Brussels, Belgium – His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik arrived in the Kingdom of Belgium on Monday evening. During his three-day state visit, His Majesty the Sultan will meet King Philippe Leopold Louis Marie, King of the Belgians.

Upon His Majesty’s arrival at Brussels Military Airport, a welcoming musical piece was played as he descended the ramp. His Majesty was received by Tinne Van der Straeten, Minister of Energy, along with several Belgian officials and members of the Embassy of Oman in Belgium.

His Majesty the Sultan then proceeded to the main car, passing between two rows of the Belgian Royal Guard of Honour.

The motorcade carrying His Majesty departed Brussels Military Airport and headed to the Palace of Laeken, the official residence of the King of the Belgians and the Belgian royal family.

The visit is being undertaken in response to an invitation from the King of the Belgians, highlighting the strong and growing relations between Oman and Belgium.

On Tuesday, the programme will commence with a welcoming ceremony at Place des Palais in Brussels. This will be followed by a lunch hosted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde for His Majesty Sultan Haitham. The day will also include a visit to Brussels Town Hall and conclude with a state banquet at Palace of Laeken.

On the morning of December 4, His Majesty Sultan Haitham and King Philippe will visit the Port House in Antwerp for discussions on the existing energy and port cooperation between the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the Port of Duqm, as well as future prospects.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a global leader in the hydrogen sector and aims to establish itself as a European hub for importing green energy from countries with abundant wind and solar resources, such as Oman.

In February 2022, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde made an official visit to Oman to strengthen Belgian-Omani cooperation on green hydrogen.

His Majesty the Sultan is accompanied by a high-ranking delegation comprising H H Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Sayyid Khalid bin Hilal al Busaidi, Minister of the Diwan of Royal Court, Gen Sultan bin Mohammed al Nu’amani, Minister of the Royal Office, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidi, Foreign Minister, Dr Hamad bin Said al Aufi, Head of the Private Office, Abdussalam al Murshidi, President of Oman Investment Authority, Eng Salim bin Nassir al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals and Rua Issa al Zadjali, Ambassador of Oman to Belgium.