Oman acts as a mediator in the Middle East
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Sultan Haitham bin Tarik al Said is today receiving his official welcome at Windsor as part of a four-day state visit to the United Kingdom, the first by an Omani head of state in 44 years.
The Sultan touched down at Stansted Airport in Essex on Monday, where Lord Henry Hood greeted him on behalf of King Charles.
The previous occasion on which a Sultan of Oman undertook a State Visit was in 1982, when the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, a cousin of the current ruler, was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
Sultan Haitham last came to Windsor in the summer of 2025 for a private audience and tea with the King.
The programme begins with the Prince of Wales collecting the Sultan from his residence and accompanying him to Windsor.
King Charles and Queen Camilla will then formally receive their guest at the Royal Dais on Datchet Road, with a Royal Salute sounding simultaneously at Home Park and the Tower of London.
From there, the Sultan will travel by carriage alongside the King, Queen, and the Prince and Princess of Wales in a procession through Windsor’s streets towards the castle.
Upon reaching the Quadrangle, a Guard of Honour will present a Royal Salute while the regimental band performs both the Omani and British national anthems.
The Sultan and the King will then inspect the Guard of Honour together, before returning to join the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the military rank and march past.
A lunch with members of the Royal Family follows in the State Dining Room.
Afterwards, the King and Queen will host the Sultan at a specially curated display in the Green Drawing Room, showcasing pieces connected to Oman drawn from the Royal Collection.
The exhibition forms part of the broader ceremonial programme designed to underscore the historic ties between the two nations, with the day’s events culminating in an evening banquet.
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A State Banquet hosted by the King, Queen and other members of the Royal Family will round off the day’s proceedings at Windsor Castle. Both King Charles and Sultan Haitham are expected to deliver speeches at the start of the dinner.
The visit builds on an already active diplomatic relationship.
When the Sultan last met Prime Minister Andy Burnham in July, their discussions centred on efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, with the Prime Minister thanking Oman for its role as a mediator in the region.
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