UK Government and industry partners host senior Omani delegation for talks on private‑sector investment partnerships ahead of the UK-GCC FTA announcement

London, United Kingdom, 20th May 2026 – UK Government, British Expertise International (BEI), and The D Group host senior Omani delegation for talks on private‑sector investment partnerships ahead of the UK-GCC FTA announcement.

In London this week as part of ongoing Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) activities, a delegation of senior Omani officials met with key UK industry stakeholders from BEI and the D Group’s membership base for a high-level economic and commercial dialogue in Westminster. The delegation included representatives from the Omani Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Finance, the National Centre for Statistics and Information, and Sultan Qaboos University.

Oman’s Vision 2040 agenda is accelerating reforms to underscore Oman’s position as a stable, forward‑looking hub for investment and innovation across the Gulf. Meetings this week explored Oman’s shift towards long-term strategic investment partnerships - with the UK central to its ambitions. Today’s conclusion of negotiations between the UK and the Gulf Cooperation Council on a milestone Free Trade Agreement will help to opening a new era for trade, investment, and collaboration between the UK and Oman. Oman is party to five other major trade agreements, including the Oman-US FTA, the GCC-European Free Trade Association FTA, the GCC Customs Union, the GCC-Singapore FTA, the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. The Sultanate has highlighted ambitions to drive private-sector growth through strong B2B, government, and academic partnerships that support its expanding infrastructure, young population, and commitment to economic diversification.

British Expertise International and the D Group, both owned and operated by the Strategy International Group, are membership organisations with the shared objective of contributing to the UK's prosperity. BEI has acted as a strategic conduit between UK expertise and global demand for nearly 60 years, serving as a membership network dedicated to supporting UK-based organisations in exporting the best of UK expertise in professional services across infrastructure, climate change, education, skills, and international development. The D Group facilitates senior engagement across defence, security, and major public projects, regularly convening ministers, permanent secretaries, military leaders, ambassadors, academics, and industry executives.

Dr. David Landsman OBE, Executive Chair of BEI and Advisory Director of the D Group, said, “At British Expertise International and the D Group, we work every day with consultants and experts who have a great deal to contribute across areas from climate, energy and education to space, infrastructure and logistics. That’s why this week’s session was an exceptional opportunity to explore the potential for collaboration on private sector partnerships between the UK and Oman. On the back of the new FTA, we can already see that this meeting will lead to productive new opportunities to work together.”

Against a backdrop of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the UK-GCC Free Trade Agreement, the roundtable explored opportunities to expand UK-Omani trade and investment with industry representatives from BEI and D Group’s membership base, particularly in logistics, green energy, technology, education, Space, infrastructure, and architecture.

Also explored were the UK's experiences in coordinating an industrial strategy across government and the private sector, drawing lessons from the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy (MIS) and the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council (ISAC) that are relevant to Oman’s aim of implementing its own Vision 2040 and economic diversification.

Dominic Lyons, Director of Trade at the British Embassy Muscat said, “This week’s session provided a fantastic opportunity to build on the historical friendship and strong economic relationship the UK already enjoys with Oman. We are committed to supporting Oman’s transformation through Vision 2040 into a diversified and competitive economy and will continue to work closely to develop the commercial relationships that match UK private sector expertise with Oman’s needs.”

About British Expertise International (BEI)

British Expertise International (BEI) is a membership network dedicated to supporting UK-based organisations in exporting the best of UK expertise in professional services. BEI works across a range of key service sectors, including infrastructure and energy, climate and nature, education and skills, and international development. For 60 years, BEI has connected members with global opportunities by leveraging strong relationships with His Majesty’s Government (HMG), foreign governments, bilateral and multilateral donors, commercial stakeholders, and the broader private sector.

About The D Group

The D Group is a leading cross-sector strategic business development network in the UK, delivering business-critical insights and competitive advantage to the leadership of UK businesses, partnerships, and institutions. The D Group draws on the breadth and depth of its network to publish reports that make a substantive contribution to the national conversation. As a cross-sector organisation, The D Group harnesses its members’ experience to deliver thought leadership across a number of areas, including defence and space, national security, infrastructure, regional devolution, energy transition, innovation and diversity and skills.

Further Information:

Media Contact: Sofia Pennacchietti

Email: sp@britishexpertise.org