Muscat – April 24, 2025 His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik welcomed His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, to Al Alam Palace in Muscat today. The meeting is an important milestone in the long-standing relationship between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, symbolizing mutual understanding in promoting cooperation in cultural, educational, and development domains.
The visit, conducted in an atmosphere of fraternity and respect, reaffirms the historical ties and strategic relations between Oman and the United Arab Emirates, specifically the Emirate of Sharjah, which has a rich heritage of cultural cooperation with the Sultanate.On his arrival, Sheikh Dr. Sultan was given an official reception in the courtyard of Al Alam Palace. His Majesty Sultan Haitham personally received the visiting dignitary, an indication of the great respect and high esteem in which he is regarded in Oman.
The two leaders shared warm embraces, followed by a closed-door meeting that centered on increasing bilateral cooperation and seeking opportunities for cooperation in heritage conservation, academic exchange, and mutual development programs.
The meeting provided a platform to reinforce the historic cultural bonds between Oman and Sharjah. Both His Majesty and Sheikh Dr. Sultan are great proponents of the promotion of Arab heritage and Islamic values as well as literature, arts, and education.
Throughout the conversation, the two leaders reiterated the need for cultural diplomacy to forge bridges among nations and peoples. They underlined the need to uphold and advance Gulf identity, language, and culture in the midst of globalization and fast-paced modernization.
The leaders also reaffirmed their mutual interest in promoting cooperation between cultural institutions, museums, universities, and research centers in Sharjah and Oman. This entails collaborative archaeological endeavors, literary programs, and scholarly partnerships.
Education was a key area of discussion between the two leaders. Oman and Sharjah have both invested significantly in higher education, and the meeting today offered a chance to enhance cooperation between universities and academic institutions in both territories.
Sheikh Dr. Sultan, being a scholar and historian himself, appreciated Oman’s educational progress and reaffirmed his commitment to backing academic exchange programs, faculty cooperation, and research programs in fields of mutual interest, including history, heritage, and environmental studies.
The leaders also shared visions for enhancing collaboration between Sultan Qaboos University and the University of Sharjah, and other institutions within both entities, for the purposes of enhancing student experience and supporting intellectual development in the region.
The Ruler of Sharjah’s visit is not only symbolic of the two nations’ historical relationship but also visionary in its scope. Both leaders were optimistic about the future of Oman-UAE relations and reaffirmed their commitment to regional unity, stability, and sustainable development.
His Majesty Sultan Haitham hailed Sheikh Dr. Sultan for his indefatigable endeavor in sponsoring culture and education in the Arab world, while the Ruler of Sharjah appreciated Oman’s pioneering role in achieving stability and safeguarding its distinctive heritage.
The talks also considered broader regional interests and the significance of how cultural cooperation can affirm GCC states unity. Both leaders insisted on persistence in dialogue as well as mutual cooperation in every field, tourism, environmental integrity, and innovations.
After the official welcome, Sheikh Dr. Sultan is to tour various major cultural and educational sites of Muscat such as the National Museum of Oman, Sultan Qaboos University, and Royal Opera House Muscat. Through these tours, efforts will be made to emphasize common values and lay the foundations for increased future cooperation between the cultural and education sectors of Sharjah and Oman.
Within the next few days, officials of both sides are to make statements and announce arrangements and joint initiatives that will confirm the results of today’s summit-level meeting.
