UAE and Oman sign deals focusing on rail, education
President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan made a state visit to the Sultanate of Oman and met His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq, the Sultan of Oman, to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two nations.
The UAE President’s visit, which came at the invitation of His Majesty the Sultan, took place on Tuesday, 27th September, and Wednesday, 28th September 2022.
Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed was accompanied by a high-level UAE delegation.
The two leaders enjoyed fruiful talks, during which they reviewed current areas of cooperation and explored opportunities for further collaboration. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed and His Majesty the Sultan praised the progress made in the political, security, scientific, economic and cultural sectors for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The UAE and the sisterly Sultanate of Oman have signed a number of Memoranda of Cooperation (MOC) on the sidelines of the visit of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed to Oman.
Oman Rail signed an agreement with Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the UAE National Rail Network, to jointly establish an equally-owned company, Oman-etihad Rail Company.
The newly created entity will hold an overall investment power of $3 billion to design, develop and operate a railway network connecting Sohar Port to the UAE National Rail Network.
The Memoranda cover various fields that enhance the solid relations between the two countries, including cooperation in culture and media, railways, education, scientific research, agricultural wealth and financial markets.
The agreements included a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology and the Omani Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion regarding cooperation and investment in the industrial fields, signed by Suhail Bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Salim Al Aufi, Omani Minister of Energy and Minerals.
Regarding fostering ties in the youth and culture sectors, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the ministries of culture and youth, signed by Suhail Al Mazrouei and Salim Al Aufi.
The two sides also signed an MOU between the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Omani Ministry of Energy and Minerals, signed by Al Mazrouei and Al Aufi.
In the education sector, an MOU was signed between the Ministry of Education and Oman’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. It was signed by Suhail Al Mazrouei and Salim Al Aufi.
A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed, by Al Mazrouei and Al Aufi, between the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources of Oman.
To promote cooperation in the transport and logistic fields, an MOU was signed between the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Omani Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology. The MOU was signed by Al Mazrouei and Al Aufi.
A Memorandum of Understanding in the field of maritime transport was also signed, by Al Mazrouei and Al Aufi, between the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of Oman.
Shadi Malak, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Railway, and Abdulrahman Salim Al Hatmi, Group Chief Executive Officer of ASYAD, signed a cooperation agreement on a railway project linking the two countries.
Another MOU was signed between the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit and the National Centre for Financial Information of Oman on exchanging information concerning money laundering and related predicate crimes and the financing of terrorism. It was signed by Ali Faisal Ba’alawi, Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, and Lt. Col. Abdulrahman Amer Al Kiyumi, CEO of the National Centre for Financial Information.
The agreements also included a Memorandum of Understanding between the Emirates News Agency (WAM) and the Ministry of Information in the Sultanate of Oman represented by the Oman News Agency (ONA) in the field of news and information exchange. The MOU was signed by Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-general of WAM, and Ibrahim Al-azri, Director-general and Editor-in-chief of ONA.
UAE President concludes fruitful Oman visit; Oman Rail, Etihad Rail sign $3 billion agreement; the two sides also sign an MOU between the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Omani Ministry of Energy and Minerals.