Omanis have reflected on their close ties and friendship with the Emirates as President Sheikh Mohamed begins a two day visit to Muscat.
The two peoples benefit from trade, common language and shared customs.
And many Omanis and Emiratis, particularly along the shared border, have married over the years.
“We are one nation and neighbours," said Omani Mohammed Al Akhzemi in Muscat.
“Our relation with UAE is eternal. Welcome Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.”
Omani businesswoman Maisa Al Hooti highlighted the historical and economic ties between the two Gulf countries.
She told The National that the UAE was an “important, strategic partnership in trade and economy for Oman” and that Sheikh Mohamed's visit would “boost the joint work in developing different sectors”.
The UAE accounts for 8 per cent of Oman's annual exports.
Ms Al Hooti said: “There is a deep historical relationship between Oman and the UAE, reinforced by ties of blood and heritage. We share close cultural habits and even family relations.”
'Family affair'
The neighbouring countries share a long history, in which cultural and social relationships have resulted in similar customs.
Omanis and Emiratis living in border towns say cross-border marriages are not uncommon.
“I am married to an Emirati woman and we share three children.” Omani resident Mohammed Al Kaabi, 43, told The National. “But we are not the only couple to do so. Many others, especially in the towns near the borders of the two countries, do that all the time.”
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President Sheikh Mohamed accepts a letter from the Sultan of Oman delivered by Sayyid Fatik bin Fahr Al Said, special envoy of the sultan, at Al Shati Palace in Abu Dhabi on September 15, 2022. Photo: UAE Presidential Court -
Sheikh Mohamed with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in the Omani capital, Muscat. Photo: Sheikh Mohamed / Twitter -
Sheikh Mohamed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, at a meeting with Sultan Qaboos bin Said, Sultan of Oman, during an official visit to Oman on December 24, 2013. Photo: Crown Prince Court Abu Dhabi -
Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, left, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for Relations and International Co-operation Affairs and Personal Representative of the Sultan of Oman, left, offers condolences to Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region on the passing of former President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2022. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq in Abu Dhabi on May 14, 2022 to offer condolences to Sheikh Mohamed. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed and Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman at the Presidential Airport in Abu Dhabi on May 14, 2022. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq offers condolences to Sheikh Hamdan on the death of Sheikh Khalifa on May 14, 2022. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
A delegate accompanying the Sultan of Oman, not pictured, offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed on the death of his brother, Sheikh Khalifa, on May 14, 2022. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, UAE National Security Adviser, left, is received by Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman in Sohar, on March 24, 2022. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, greets Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi, Oman's Minister of Foreign Affairs, on December 4, 2021. Photo: Wam -
Sheikh Mohamed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, with Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, at Expo 2020 Dubai on November 21, 2021. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, right, offers condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman on the passing of Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed, at Al Alam Palace, Muscat, on January 12, 2020. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mansour offers condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at Al Alam Palace on January 12, 2020. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Tahnoon offers condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq on the passing of Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed, on January 12, 2020. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Maj Gen Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Deputy National Security Adviser, offers condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, on January 12, 2020. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and other dignitaries at Al Alam palace in Muscat after the passing of Sultan Qaboos, on January 12, 2020. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Tahnoon offers condolences to Sultan Haitham bin Tariq onJanuary 12, 2020. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed greets Dr Khaled Saeed Salem Al Jaradi, Oman's ambassador to the UAE, during an iftar reception at Qasr Al Watan on May 8, 2019. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sheikh Mohamed with Dr Khaled Saeed Salem Al Jaradi during an Eid Al Adha reception at Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi on August 21, 2018. Photo: Crown Prince Court Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohamed greets Khalid bin Hilal Al Busaidi, Minister of Diwan of the Royal Court of Oman, on the final day of the 2018 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs -
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, at the time Oman's Minister of Heritage and Culture, offers condolences to Sheikh Mohamed on the death of Sheikha Hessa bint Mohamed Al Nahyan, at Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi on January 20, 2018. Photo: Crown Prince Court Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohamed is met by Haitham bin Tariq Al Said upon arriving in Muscat for an official visit on December 24, 2013. Photo: Crown Prince Court Abu Dhabi -
President Sheikh Khalifa with Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman at Al Ain airport, on July 11, 2011. Photo: Wam
Mr Al Kaabi and his Emirati wife live in Al Buraimi, a town on the border with Abu Dhabi.
His wife’s family are from Al Ain.
“As we know that Oman and the UAE was one country before the British separated them in the Trucial Coast treaty in 1892, that separated families. So intermarriage is to keep up with the old family ties,” said Nasser Al Shaibany, a Muscat businessman married to an Emirati woman born in Dubai.
More than 424,000 Emiratis visited Oman in 2021, up from 392,000 the previous year, official statistics show. About 640,000 Omanis crossed the border or flew to the UAE last year, up by 33 per cent from 2020.
Omani merchant Ibrahim Al Beloosh spoke of the strong commercial bonds between the UAE and Oman.
“I have a shop in Souq Mattrah, where thousands of tourists come from UAE — Emiratis and UAE residents cross the borders and stop by to shop,” he said.
Oman and the UAE this year inaugurated a border crossing in Hatta to make travel by road between the two countries easier.
Omanis and Emiratis do not need passports when they travel to each other’s countries, only their national IDs.
