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Oman's former minister responsible for defence affairs Sayyid Badr Bin Saud Bin Harib Al-Busaidi has died. Badr's influence over defence affairs was curtailed in 2020. 

Marking his steady rehabilitation in the region, Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad arrived in Muscat on 20 February for an official visit, and was met at the airport by Oman's Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said. Assad has rarely travelled abroad since the civil war began in Syria – when regional leaders turned against him – visiting only close allies Russia and Iran.

The Saudi Fund for Development has agreed to inject $320m into a joint project to build the infrastructure to support a new special economic zone (SEZ) in Oman’s Al-Dhahirah governorate.

At least two rounds of talks have been held between Iranian and Ukrainian officials in Oman, to discuss Tehran’s supply of armed drones to Russian forces fighting in Ukraine, according to GSN sources.

Oman LNG signed a binding term-sheet agreement with China International United Petroleum and Chemical Company (Unipec) to supply 1m tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) a year for four years, starting in 2025. Oman LNG also signed a ten-year, 1m/yr deal with Turkey’s Botas Petroleum Pipeline Corporation.

Assayida Ahad Bint Abdullah Hamed Al-Busaidi, wife of Oman's Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said, inaugurated the Ministry of Social Development’s National Autism Centre in Al-Seeb early February. The facility is the first of its kind in the country.

Gas production started at the Mabrouk North-East field at Block 10 in Oman, according to operator Shell. The international oil company has a 53.45% working interest in the block. Its partners are state-owned OQ (13.36%) and Marsa Liquefied Natural Gas, a joint venture between OQ and France’s TotalEnergies (33.19%).

A summit of regional leaders, held in Abu Dhabi on 18 January, appeared to be hastily arranged and did not include representatives from Saudi Arabia or Kuwait. It has nevertheless prompted widespread speculation about what may have been discussed and the meeting’s wider meaning. Such interest reflects its host’s apparently ever increasing prominence in international affairs.

Oman's Crown Prince and culture, sports and youth minister Sayyid Theyazin Bin Haitham Al-Said has been most prominent of late in sporting circles. Theyazin is Sultan Haitham's eldest son. Theyazin's younger brother Bilarab has a lower profile.

Improving outlook:  Like most other hydrocarbons exporters, Oman’s economic outlook has been improved by a sustained period of high oil prices. We expect relatively buoyant oil and gas prices to continue through 2023, despite mixed signals from the global market. Added to a perception that economic performance is slowly improving on Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said’s watch, GSN has attached a positive upwards arrow to Oman’s economic and financial risk grade.

Oman's state energy company OQ signed an agreement with Saudi giant Sabic and Kuwait Petroleum International (KPI) in late December to develop a jointly-owned petrochemicals complex in the special economic zone at Duqm (Sezad).

The United Kingdom government said in December that it was hosting some 21 military personnel from the Gulf for liaison and engagement purposes.

A series of talks between Iranian and GCC officials have been held during December and early January in Gulf capitals, as well as on the sidelines of events in Jordan and Brazil, in moves that suggest Tehran is recalibrating its relations with neighbouring monarchies during a period of intense domestic tensions.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) has upgraded its sovereign rating of Oman for the second time this year, raising it from BB- to BB on 25 November. S&P had previously upgraded Oman from B+ to BB- in April.

Saudi real estate company Dar Al-Arkan has signed an agreement with former United States president Donald Trump’s Trump Organisation to develop a resort close to the  Muscat.