King of Spain hosts banquet in honour of His Majesty

In honour of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, King Felipe VI of the Kingdom of Spain and Queen Letizia hosted an official dinner in tribute to His Majesty at the Royal Palace in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

Before the dinner, His Majesty the Sultan met with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and several distinguished guests. King Felipe and Queen Letizia also greeted members of His Majesty’s official delegation.

Following that, His Majesty the King of Spain delivered a speech in which he renewed his welcome to His Majesty the Sultan and his accompanying delegation on this historic visit. He expressed his hope that the visit would fulfil the shared aspirations of the two friendly countries in the service of their peoples’ interests.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik also delivered a speech on this occasion, the text of which reads:

“It gives us great pleasure to be in your esteemed country, the Kingdom of Spain, which has long served as a cultural and human bridge linking East and West, and as a centre of intellectual diversity and cultural enlightenment. As we visit Your Majesty, we feel the warmth of friendship between us and deeply appreciate the generosity and gracious hospitality extended to us—an expression of the noble character of the Spanish people and the deep historical ties between our two countries.”

The speech continued:

“Oman–Spain relations are not a product of the moment; they are founded on a long heritage of cultural exchange and mutual respect. Over the past decades, these ties have been strengthened through bilateral visits and constructive cooperation across various fields.

This visit represents an historic opportunity to celebrate the long-standing and cordial relations between our two countries. It also reaffirms our personal commitment and direct support for developing these relations, which have witnessed rapid growth in recent years in the economic, trade, and investment sectors.

Accompanying me on this visit are several ministers concerned with these areas, who are exploring further opportunities for cooperation between our two nations.”

“In the Sultanate of Oman, we believe that dialogue and openness to cultures and civilisations are the only path towards building a world founded on greater understanding, stability, and cooperation. Throughout its history, the Kingdom of Spain has been a shining example of such openness — a destination for scholars, artists, writers, and thinkers from all corners of the world. Your country has long been a beacon of knowledge and learning that has contributed greatly to shaping the features of human civilisation.

Our partnership is clearly reflected in the shared values, mutual understanding, and deep respect that unite us. We are pleased to express our appreciation for Spain’s role as a leading political power in Europe and in the global economy, as well as for its contribution to promoting peace and justice.”

“Looking to the future, and in light of our shared commitment to international principles, we hope to work together to address global challenges. We also reaffirm our keenness to open broader horizons for trade and investment cooperation, as well as for cultural and intellectual exchange, and to encourage dialogue between peoples — all of which will help build a more prosperous and tolerant future for generations to come.

We sincerely thank you for the warm welcome we have received, and we look forward to welcoming you to the Sultanate of Oman so that we may continue our constructive dialogue and further strengthen the bonds of cooperation between our two countries.”

“We extend our sincere wishes to the friendly Spanish people for continued progress and prosperity, and to our relations for ever greater strength and growth.”

Attending the dinner were members of His Majesty the Sultan’s official delegation, along with a number of senior civil and military officials from Spain.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.