Oman

EAM Jaishankar, Omani counterpart discuss deepening bilateral cooperation

Last week, Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Oman's Secretary General of Defence, Mohammed Bin Naseer Bin Ali Al Zaabi, co-chaired the 13th Joint Military Cooperation Committee meeting

Oman's new cultural visa for creators, researchers: What conditions apply

Oman has rolled out a cultural visa for international artists, researchers, and creators, linking the initiative to Vision 2040

India, Oman set to ink CEPA trade pact soon as talks conclude: Oman's Envoy

India and Oman are set to sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) "very soon" with both nations eyeing diversification of their trade basket to include more commodities and exchange of services, the country's Ambassador to India Issa Saleh Abdullah Saleh Alshibani said. In an interview to PTI, Oman's Ambassador to India said negotiations have concluded and currently the legislative and administrative processes are in motion. "Hopefully... we will reach a stage of signature very soon," he said in response to a question related to the expected timeline for signing of the agreement. Talks for the agreement, officially termed as CEPA, formally began in November 2023. In such agreements, two trading partners significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on a maximum number of goods traded between them. They also ease norms to promote trade in services and attract investments. On the impact in terms of bilateral trade after signing of the CEPA, the Oman Ambassad

Jindal Steel International looks to buy Thyssenkrupp's German unit

thyssenkrupp AG confirmed that it has received a non-binding, indicative offer from Jindal Steel International for the purchase of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe

Oman to launch golden visa on August 31, following UAE and Saudi models

Oman will introduce its first golden visa scheme for investors on August 31, alongside business reforms and academic partnerships, following the model set by the UAE and Saudi Arabia

India, Oman free trade agreement likely to be announced soon, says official

The conclusion and signing of the proposed free trade agreement between India and Oman is expected to be announced soon, an official has said. The trade pact text is being translated into Arabic in Oman. After that, the cabinets of both countries will approve the agreement, according to the official. "Both countries have, in principle, decided to announce the conclusion and signing together," the official added. When asked if it would take two to three months, the official said: "Much less" than that. The talks for the agreement, officially termed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), formally began in November 2023. In such agreements, two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on a maximum number of goods traded between them. They also ease norms to promote trade in services and attract investments. Oman is the third-largest export destination among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for India. India already has a

Jindal Steel Duqm to start Oman-based 5 MTPA green steel plant in 2028

Jindal Steel Duqm, a part of Naveen Jindal Group, aims to start operations at its upcoming 5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) hydrogen-enabled green steel complex at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm (SEZAD) in Oman by 2028, a company executive said. The plant is being developed in two phases at a total investment of approximately USD 3 billion (around Rs 25,000 crore), the official said. Designed to be one of the world's most advanced hydrogen-ready steel facilities, it will initially run on natural gas but will be capable of switching to green hydrogen once the supply infrastructure matures. The complex will consist of two Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) modules of 2.5 MTPA each. While the first unit will be operationalized by December 2028, the second unit is scheduled for commissioning by 2030. Both DRI units are engineered to be hydrogen-ready from day one. According to a senior company executive, Jindal Steel Duqm has informed the Government of Oman that hydrogen will be injected in

Oman to become 1st Gulf state to levy income tax, aims to cut oil reliance

Oman will introduce a 5% income tax on top earners in 2028, aligning with Vision 2040 to diversify income, strengthen public finances, and reduce reliance on oil revenue

Arab countries next target of US, Israel, says J&K Ex-CM Farooq Abdullah

National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah warned the Arab countries on Monday that they will be the next target of Israel and the US as Tel Aviv and Washington are eyeing their oil and gas. "It is their (United States') long-time policy that Iran should not become a nuclear power. Even the Sunni countries in the region are against it but they do not have the courage to speak up. "Today, they think Iran has been attacked, but I want to warn them through you that one day, Israel will attack them also, because they want their wealth like oil and gas. Israel is only a facade, America is standing right behind," Abdullah told reporters after a party meeting at Nawa-i-Subah here. Asked about the impact of the escalation of the war in the Middle East, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said it will severely affect the economic condition of all countries. "I am hopeful that the (other) world powers are watching the situation. If this (war) escalates, the economic condition

US-Iran nuclear talks in Oman cancelled after Israel's strikes on Tehran

Oman's foreign minister says planned talks between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme will not now take place after Israel's strikes targeting the Islamic Republic. Badr al-Busaidi made the announcement on social media Saturday. It comes after Iran's foreign minister said any talks would be unjustifiable amid the ongoing attacks. Oman has been mediating the talks. The Iran US talks scheduled to be held in Muscat this Sunday will not now take place, al-Busaidi wrote. But diplomacy and dialogue remain the only pathway to lasting peace. A sixth round was due to happen in Muscat, Oman's capital, before the Israeli strikes began Friday.

Sixth round of talks between Iran, US to take place on Sunday, says Oman FM

There will be a sixth round of negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear programme this weekend, Oman's foreign minister said Thursday. Badr al-Busaidi made the announcement on the social platform X. I am pleased to confirm the 6th round of Iran US talks will be held in Muscat this Sunday the 15th, he wrote. Iran for days had been saying there would be talks, but Oman, which is serving as the mediator, had not confirmed them until now. There was no immediate comment from the US. Tensions have been rising over the last day in the region, with the US drawing down the presence of staffers who are not deemed essential to operations in the Middle East and their loved ones due to the potential for regional unrest.

Good news very soon on India-Oman free trade agreement: Piyush Goyal

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said that negotiations between India and Oman for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) are progressing, and some "good news" may come "very soon" on that. The negotiations received a much-needed impetus after the visit of Goyal to Muscat in January this year. The talks for the agreement, officially dubbed as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), formally began in November 2023. "I think you will see some good news very soon on the Oman FTA," the minister told reporters here when asked whether the FTA talks with Oman can be concluded this year. Goyal is here on an official visit to hold talks with French leaders and businesses to boost trade and investments. He will also attend a mini-ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on June 3. In such agreements, two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate customs duties on a maximum number of goods traded between them. They also ease

'Omanisation' last key issue in concluding India-Oman FTA talks: Official

The negotiations for the proposed India-Oman free trade agreement are nearing conclusion with both sides discussing the last issue of the Gulf country's labour-related 'Omanisation' policy, as New Delhi wants the current regime to remain unchanged for its workers, an official said. Omanisation is a policy implemented by Oman to boost the employment of its citizens in the private sector. The policy mandates companies to meet specific quotas for hiring Omani nationals. These quotas vary by sector and are periodically revised. "There is a requirement in Oman for companies to employ a specified percentage of Omani nationals, which varies by sector - 15 per cent or 20 per cent or 30 per cent...What we want is that this current regime of Omanisation should remain permanent for us, so that it does not become more restrictive in the future after the FTA is finalised," the official said. The negotiations received a much-needed impetus after the visit of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush

Weekend round of nuclear talks between US, Iran postponed, says Oman

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei issued a statement describing the talks as being 'postponed at the request of Oman's foreign minister'

Oman eyes Indian tourists to boost sustainable tourism under Vision 2040

Oman is ramping up efforts to attract international tourists, including Indians, to meet its goal of approximately 11.7 million visitors annually by 2040 as part of its sustainable tourism strategy, a top Omani official said here. Highlighting the deep historical ties between Oman and India, Mohamed bin Mahmoud al Zadjali, adviser to the Minister of Heritage and Tourism for Engineering Affairs, noted that Indian tourists are a key visitor group. The collaboration between Oman and India is historically significant. We rely heavily on Indian tourists, who are among our primary visitor groups consistently exploring various locations in Oman, Zadjali told PTI Videos. Oman is promoting corporate travel and destination weddings, targeting the 'Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions' (MICE) sector to build a loyal client base in India. The sultanate welcomed around 6,00,000 Indian tourists in 2023 about 15 per cent of total tourists that year reinforcing India's role as a vi

Wildlife reserves across GCC countries grow by 6.6% in 2023, shows data

According to the statistics published in the March 2025 bulletin, the cumulative area of nature reserves in the GCC recorded a notable leap in 2020

Iran, US to resume nuclear talks in Oman after Rome meeting concludes

The Iranian foreign minister said Saturday that the next round of talks with the United States over Iran's advancing nuclear programme will be in Oman with US envoy Steve Witkoff on April 26. But experts will meet there in the days before. The comments by Abbas Araghchi suggest movement in the second round of talks between the two countries, held Saturday in Rome. There was no immediate readout from the US side after the several hours of meetings at the Omani Embassy in Rome's Camilluccia neighbourhood. The talks were held in a constructive environment and I can say that is moving forward, Araghchi told Iranian state television. I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks.

EAM Jaishankar, Omani FM discuss regional issues in telephonic talks

The conversation between EAM Jaishankar and the Foreign Minister of Oman come after the two had held a bilateral meeting in February earlier this year

Jaishankar hold talks with several counterparts at Indian Ocean conference

Jaishankar met foreign ministers from Mauritius, Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka

TCS to modernise Muscat Clearing & Depository system under new agreement

TCS will implement its flagship platform, TCS BaNCS for Market Infrastructure, alongside Quartz, to enhance MCD's Clearing, Settlement, and Depository services