Astana and Muscat are moving toward a deeper economic partnership. The first-ever state visit by an Omani Sultan to Kazakhstan has put concrete projects — from the Dunga oil field to direct air links — at the center of bilateral talks, DKNews.kz reports.
On October 6, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks in Astana with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman. The Kazakh President described the visit as historic and said the two countries had significant untapped potential for cooperation.
“It is a great honor and pleasure for me to welcome Your Majesty on a state visit to Kazakhstan — the first visit by a Sultan of Oman in the history of our country. I am convinced that this visit is of historic significance, as it opens a new chapter in the multifaceted cooperation between our countries,” Tokayev said.
Dunga oil field emerges as a key economic issue
One of the most concrete subjects raised during the talks was the Dunga oil field in Kazakhstan’s western Mangystau Region.
Tokayev referred to an important agreement connected with the project, describing it as evidence of the two countries’ mutual interest in moving economic cooperation forward.
Oman is involved in the project through Oman Oil Company Limited, making Dunga one of the most tangible links between the two economies.
Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry had announced an agreement related to longstanding issues under the Dunga production-sharing arrangement shortly before the Sultan’s visit.
The agreement addresses disputes over the reimbursement of certain historical costs and provides for financial compensation to Kazakhstan, while also creating conditions for further investment in the field.
For Kazakhstan-Oman relations, Dunga gives the partnership something diplomacy often lacks: an existing asset, capital commitments and a project whose future depends on continued cooperation.
Kazakhstan wants more direct flights to Oman
Air connectivity was another practical part of the talks.
Tokayev said Oman is becoming increasingly popular among Kazakh travelers and argued that additional direct commercial flights could significantly increase travel between the two countries.
“Many of our citizens already visit your beautiful country. At the same time, many Kazakhstanis have yet to visit Muscat and other cities in Oman. Naturally, with the launch of additional direct commercial flights between our countries, our citizens will travel to Oman much more actively,” Tokayev said.
For Kazakhstan, better air links would serve more than tourism.
Direct connectivity with Muscat could make travel easier for investors, business delegations and companies working between Central Asia and the Gulf.
Oman’s location also gives the relationship a wider logistical dimension. Kazakhstan has previously discussed the potential use of Omani port infrastructure to help its exporters reach markets through the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
For a landlocked country seeking additional trade routes, that gives Muscat strategic relevance beyond bilateral commerce.
Sultan Haitham invites Tokayev to Muscat
Sultan Haitham said relations between Kazakhstan and Oman had strengthened considerably over the past three decades and that his visit was intended to build on that progress.
“Our visit today is intended to consolidate the results already achieved and bring bilateral relations to a new level. During the visit, we will sign several agreements and memoranda of understanding. I am confident that with your support we will be able to build very strong ties in the economic, political, cultural and humanitarian spheres,” the Sultan said.
He also said Oman wanted to see more of its citizens visit Kazakhstan and more Kazakhstanis travel to Oman.
Sultan Haitham concluded by inviting Tokayev to visit Muscat in the near future.
The economic agenda extends beyond the leaders’ meeting. A Kazakhstan-Oman business forum in Astana has identified oil and gas, logistics, agriculture, chemicals, construction and infrastructure among the priority areas for cooperation.
We previously reported on Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said’s arrival in Kazakhstan and the economic agenda surrounding his historic state visit. Investment, transport corridors and access to Omani ports were already emerging as areas of interest.
The latest talks have now added a concrete oil agreement and plans for stronger transport links. For the first visit by an Omani Sultan to Kazakhstan, that may prove more significant than the ceremonial milestone itself: Astana and Muscat are beginning to attach specific projects to a relationship built over more than three decades.
