Oman-France Reaffirm Historic Friendship

On December 9, Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman received a letter from French President Emmanuel Macron. The letter outlined the historic friendly relations between the two nations and proposals for strengthening bilateral cooperation. It was delivered by visiting French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade Nicolas Forissier to Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al Busaidy.

The two countries designated renewable energy, tourism infrastructure, and transportation as key areas of cooperation during the meeting. They particularly noted that priority sectors outlined in Oman Vision 2040 would provide significant investment opportunities for French companies.

Trade Surge and AI Cooperation Takes Off

Economic cooperation between the two nations is showing tangible results. Bilateral trade in the first half of 2025 reached 49 million Omani rials (approximately $127 million), marking a 33.5% increase year-over-year. The number of French-invested companies operating in Oman also grew noticeably as of late October.

Oman's Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef identified artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technology as central pillars of future cooperation during his meeting with Minister Forissier. Both sides also discussed expanding Omani business participation in major economic events such as the Gulf Vision Forum held in France.

Call for Resumption of GCC-EU FTA Negotiations

Both countries emphasized the importance of resuming free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU). If concluded, the agreement is expected to significantly contribute to increased trade flows and improved market access for businesses. While negotiations have stalled, Oman and France expressed their commitment to revitalizing negotiation momentum through this meeting.

French Companies Focus on Oman Infrastructure Investment

Minister Forissier visited with a delegation of business leaders from MEDEF (Movement of the Enterprises of France). They explored market entry possibilities in modern technology, infrastructure, industry, and services sectors. Minister al Yousef introduced regulatory easing and investment incentives provided by the Omani government, encouraging active French participation.

Both sides sought specific cooperation measures particularly in transportation infrastructure and tourism projects. Oman is making large-scale investments in port, road, and rail development to emerge as a logistics hub in the Middle East region, with French construction and engineering expertise expected to contribute significantly in these areas.

Agreement to Expand Cultural Exchange

Alongside economic cooperation, deepening cultural and civilizational exchange was also addressed as an important agenda item. The two countries agreed to expand cooperation in education, arts, and cultural heritage preservation. This represents part of a long-term strategy to enhance mutual understanding between the peoples of both nations, extending beyond simple economic benefits.

[Analysis] Potential to Emerge as Middle East-Europe Cooperation Model

Oman-France cooperation has high potential to be recognized as a new partnership model between Gulf nations and Europe. In particular, advanced technology cooperation centered on AI and renewable energy represents a future-oriented strategy that transcends traditional oil and gas-focused relationships.

Oman Vision 2040 sets economic diversification as a core objective, while France is one of the major EU countries promoting strengthened relations with the Middle East. If bilateral cooperation succeeds, other Gulf nations may follow a similar model.

However, with GCC-EU FTA negotiations delayed, reducing trade barriers remains a medium to long-term challenge. Expanding individual country-level cooperation to regional institutional cooperation will require time. The actual scale and results of French corporate investments will be the key variable determining the sustainability of future cooperation.