A banquet was hosted at the Guildhall, the official residence of the Lady Mayor of the City of London in the British capital, London, in honour of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, as part of His Majesty’s state visit to the United Kingdom.

Upon the arrival of the royal motorcade, His Majesty was received by Dame Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London, her husband Gary Langley, His Royal Highness Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and various officials. They welcomed His Majesty and expressed their great pleasure and honour at his visit.

The Lady Mayor then presented senior City of London officials to His Majesty. His Majesty proceeded to the ceremonial dais, where the guard of honour gave the Royal Salute and the national anthem of the Sultanate of Oman was played.

His Majesty then inspected the guard of honour, which had assembled to salute him. A commemorative photograph was taken on the dais to mark the occasion.

His Majesty then proceeded to the Art Gallery accompanied by the Lady Mayor, members of the British Royal Family and His Majesty’s accompanying official delegation.

A reception was held to mark the occasion, during which High Commissioners and Ambassadors accredited to London greeted His Majesty.

His Majesty also signed the distinguished visitors’ book.

At the beginning of the dinner, the Recorder of London delivered an address welcoming His Majesty and expressing pride in the occasion of his visit.

After the dinner, Dame Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London, delivered delivered the following address:

“On behalf of the entire City of London Corporation, it gives me enormous pleasure to welcome Your Majesty, members of the Royal Family of Oman and the accompanying delegation to the City of London this evening.

“It is our great pleasure to present Your Majesty with an Address of Welcome, contained within this casket, in the hope that you will accept it as a sincere expression of the deep and enduring friendship between our two countries.

“The Guildhall, where we gather this evening, has stood at the heart of the City of London for more than 600 years. Within these ancient stone walls, history has been made, friendships have been strengthened and occasions of the greatest significance have been celebrated.

“Among those occasions was the banquet held here in honour of the late Sultan Qaboos. It is therefore an exceptional privilege to add a new chapter to that distinguished history this evening.

“At first glance, the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Oman may appear to occupy two entirely different worlds. One is a land of green meadows, ancient forests and mist-covered mountains. The other is a land of vast golden deserts, rugged cliffs and breathtaking coastlines.

“Yet when we look beyond geography, something extraordinary emerges: two nations separated by distance but united by a history and friendship that have endured for centuries. Both countries look outwards towards the world.

“We recognise that freedom of maritime navigation, the security of trade routes and global stability are the fundamental pillars on which prosperity and peace are built.

“But our ties extend much further. Through education, culture and science, and through friendships formed between our peoples, we have built something far stronger than any agreement. It is, quite simply, the trust that unites our two countries.

“Ultimately, great friendships are sustained not by treaties alone but by people, shared experiences and the understanding that far more unites us than divides us.

“Our diplomatic relations date back to 1646. Lord Nelson himself visited Muscat while serving as a naval officer, and the name of his ship, HMS Seahorse, remained visible on the hills surrounding the Port of Muscat for many years.

“It is therefore entirely fitting that we gather here this evening on Trafalgar Day, beneath a memorial commemorating it. It serves as a powerful reminder of the deep-rooted ties between our friendly peoples.

“Those ties, which have shaped our shared history, must also weave the future we are building together. Nations, like cities, never prosper by remaining unchanged. They prosper by adapting, innovating and having the courage to look towards the future.

“This is demonstrated by the historic free trade agreement concluded this year between the United Kingdom and the Gulf states, which opens the door to new markets and partnerships.

“The significant presence of British and Omani companies is itself evidence of the strength of our economic relationship. The United Kingdom accounts for more than half of foreign direct investment in Oman, yet the opportunities before us are greater still.

“The UK Oman Sovereign Investment Partnership is helping to channel investment in both directions.

“I am particularly pleased that the Oman Investment Authority has recognised the enormous potential of British innovation. Through Cambridge Innovation Capital and Oxford Science Enterprises, it has invested in university spin-out companies working in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics.

“This is about turning ideas into industries, research into discoveries and the ambitions of one generation into opportunities for the next.

“Here in the City of London, Your Majesty, we stand ready to play our part by bringing together expertise and investment, connecting innovators with opportunities and ensuring shared prosperity and mutual benefit for our two countries.

“The importance of friendship is greater than ever. We are not simply a destination for doing business but a partner on whom you can rely.

“This friendship is not confined to governments and institutions. It is also strengthened by the thousands of Omanis who live, work and study here.

“These are people who enrich our communities and strengthen our institutions, and we are immensely proud to regard them as part of the City of London family.

“Your Majesty, more than two centuries ago, a treaty concluded between our countries expressed an extraordinary hope: ‘May the friendship between our two states endure for as long as the sun and moon continue in their courses.’

“These are beautiful words, written in another era by people who perhaps could never have imagined the scale of the changes that lay ahead.

“This evening, within the walls of this historic hall, we celebrate not only the past but also look forward to what the future holds.

“The greatest friendships are not those that never face adversity. They are those that remain steadfast in the face of challenges, grow stronger because of them and move forward into the future hand in hand.”

The Address of Welcome was then presented to His Majesty inside an ornate casket, which was given to him as a commemorative gift in accordance with City of London tradition.

The national anthem of the Sultanate of Oman was then played and His Majesty delivered the following address:

“We are pleased to express our sincere gratitude to the Lady Mayor for this gracious invitation. It reflects the esteem in which our country is held, the City of London’s openness to the wider world and its commitment to strengthening bridges of communication and trust among the nations of the world.

“Whenever we visit London, we are reminded of its unique ability to attract brilliant minds and innovators. As one of your predecessors once said, one might truly imagine that its streets were paved with gold.

“The City of London is not merely a political capital or a global financial centre. It is a vibrant hub where ideas meet and innovation flourishes across every field of human achievement, foremost among them trade and investment. It is where expertise, cultures and human aspirations converge.

“The true value of any city lies in the ideas it inspires, the strategies it shapes and the relationships it cultivates. Together, these leave an enduring impact on the world.

“Our meeting has provided a new opportunity to continue developing our shared vision for British Omani friendship, through both political consultation and cooperation between the private sectors of our two countries.

“We see trade and investment between our countries moving in a prosperous direction, supported by tangible efforts to encourage investment and build strong partnerships in sustainability, financial services and technology.

“Markets prosper only in a stable environment. Businesses grow only under transparent and flexible legislation. Investment opportunities bear fruit only when founded on clear plans and projects with defined objectives and promising prospects.

“Based on these important considerations, Oman welcomes everyone who wishes to stand beside us on this journey.

“Looking back at the past, we recognise the great importance of the two historic treaties concluded in 1798 and 1800. They represented an important stage in relations between the Omani and British governments.

“Yet the roots of this relationship extend even further, to an agreement concluded as early as 1647, long before formal agreements were signed between the two governments.

“That early agreement was not only with the British Government but also with the merchants of the City of London, represented by the British East India Company. It granted the company favourable trading privileges and access to Omani ports. This would not be the last occasion on which the private sector took the initiative.

“These historic agreements reflect a deeper connection rooted in our shared heritage as seafarers and traders. This legacy has brought lasting benefits to the peoples of Oman and Britain and continues to do so.

“Flourishing trade and the strength of private enterprise bear witness to the enduring value of this relationship.

“Building on this long-standing relationship, the free trade agreement between the United Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council states will open broad prospects for trade and investment.

“Trade in goods is expected to increase, creating further opportunities for economic growth in the years ahead.

“From the first treaty concluded by the East India Company and Omani investment in London’s property sector to British consultancy in smart cities and economic zones, our forebears worked together long ago to combine enterprise, expertise and ambition.

“As we meet you here, we have no doubt that our cooperation will continue to prosper for many generations to come.”

The banquet ceremony concluded with an address of thanks by Dame Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London. She expressed her deep gratitude for the honour of His Majesty’s visit to the City of London.

The banquet was attended by members of His Majesty’s accompanying official delegation, senior British officials and dignitaries and Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to London.