Oman Launches Oxford Street Real Estate Pop-Up Ahead of Sultan Haitham's Historic UK State Visit

While living in the UK, former Omani footballer Ali Al Habsi celebrated Oman’s national day by handing out sweets on the main high street in Reading and speaking to residents about his country’s late Sultan Al Qaboos. Today, the former English Premier League player has fond memories of his 14 years in Manchester and Reading, recalling his best spell with Wigan Athletic where he became first-choice goalkeeper and earned a reputation for reliable shot-stopping and penalty saves. He told The National that the UK's deep historical connections to Oman, and the pluralism found in British cities, are what made him feel at home.

“This historical relationship between Oman and the UK helped me a lot to adapt and to coexist,” Ali Al Habsi said at the launch of an Omani pop-up promoting real estate and life in the country. “I consider the UK to be one of the most favourable places in the world for coexisting quickly thanks to the cultures and religions present here, and their approach to dealing with these things.”

This relationship is set to be marked by a state visit from Sultan Haitham in October. He will again meet King Charles III and Queen Camilla, following a private visit to the UK last year. However, this will be the first Omani state visit to Britain since Sultan Al Qaboos visited Queen Elizabeth II in 1982.

Oman has long maintained close defence and security links with Britain, while also retaining diplomatic channels with countries on opposing sides of Middle East conflicts. The UK government notes that the bilateral relationship covers trade, education, culture, defence, and diplomacy. Britain has also invested in military infrastructure at Oman’s Duqm port, supporting Royal Navy operations in the Gulf and wider Indian Ocean. During his visit to London earlier this year, Sultan Haitham met Keir Starmer, prime minister at the time, and the two countries agreed to deepen co-operation in defence, energy, and technology.

The Omani embassy in London is gearing up for the royal event with a season promoting life in Oman and real estate. Their flagship project is the opening of the Future Store pop-up on Oxford Street, showcasing real estate projects in Oman. Omani Minister for Housing and Urban Planning, Dr Khalfan Al Shueili, travelled to London to mark the exhibition’s opening. He told The National that the upcoming state visit is a “big opportunity for moving forward” the UK and Oman’s relationship.

“It not only embodies the strong relationship over a long era in the past, but is also a big opportunity for moving forward in the future and to bring people closer together,” Dr Khalfan Al Shueili said. He added that the exhibition—the first of its kind sponsored by the Omani government in Europe—aims to give people confidence in investing in Oman despite regional risks. Among the major projects featured is Sultan Haitham City, a smart city development west of Muscat, alongside residential developments at the Duqm port and special economic zone.

Sir Alan Duncan, a former Conservative minister for international development, noted that the upcoming visit represents “continuity” in Omani relations with the UK, building upon the strong friendship previously shared between HM Elizabeth and Sultan Al Qaboos.