From Dhows to Diaspora: India and Oman Weave Heritage and Hope Together
- Joydeep Chakraborty
- Dec 21, 2025
- 5 min read
From ancient maritime trade routes to modern strategic corridors, India and Oman have navigated centuries of partnership—culminating in a historic visit by Prime Minister Modi that promises a new era of cooperation. His December 2025 tour, spanning Jordan, Ethiopia, and finally Oman, underscored a decisive phase in bilateral engagement—mixing diplomacy, business, and the heartbeat of people-to-people connections. Seven years had passed since Modi’s last visit, and Muscat was ready to welcome a new chapter in India-Oman relations.
Tracing the Tides of History
To truly appreciate the depth of modern India-Oman diplomacy, one must trace its origins back to centuries of spice-laden ships and trading caravans linking Muscat and Mandvi. Omani dhows, with their distinctive triangular sails, once carried Indian merchants across the Arabian Sea. These merchants often lived for months in Omani ports, marrying into local families, laying the foundation for the deep people-to-people ties we celebrate today.
Formal diplomatic ties were established in 1955, making Oman one of the first Gulf nations to recognize India. Sultan Qaboos, who modernized Oman from 1970 onward, personally supported the Indian community, encouraging schools and cultural centers. Many Indian families still recount how they would attend Diwali celebrations in Muscat, creating memories that persist in diaspora stories. These personal gestures remind us that diplomacy is not just about treaties—it is about hearts and traditions intertwined over centuries.
By the time Modi arrived, India-Oman relations were firmly anchored in history, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the future. The visit was not merely ceremonial; it was a reaffirmation of enduring friendship and strategic foresight.
CEPA: A Leap Toward Prosperity
The India–Oman Business Forum stood at the center of Modi’s Muscat visit, signaling a bold economic vision. Prime Minister Modi positioned India’s rapid growth—projected to become the world’s third-largest economy—as a unique opportunity for Oman. Structural reforms like the Goods and Services Tax, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, corporate tax rationalization, and labor law consolidation have transformed India into a unified, transparent, investor-friendly market.
The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is more than a trade pact; it is a blueprint for 21st-century cooperation. By reducing trade barriers and fostering investment, CEPA promises to unlock opportunities across key sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure, digital services, and renewable energy. Initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive schemes and the global “Make in India” campaign further enhance industrial growth.
Energy cooperation emerged as a central pillar. PM Modi highlighted plans for five major green energy projects over five years, focusing on green hydrogen, green ammonia, solar parks, energy storage, and smart grids. Food security and agri-tech innovation were also on the agenda, with proposals for an India-Oman Agri Innovation Hub and an Oman-India Innovation Bridge, aiming to connect 200 startups through joint incubators, fintech sandboxes, AI and cybersecurity labs, and cross-border venture funding. This isn’t just policy—it’s a vision combining centuries of trust with forward-looking economic strategy.
Strategic Synergy with Sultan Haitham
Modi’s bilateral talks with His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq reflected the multifaceted nature of India-Oman relations. Beyond ceremonial welcomes at the Royal Palace, discussions ranged across energy, agriculture, education, food security, manufacturing, digital technologies, critical minerals, logistics, human capital, financial services, space, defense, and maritime security.
Both leaders welcomed the signing of CEPA as a landmark development, emphasizing its potential to enhance trade, investment, employment, and opportunities across both economies. Energy cooperation, particularly renewable energy ventures and green hydrogen projects, featured prominently. Oman’s participation in the International Solar Alliance and invitation to join initiatives like the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the Global Biofuel Alliance further strengthened alignment with India’s long-term vision.
Strategic discussions also considered synergy between Oman Vision 2040 and India’s 2037/2047 development goals, reflecting thoughtful foresight. And these talks are not just charts and projections—India’s access to Duqm Port isn’t merely strategic; it is deeply personal. Indian naval officers often recall their first joint exercises with Oman, where sailors greeted them with dates, coffee, and traditional songs—a small but meaningful reflection of centuries-old trust.
MoUs, Innovation, and the People Behind Policy
Agreements and memoranda of understanding may fill pages, but it is the students, entrepreneurs, and diaspora who breathe life into India-Oman cooperation. At the Maitri Parv, Modi engaged with the Indian community, emphasizing the role of the diaspora in sustaining bilateral ties. Education emerged as a pillar, with around 46,000 students enrolled in Indian schools in Oman, marking 50 years of Indian education in the country.
One elderly community member recounted arriving in Muscat as a teenager in the 1960s. Today, his grandchildren attend Indian schools supported by Sultan Haitham. It’s a story of continuity and shared heritage spanning decades. Modi encouraged students to leverage India’s advancements in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, space exploration, and innovation, with programs like the India-Oman Space Portal and ISRO student outreach providing practical avenues for collaboration.
Startups, incubators, AI labs, and fintech sandboxes are not just buzzwords—they are bridges connecting young innovators, ensuring that trade agreements translate into real-world opportunity. It’s a vivid example of policy meeting people: agreements create the framework, but the students and diaspora make it live.
Maritime Heritage and Strategic Horizons
The India-Oman partnership is deeply maritime in nature. New MoUs support collaboration in maritime museums, including India’s National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal, as well as joint exhibitions, artifact exchanges, and research initiatives. These efforts honor centuries of maritime trade while providing a modern framework for regional cooperation.
Strategically, Oman’s location at the Strait of Hormuz makes it pivotal for India’s maritime security and energy supply. Access to Duqm Port enhances India’s naval presence in the western Indian Ocean. Economically, Oman exports crude oil, LNG, and fertilizers to India, while importing food, machinery, and textiles. Beyond numbers, the 700,000-strong Indian expatriate community strengthens cultural and economic bonds, reinforcing the unique human dimension of this partnership.
Recognition, Friendship, and Forward Momentum
In recognition of his contributions to India-Oman relations, Sultan Haitham conferred the Order of Oman (First Class) on Prime Minister Modi, who dedicated the honour to enduring friendship between the peoples of India and Oman. Such gestures underscore that diplomacy is as much about shared history and cultural ties as it is about agreements.
MoUs and agreements spanned key areas: agriculture, higher education, millet cultivation, agri-food innovation, and regional maritime cooperation. Together, they form a comprehensive blueprint for economic, technological, and strategic partnership.
Key Outcomes of Modi’s Visit At A Glance:
Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA):
Strengthens economic and commercial integration.
Reduces trade barriers and establishes a stable framework for bilateral trade.
Unlocks opportunities in key sectors, promotes employment, and boosts investment flows.
MoU on Maritime Heritage and Museums:
Supports maritime museums including India’s National Maritime Heritage Complex in Lothal.
Facilitates artefact exchange, joint exhibitions, research, and capacity building.
MoU on Agriculture and Allied Sectors:
Provides a framework for collaboration in agriculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries.
Promotes advancements in agricultural science, horticulture, integrated farming, and micro-irrigation.
MoU in Higher Education:
Encourages faculty and researcher exchange and joint applied research.
Supports knowledge generation and innovation for socio-economic development.
Executive Programme for Millet Cultivation and Agri-Food Innovation:
Leverages India’s scientific expertise and Oman’s agro-climatic advantages.
Advances millet production, research, and promotion.
Joint Vision Document on Maritime Cooperation:
Strengthens collaboration in regional maritime security, blue economy, and sustainable ocean resource use.
A Future Rooted in Trust
With agreements inked, energy projects planned, and students and diaspora at the heart, the India-Oman partnership proves that diplomacy thrives where people and policy walk hand in hand. Centuries of trust, decades of diplomacy, and now a new era of collaboration—India and Oman are poised not just to grow, but to lead together.
From spice routes to solar parks, the India-Oman journey is a testament to the power of history, strategy, and human connection. In a world where geopolitics often feels abstract, this partnership reminds us that lasting impact comes when trust, vision, and people converge.
Agreements may guide policy, but it is the shared stories, the students, and the diasporic community that keep the India-Oman ship sailing strong into the 21st century.
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