Muscat – The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) has released a book, titled  Omani-Russian Relations in the 19th Century, drawing on almost 3,000 Russian documents to examine the development of ties between Muscat and St Petersburg. The publication is part of the authority’s programme to expand access to international sources that document Oman’s diplomatic and trade history.

Based on 2,852 letters, reports, memoirs, maps and photographs, the book outlines how Oman and Russia interacted during a period of shifting alliances and expanding maritime trade. It traces the role of Omani ports in global shipping and the evolution of Russia’s presence in the Arabian Gulf.

The book is divided into three chapters, covering diplomatic and commercial exchanges, Russia’s activities in the region, and descriptions of political, economic and social life in Oman. It includes more than 50 rare archival documents and detailed indexes intended to support researchers.

Hamad bin Mohammed al Dhuhayani, Chairman of NRAA, said the book reflects the authority’s efforts to highlight Oman’s historical records through international archives. He noted that the Russian material “reveals the depth of Omani-Russian relations” and documents the country’s political and commercial standing from the 18^th to the 19^th century.

Author Dirar Mohammed Fadl al Mawla said the publication marks the result of a decade-long effort to translate and verify rare Russian documents. He added that it offers perspectives that go beyond traditional sources, which have often relied on British and French records. The book, he said, will form the basis for further studies on Russian historical material related to Oman.

Ahlam bint Hamoud al Jahwari, Director of Documentary Studies at NRAA, said the book provides an important addition to research on the Arabian Gulf and modern European history. She highlighted its use of Russian sources presented for the first time in Arabic, covering the period from 1792 to 1917 and showing how political and economic ties between Oman and Russia developed over time.

The book offers alternative perspectives on the region’s international relations by drawing on non-Western sources. It furthers NRAA’s efforts to make global archival documents accessible to Arab scholars.