Bahrain, Oman sign 25 cooperation agreements to strengthen bilateral relations

Bahrain and Oman have signed 25 cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries across various sectors. During the state visit of Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to Oman at the invitation of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman, the two sides held a significant meeting at the Al Bustan Palace, where they officially signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and executive programs. These agreements are designed to promote cooperation between the two nations in a wide array of fields.

Among these, the agreement on avoiding double taxation aims to consolidate economic ties between the two countries by enhancing tax cooperation. Bahrain's Minister of Finance and National Economy, Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, signed the agreement on behalf of Bahrain, while Nasser Al Jashmi, Chairman of the Omani Tax Authority, signed for Oman. Another significant agreement is the MoU on meteorology, which seeks to establish a cooperative framework to improve collaboration and communication in the field of meteorology. Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and Oman's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, jointly signed this agreement.

Additionally, the two sides also signed an MoU on health cooperation, focusing on advancing and developing collaboration in the health sector. This agreement was also signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The MoU on stock markets is intended to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the exchange of expertise, training, and consulting services, and was signed by Bahrain's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, and Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. In the field of science and education, an MoU was also signed to foster cooperation in these areas, also signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

In the media sector, the MoU on media cooperation is designed to promote closer ties in media relations, further solidifying the partnership between the two countries. This agreement was signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The two sides also signed an MoU on endowments, aimed at deepening cooperation in the field of endowments, signed by the same Bahraini and Omani officials. Furthermore, an MoU on Zakat was signed to strengthen cooperation in this area, also by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The MoU on mutual investment opportunities focuses on promoting investment potential between the two countries, signed by Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and His Excellency Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef.

Other significant agreements include the MoU on industrial empowerment and national content development, which aims to strengthen industrial relations through public-private partnerships and national content development, signed by Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. The MoU on food security is intended to enhance cooperation in food security initiatives and knowledge exchange, signed by Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Sultan Al Habsi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Oman Investment Authority. Regarding investment, an MoU on investment aims to promote cooperation and knowledge exchange in the investment sector, signed by the same Bahraini and Omani officials. The MoU on organizing exhibitions and conferences aims to establish a framework for organizing events that highlight national products, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. The MoU on inspection, standards, and gold hallmarks focuses on improving inspection and standardization processes, ensuring product accuracy, and strengthening gold hallmarks to meet international standards, signed by Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. In agriculture, an MoU on agricultural production, development, and food security aims to promote cooperation in agricultural development and research, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The MoU on expedited patents and intellectual property aims to establish a framework for cooperation between the two countries in intellectual property matters, signed by Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. Additionally, an MoU on social insurance and protection aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of social insurance, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Salim Al Aufi, Oman's Minister of Energy and Minerals. The MoU on labor and human resources development aims to regulate cooperation in labor development, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The MoU on public administration aims to promote joint efforts to implement initiatives that benefit target groups, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The MoU on building and enhancing capacities to combat human trafficking focuses on strengthening capacities in this area and sharing best practices, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The MoU on establishing, developing, and managing economic and industrial zones aims to strengthen cooperation in this area, signed by Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro and Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef. Furthermore, several executive programs were also signed, including the executive program on the evaluation of educational institutions, which aims to enhance cooperation in training audit teams for educational institutions, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. The 2025-2026 executive program for municipal work aims to promote the exchange of information and practices in municipal work, signed by the same Bahraini and Omani officials. The executive program for museum cooperation further aims to enhance cooperative efforts in museum activities, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi. In addition, the 2025-2030 executive program for cooperation in electricity and renewable energy aims to promote cooperation between Bahrain's Electricity and Water Authority and Oman's Ministry of Energy and Minerals in the energy sector, signed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Salim Al Aufi.