Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

Bilateral relations

Bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam were established in 1984, immediately after Brunei Darussalam gained its independence.

The Embassy of Oman in Bandar Seri Begawan was opened in 1986. Since then, relations between the two countries have witnessed remarkable development.

This is evident in the number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries, covering various areas of cooperation in the fields of education, culture, etc. as well as the exchange of visits by high-level officials from both countries.

In 1992, a joint working group known as the “Bilateral Consultative Meeting” was established between the Oman and Brunei Darussalam. This has proved very successful in strengthening the ties between the two countries.

Agreements and MoUs

The following agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed between the Sultanate of Oman and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam:

• Air Transport Agreement (signed in Muscat, 1988)
• MoU on cooperation in Islamic Affairs (signed in Brunei, 1996)
• MoU on cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the two countries (1997)
• Agreement on exchange of plots of land for building embassies and residences for Head of Missions (signed in Muscat, 1997)
• Agreement on promotion and reciprocal protection of foreign investment (1998)
• MoU between Sultan Qaboos University and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (signed in Brunei, 2003)
• MoU between the Education Ministries of the two countries to increase education ties (2007 renewed on July 7th 2022)
• MoU to establish a joint investment fund (signed in Muscat, 2009)
• MoU on cooperation in health care (2009)
• MoU on cooperation in culture (renewed on April 10th 2012)
• MoU on cooperation in information (October 3rd, 2013)

Consular services

The Embassy provides the following services:

• Ratification of commercial transactions
• Ratification of personal status matters for Omanis and non-Omanis
• Issue of visas
• Issue of temporary travel document (Laissez Passer)
• Ratification of Omani driving licence for Omanis and non-Omanis
• Ratification of academic certificates

Documents that require ratification must first be endorsed by the relevant authorities in Brunei, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant ministries, in addition to the High Court.

Key objectives

The Embassy’s main objectives are:

• To work towards sustaining strong bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
• To expand the scope of cooperation between both countries in areas that serve the prosperity of both countries, while also consolidating friendship and solidarity between them.
• To develop and strengthen cooperation between the government and private sectors in the Sultanate of Oman and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.
• To work towards achieving the interests of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the objectives of the Sultanate of Oman’s Foreign Ministry, including enhancing people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
• To work in accordance with the fundamentals and requirements of Omani diplomacy, which is based on friendship with all countries of the world.
• To highlight the importance of the political role of Oman in achieving security and peace in the region and the world.
• To make this the basis for developing relations and seizing opportunities to increase areas of cooperation between the two countries.
• To intensify contacts with government and private institutions in both countries, in order to:
  • strengthen areas of economic cooperation
  • strive towards diversifying investment tools
  • to promote tourism to continuously search for any other suitable opportunities that are compatible with the objectives of Oman’s Foreign Ministry.
• To activate the tools of public diplomacy in order to promote the Sultanate of Oman as a cultural, investment and tourism destination, as well as enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries friendly peoples.
• To serve Omani citizens who are residing in the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam.

Political and diplomatic cooperation

Bilateral relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam are of great interest to the leaderships of both countries.

This has contributed to the development and enrichment of relations between the two Sultanates, propelling them to new horizons and sequential successes since the establishment of diplomatic relations 38 years ago.

This process was greatly enhanced by the official state visits paid by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam to the Sultanate of Oman on three separate occasions. The first was in 1984, the second was in 1985, and the third visit was in 2009.

The visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, to the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam in March 2014, in his capacity as Minister of Heritage and Culture during the reign of the late Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Bin Taimur, paved the way for further fruitful cooperation in recent years.

His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and the Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, visited the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam in October 2017 to represent the late Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Bin Taimur, at the 50th anniversary celebration of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s accession to the throne.

Several highly ranked Omani officials have also visited the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam adding vibrancy and momentum to the two countries’ relations. Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, has visited the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam on numerous occasions. The most recent visit took place during March 2015, when the Foreign Minister acted as head of the Omani side at the fifteenth Bilateral Consultative Meeting, and in March 2018, as head of the Omani side at the eighteenth Bilateral Consultative Meeting.

Trade and investment

The Sultanates of Oman and Brunei Darussalam have maintained strong cooperation in economic investments in recent years.

A 10-year renewable bilateral investment agreement between Oman and Brunei Darussalam was signed in Muscat in June 1998. Its main objective was “to create favourable conditions for greater economic cooperation and the promotion and reciprocal protection of foreign investment between the governments, nationals and companies of the two countries.”

In a move that advanced trade and investment cooperation between the two sultanates, Brunei Darussalam signed a deal with Oman in April 2009, to establish a US$100 million investment fund, shared between the two countries and based in the Omani capital of Muscat. This deal resulted in the unveiling of the Oman Brunei Investment Company (OBIC).

To date, OBIC has been involved in several successful investment projects in Oman and Brunei Darussalam and contributed to exploring investment opportunities available to both sides in many fields.

In December 2019, the Oman Investment Authority (OIA) and Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) agreed to increase the capital of OBIC by another US$100 million. The total capital of OBIC now amounts to US$200 million. This agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 19th Consultative Meeting between the two countries.

Cultural, educational and scientific exchanges

The Sultanate of Oman and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam enjoy productive cooperation in the field of education.

Oman continues to offer Bruneian students scholarships under the Omani programme for cultural and scientific cooperation. At the same time, the government of the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam has accepted several Omani students to pursue their studies at local universities under the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam government scholarship.

Oman and Brunei Darussalam also enjoy fruitful cooperation in the field of culture and related fields.