Royal Decree No. 30/2026 ratifying the Agreement, followed by ratification by the Government of India. The India–Oman CEPA entered into force on 1 June 2026, marking a landmark development in bilateral economic relations. The Agreement is expected to significantly enhance trade and investment flows by improving market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, facilitating trade in goods and services, strengthening supply chain integration, and promoting greater economic cooperation across key sectors, including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, agriculture, logistics, energy, and services, thereby further reinforcing the India–Oman Strategic Partnership. Under this Agreement, a consignment of 40MT of biscuits manufactured in Varanasi, India has been exported to Oman as one of the initial consignments recently.

India-Oman Bilateral Investment

18. 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 which was fully invested across seven Indian companies from diversified sectors. In 2017, OIJIF invested its 2nd tranche of US$ 220 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 which is under implementation.

19. Oman India Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO), located at Sur (Oman), is a joint venture operational since 2006 between Oman Oil Company (37.5%) and equal partners IFFCO (18.75%) and KRIBHCO (18.75%) of India, with the rest 25% being offered as IPO recently on 8th July 2026, raising around US$ 678mn. The offering has been structured into two investor categories. The first category comprises shares allocated to institutional investors, including local, regional and international investors, representing 60% of the total offering. Within the institutional tranche, up to 30% of the total offering, has been allocated to non-local investors and rest has been reserved for local investors. The second category comprises shares allocated to individual investors, representing 40% of the total offering. This tranche will be allocated on a pro-rata basis and is equally divided between high-net-worth investors and retail investors.

20. 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:

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. Indian 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. 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:

24. Oman hosts a sizeable Indian community totalling approximately 674,950 (Males: 520,437; Females: 154,513) as on February 2026, according to the Govt. of Oman. 526,496 Indian nationals hold work visas, according to National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) data from May 2026. Some Indian families have established roots in Oman for more than 150-200 years. As of June 2026, 2092 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 48000 students. 

25. 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.

26. 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.

27. 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: Shri Kanaksi Khimji (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).

July 2026