The foreign ministry readout describes His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik visited the Here East Campus in London on 22 October 2026. Upon His Majesty’s arrival at the campus, he was received by Gavin Poole, Chief Executive of Here East and Saj Huq Chief Executive Officer of Plexal. His Majesty began his visit to the campus by viewing an exhibition about the innovative companies and projects based at Here East. The exhibition showcases a range of advanced technologies and solutions in the fields of renewable energy, space, defence, and technology. His Majesty also inspected the leading innovations that are being worked on and the promising opportunities they represent for advancing modern technologies and enhancing their applications across various sectors. His Majesty also undertook an interactive tour of the conference hall, during which he met with chief executives of specialised companies and institutions. His Majesty was briefed on their fields of work and their innovative projects, showcasing leading expertise and experiences in future technology and industrial sectors. The visit comes within the context of strengthening cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the United Kingdom and exchanging expertise in the fields of technology, innovation, and advanced industries, while exploring the opportunities these sectors offer to support economic and investment partnerships. This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.
Context
The statement reveals no specific objectives driving His Majesty’s visit. The visit’s stated purpose – “strengthening cooperation” – is a standard diplomatic formulation. The emphasis on “exchanging expertise” in “technology, innovation, and advanced industries” is similarly broad. The statement does not mention the specific sectors of technology highlighted in the exhibition, nor does it outline any concrete agreements or commitments that resulted from the visit. It is notable that the press release provides no details regarding the duration of the visit or the specific individuals involved beyond those explicitly named. The choice of Here East, a technology and innovation campus, as the location for this visit indicates a strategic alignment with the UK’s ambitions in these sectors. However, the press release offers no insight into the potential impact of this engagement on Oman’s own technological development or its broader economic strategy. The statement does not address the potential for trade or investment opportunities arising from the visit.
