The Middle East process of Arab and Muslim countries normalizing with Israel – under which Israel has instated diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco – continues, with additional countries expanding existing ties with Israel.
But some people are hoping that business can come even before the establishment of official ties. Two Arabic-speaking Israelis – co-founder and CEO Andrey Kogan and co-founder and COO Elad Amar – have launched the Israeli Omani Friendship Society, the goal of which is to foster bilateral economic and cultural relations between Oman and Israel.
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According to Amar and Kogan, Oman's economy is based on oil and natural gas, which comprise 90% of its exports. However, they say that the country is deeply invested in agricultural development and wants to develop the high-tech capabilities of its some 5 million residents.
In the Omani capital of Muscat, officials are promoting R&D centers to reduce the country's dependence on oil and gas.
In terms of higher education, Oman has undergone dramatic change under the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who died nearly a year ago, and his successor, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.
In terms of economics, Haitham's top priority is to turn Oman into a logistics center for the Persian Gulf, maximizing its proximity to the Indian Ocean, Arab states, Africa, India, and Iran. This means that the Omani government is encouraging foreign investment, including taking steps to reduce local ownership of Omani companies. It has also waived visas for citizens of 103 nations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Muscat in 2018, and it appears that Oman has accepted the fact that Israel is here to stay. Oman is keen to acquire Israeli water technology and willing to do business, if unofficially.
The new friendship association seeks to show off Oman to Israelis, and vice versa. It also provides financial consultation and facilitates connections between Israeli and Omani businesses. The association is active on a number of platforms, including LinkedIn, where it is attracting a growing Omani following.
According to Kogan, "At this stage, there still aren't official [diplomatic] relations, but the attitude toward Israel is positive and they want contact. The moment there is full normalization, we can expect warm ties."
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