MOSCOW, Russia / EuroWire.IO / – In the first seven months of 2026, trade between Russia and Oman experienced a remarkable increase of 22 times to reach $1.5 billion, as stated by Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of Russia’s Security Council. Shoigu noted this figure is the highest in the past decade and made his comments on October 20 during a meeting in Moscow with Idris Al-Kindi, Secretary General of Oman’s National Security Council. The two nations had previously aimed for a trade volume of $1 billion by 2027.
According to Shoigu, both parties have ample opportunities to capitalize on this positive trend and establish new trade milestones. He emphasized that Moscow intends to strengthen cooperation with Muscat in mutually beneficial areas and to implement the agreements signed by their leaders. The Security Council’s press service described the discussions as interagency consultations, with the previous round taking place in Muscat in November 2025.
A plan to enhance bilateral security collaboration from 2026 to 2028 was anticipated to be signed during the Moscow talks, as reported by TASS. The security councils’ offices drafted this document following the Muscat discussions. Shoigu also revealed Russia and Oman intend to establish military attaché offices at their embassies in Muscat and Moscow soon, though no specific date was provided for the openings.
Trade Extends Beyond Oil and Gas
Trade growth started earlier in the decade, with bilateral exchanges increasing by 62.3% from 2020 to 2024, according to Russia’s Pivot to Asia, a business publication that covered Shoigu’s comments. The scope of trade now includes agriculture, metals, petrochemicals, machinery, IT services, maritime logistics, and food commodities. Russian investments in Omani energy, logistics, and food security initiatives have contributed to this expansion, complementing the broader rise in Russia’s non-resource exports this year.
The publication also noted that Russia began shipping refrigerated meat to Oman in 2025, with Oman’s domestic poultry consumption expected to reach 102,000 tonnes in 2026. Russian meat and poultry producers are planning to increase their market share. Additionally, Oman is working toward greater food independence under its Oman Vision 2040 development plan. Institutions like the Joint Economic Commission and the Oman-Russia Business Council actively promote commercial ties.
Oman as a Strategic Southern Hub
Russia considers Oman a potential southern gateway for the International North-South Transport Corridor, which connects Russia with Iran, Central Asia, India, and markets in the Gulf and East Africa. Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin has previously highlighted Oman’s strategic location for port development, stating that connections between Russian and Omani ports hold significant promise for the North-South route. This corridor also figures prominently in Russia’s trade plans with India.
Tourism is another area of growing cooperation, with Russian visitors to Oman increasing by 87% in 2025 to an estimated 80,000 tourists, according to the publication. Both nations maintain a mutual visa-free agreement, and a rising number of Russian companies are establishing subsidiaries in Oman, attracted by the country’s special economic zones and key ports such as Salalah, Duqm, Sohar, and Muscat.