Muscat – The Sultanate of Oman joined the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in celebrating its 96th National Day at a ceremony held at the Empty Quarter border crossing in Dhahirah, highlighting the close and growing ties between the two neighbouring countries.

The celebration was organised by the Secretariat General of National Celebrations in cooperation with Royal Oman Police.

The relations between Oman and Saudi Arabia have developed into a broad partnership covering political, economic, trade, investment and cultural fields, with bilateral trade reaching RO2.4754bn in 2025.

Trade between the two countries continued to grow in 2026, reaching RO1.0862bn during the first six months of the year.

H E Ibrahim bin Saad bin Bishan, Saudi Ambassador to Oman, said relations between the two countries witnessed an important shift in recent years, moving from the strength of historical ties towards broader practical partnerships.

He said Omani exports to Saudi Arabia reached RO547.6mn during the first six months of 2026, while Omani imports from the kingdom stood at RO538.6mn.

The ambassador said trade and movement between the two countries had been further strengthened by the opening of the Empty Quarter border crossing on December 11, 2021, the first direct land crossing between Saudi Arabia and Oman.

The crossing has played a significant role in facilitating trade between the two countries. Bilateral trade through the crossing reached around RO1.322bn in 2025.

Trade through the Empty Quarter crossing accounted for around 58% of total bilateral trade in 2025, while the facility has also made movement between the two countries easier.

H E Bishan said Oman had become an important tourism destination for Saudi families, noting the sultanate’s cultural heritage, social values and natural attractions.

He described the growth in tourism and movement as a natural development in relations between two countries with significant economic, geographical and strategic potential.

The ambassador also pointed to sporting events as another avenue for strengthening ties between the two countries and promoting greater interaction among their peoples.

He said the Gulf Cup, to be held in Jeddah from September 23 to October 6, represents an opportunity to strengthen the shared Gulf spirit and reinforce the bonds between the peoples of the region.

“Future relations are built on cooperation, communication and the integration of capabilities,” he said.

H E Bishan said he viewed Saudi-Omani cooperation as a partnership with considerable potential for further growth across a wide range of sectors.

These include energy, industry and investment, as well as tourism, logistics and transport, the digital economy and emerging technologies.

He said the two countries have an important opportunity to make greater use of their strategic locations, connect their economic capabilities and encourage the private sectors of both countries to play a leading role in the next phase of cooperation.