His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, today received in audience His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Sultan of Oman and delegation, who are in Brunei Darussalam for a three-day State Visit from 2 to 4 November 2026. The Audience Ceremony took place at Cheradi Laila Kenchana, Istana Nurul Iman.
Prior to this, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, as Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, accompanied His Majesty the Sultan of Oman from The Empire Brunei to Istana Nurul Iman.
Also present at The Empire Brunei to greet His Majesty the Sultan of Oman was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, as Royal-in-Attendance.
En route to Istana Nurul Iman, His Majesty the Sultan of Oman was greeted by students and teachers from several government and private schools, who waved the national flags of both countries.
STATE WELCOMING CEREMONY
The State Welcoming Ceremony was held on the grounds of Istana Nurul Iman. His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and His Majesty the Sultan of Oman proceeded to the Special Dais to receive the Salute of Honour, accompanied by the national anthems of both countries and a twenty-one (21) gun salute. The two leaders then inspected the Guard of Honour mounted by members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
His Majesty the Sultan of Oman was then introduced to members of the Royal Family; Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria; Cabinet Ministers; members of the Privy Council; Deputy Ministers; Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; Commissioner of Police of the Royal Brunei Police Force; Foreign Envoys; members of the Legislative Council; and Permanent Secretaries from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was then introduced to members of the official delegation of the Sultanate of Oman.
AUDIENCE CEREMONY
Following the State Welcoming Ceremony, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and His Majesty the Sultan of Oman proceeded to Cheradi Laila Kenchana for the Audience Ceremony.
Also in attendance were members of the Royal Family. Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan of Oman was His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs.
Also present were members of the official delegation of the Sultanate of Oman and Yang Berhormat Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II, as Minister-in-Attendance.
CONFERRAL AND EXCHANGE OF STATE DECORATIONS
The Audience Ceremony was followed by a State Decorations Ceremony, during which His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam conferred the State Decoration of Brunei Darussalam ‘Darjah Kerabat Mahkota Brunei’ (D.K.M.B.) upon His Majesty the Sultan of Oman.
His Majesty the Sultan of Oman also conferred the State Decoration ‘Order of Al-Said’ upon His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
A Doa Selamat was recited by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr.) Ustaz Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Juned, State Mufti.
BILATERAL MEETING
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam held a Bilateral Meeting with His Majesty the Sultan of Oman at Baitul Mesyuarah. His Majesty welcomed His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and delegation on the historic State Visit, which marked the first visit by a Sultan of Oman, and recalled that relations between the two countries span more than four decades. His Majesty also highlighted His Majesty the Sultan of Oman’s significant personal contribution to the enduring friendship, including through the Bilateral Consultative Meeting, which has supported practical cooperation and the establishment of the Oman-Brunei Investment Company (OBIC).
His Majesty welcomed the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership and also the continued progress in ASEAN-GCC relations, and reaffirmed Brunei Darussalam’s commitment to working with the Sultanate of Oman and other GCC partners in areas of mutual interests such as trade, climate change and digital innovation.
His Majesty reaffirmed the importance of upholding freedom of navigation through the Straits of Hormouz in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS), and expressed concern about tensions in the Middle East and the impact on civilians and infrastructure, and commended the Sultanate of Oman’s mediation efforts, emphasising the importance of continued dialogue and diplomacy in addressing regional tensions and promoting peace and stability.
His Majesty reaffirmed Brunei Darussalam’s support for the Palestinian people and for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, through the two-state solution, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Both leaders also discussed bilateral relations and opportunities to expand cooperation, and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
SIGNING CEREMONY FOR AGREEMENTS AND MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and His Majesty the Sultan of Oman then witnessed the Signing Ceremony of a Joint Declaration and five (5) Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman.
1. Joint Declaration on the Elevation of Ties to a Strategic Partnership between Brunei Darussalam and the Sultanate of Oman
Signing the ‘Joint Declaration on the Elevation of Ties to a Strategic Partnership between Brunei Darussalam and the Sultanate of Oman’ on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs, while signing on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman was His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Foreign Minister.
2. Agreement between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic, Official, Special and Service Passports
Signing the ‘Agreement between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman on Mutual Visa Exemption for Holders of Diplomatic, Official, Special and Service Passports’ on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Coordinating Minister for Social and Manpower Policies and Minister of Home Affairs, while signing on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman was His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Foreign Minister.
3. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Home Affairs of Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Labour of the Sultanate of Oman in the Fields of Labour and Human Resources Development
Signing the ‘Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Home Affairs of Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Labour of the Sultanate of Oman in the Fields of Labour and Human Resources Development’ on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Coordinating Minister for Social and Manpower Policies and Minister of Home Affairs, while signing on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman was His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Foreign Minister.
4. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Health of the Sultanate of Oman in the Field of Health Cooperation
Signing the ‘Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Health of the Sultanate of Oman in the Field of Health Cooperation’ on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health, while signing on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman was His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Foreign Minister.
5. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman on Cooperation in the Fields of Agriculture and Fisheries
Signing the ‘Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman on Cooperation in the Fields of Agriculture and Fisheries’ on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, while signing on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman was His Excellency Anwar bin Hilal bin Hamdoon Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman.
6. Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman in the Fields of Economy and Strategic Planning
Signing the ‘Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman in the Fields of Economy and Strategic Planning’ on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, while signing on behalf of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman was His Excellency Anwar bin Hilal bin Hamdoon Al Jabri, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion of Oman.
News courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office
Photo courtesy of Infofoto