All articles - Oman

Muscat favouring UK space-tech providers after energetic lobbying by British embassy

As space sector spending accelerates in the Gulf, Oman has marked itself out by relying on old diplomatic ties to develop its rocket and satellite projects, in sharp contrast to the approach taken by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

Might Muscat buy Riyadh's used Typhoons?

As manufacturers jostle to supply fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, Oman is on the lookout for second-hand war planes.

Labour MPs build on Muscat networks

A delegation of Labour Party MPs called on British lawyer Paul Sheridan's firm and its many connections with the Omani business world to open doors in Muscat.

Paris tries to connect with Haitham bin Tarik's inner circle

As defence and foreign policy talks between Paris and Muscat pick up a notch, French businesses in Oman see an opportunity in being able to open doors by calling on their contacts with the sultan's close entourage.

Al Rasiyat Middle East carves out role as main agent for defence contracts in Oman

Foreign firms are increasingly turning to the company owned by the powerful al-Rawas family to get access to Omani defence contracts. The fall of Dahra Global has also contributed to the rise of Al Rasiyat Middle East, which is run by former army officers.

Oman opens ports to French Navy submarines

With diplomatic dialogue hotting up between France and Oman, the French Navy has recently obtained an agreement to use Oman's ports as a rear base for its activities in the Indian Ocean.

Burak Yahsi, the agent at the heart of an FMS contract in Muscat

The second part of our series on Burak Yahsi. When clients go silent on his commission, the Turkish sales agent and head of USI International, who has won contracts with Oman's ministry of defence, does not give up lightly.

Washington turns to Oman to mediate in US hostage talks in Syria

The US and Oman are stepping up their bilateral cooperation, particularly in intelligence, and Washington is hoping that by the same token the sultanate can help obtain the release of US hostages in Syria.

The Intelligence Gazette
DGSE's green goals, cybersecurity between Sultans, Lithuanian sanctions, Syrian airspace jitters

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from London to Paris via Nur-Sultan.

FranceDGSE goes green to justify pricey new head office.

Bahrain/OmanCybersecurity dominates cooperation talks between Manama and Mascat.

LithuaniaAnti-money laundering veteran takes helm of foreign ministry's 'sanctions' group.

Israel/SyriaTsahal seeks new targets from Syrian skies.

Spymasters Tahnoon bin Zayed and Mohammed Al Naamani draw up new UAE-Oman intelligence pact

At a summit in Muscat last month, Oman's intelligence chief Mohammed Al Naamani and the UAE's national security adviser Tahnoon bin Zayed drew up plans for the two countries' new security cooperation.

Muscat and Doha jostle for lead mediatory role in Iranian nuclear talks

Both capitals want to be the main mediator in the negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and are now competing directly for the role. Both have called in their respective spy chiefs to work behind the scenes to cultivate their special relationships with the West and Iran.

Al Naamani, still at Oman's security helm, tries to save Yemen ceasefire

Despite the political rivalries in Oman, Mohammed Al Naamani remains firmly in place as Sultan Haitham bin Tariq's security chief. He has recently been instructed to continue with his mediation with Saudi Arabia on Yemen.

Riyadh and Muscat lock horns over Iranian weapon deliveries

Oman's intelligence services, which are meant to be cracking down on the smuggling of Iranian weapons between the sultanate and Yemen, have yet again been caught out after the discovery of a missile shipment. Riyadh is alarmed by potential flaws in the Omani security apparatus.

Riyadh and Washington back Oman as mediator in Yemen conflict

As they continue to search for an impossible ceasefire in Yemen, Riyadh and Washington have given themselves until the end of the year to reach an agreement. Both capitals are relying on the mediation of Omani spymaster Mohammed Al Naamani, who is ready to talk to all parties.