All articles - Oman

Oman seeks US talent to boost cyber defence

A crossroads of Gulf interest and once in the sphere of British influence, Oman is now looking to the US for its cyber defence needs, with several Pentagon providers in the running for a new contract.

Oman's Etlaq space port acquires US rocket partner in bid to gain US support

After initially leaning on UK allies to launch its space sector, Oman's fledgling Duqm-based space port has linked up with a California rocket group in a bid to pass US space-sector controls and access international suppliers.

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 Agencies' 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.