Oman: Sultan Qaboos creates British ties

Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said gave an audience to British foreign secretary William Hague on 8 December, at Bait Al-Barakah. Oman’s state news agency said the men discussed “enhancing co-operation in the light of close ties between the two countries”; the meeting was also attended by Yusuf Bin Alawi, minister responsible for foreign affairs, and British ambassador Jamie Bowden. The UK recently announced it was launching a visa-waiver scheme for Oman in early 2013 (GSN 959/10), and has made good ties with the Gulf a priority.