Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq Al Said arrived in Kazakhstan on a state visit for the first time. In recent years, relations with the ancient and wealthy Arab country have been strengthening. And the conflict in the Middle East has further strengthened the friendship between the two states. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.

Currency more expensive than the dollar

Oman is located on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Like its neighbors the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the country earns money from oil. However, Oman is widely known in the world as the main producer of frankincense. This aromatic resin is often used in medicine, perfumery and religious rituals.

The official religion is Islam. The majority of the population follows Ibadism. In this branch, tolerance and respect for other religions are highly valued.

Oman is among the safest countries in the world with a very low crime rate. And its currency is considered the most expensive and most stable. The current exchange rate of the Omani rial is 2.60 dollars.

In the 1980s, large oil reserves were discovered in Oman. Thanks to this, the country's economy rose rapidly. The population is 5.7 million people, and GDP exceeds 117 billion dollars.

While horse racing is popular in Kazakhstan, camel racing is often seen in Oman. In addition, Bedouins leading a nomadic lifestyle still live there.

The Al Said dynasty

The Sultanate of Oman has been ruled by the Al Said dynasty since 1744. Before Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, who arrived in Kazakhstan on a state visit, the sultan was Qaboos bin Said Al Said. In 2020, he passed away at the age of 80.

After Qaboos bin Said had no direct heir, the council of the ruling dynasty elected his 65-year-old cousin as his successor. Prior to that, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said served as Minister of Culture and Heritage.

Five years ago, Tokayev was one of the first to congratulate the newly appointed sultan. At the end of this week, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said will turn 72.

A mosque was also built in honor of Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for 50 years. This structure is considered one of the largest mosques in the Middle East.

How the friendship between the two countries strengthened

Today, the Sultan of Oman regularly sends congratulatory letters to Tokayev during the month of Ramadan. The President of Kazakhstan also expresses his warm wishes to the Sultan on the occasion of the country's National Day.

This year, during the Middle East conflict, the friendship between the two countries strengthened further. At that time, Oman helped evacuate thousands of Kazakhstanis. Citizens of Kazakhstan were first transported by bus from neighboring countries to Muscat. Then they were returned home on repatriation flights.

At that time, Tokayev contacted the Sultan of Oman several times. Later, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said expressed gratitude for his direct involvement in the evacuation issue and once again confirmed his invitation to visit Kazakhstan on a state visit.

In April, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Sultanate of Oman for Economic Affairs, Ziyazin bin Haitham Al Said, visited Kazakhstan. Last year, the Sultanate of Oman also helped return to Kazakhstan a woman who had fallen under the influence of someone named "Hanifa".

Visa-free regime

In March last year, Oman extended the visa-free regime for Kazakhstanis. If it was previously 14 days, now one can stay without a visa for 30 days.

Citizens of Kazakhstan can use the visa-free regime in Oman only for tourism. There is no permission for employment, study or permanent residence. Omanis can also stay in Kazakhstan without a visa for one month.

Direct flight available

Three years ago, discussions began on opening a direct flight to the capital of Oman. A ceremony to open the direct flight was also held. However, regular flights were only launched in the summer of 2025.

Currently, the Omani SalamAir carries passengers between "Almaty-Muscat". But the price may vary depending on the tourist season. The distance between the two cities exceeds 3.2 thousand kilometers. SalamAir operates international flights on 30 routes to about 20 countries around the world.