Thursday 24 / September / 2026
New York: The Sultanate of Oman participated in a number of events and meetings at the United Nations headquarters in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
The Sultanate of Oman participated in the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The Sultanate of Oman was represented at the meeting by Talal Sulaiman Al Rahbi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the United States of America.
The meeting discussed pathways of cooperation and partnership between GCC and ASEAN countries, reviewing ways to expand cooperation in areas of common interest, particularly trade, investment, sustainable development, and enhancing economic ties between the two regions.
The Sultanate of Oman also participated in the high-level meeting commemorating the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development, held at the UN headquarters in New York, in conjunction with the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The meeting discussed the journey of the Declaration on the Right to Development since its adoption by the UN General Assembly in 1986, and ways to enhance its implementation amidst current global challenges, thereby contributing to consolidating comprehensive, sustainable, and equitable development, and promoting participation, equal opportunities, and international cooperation.
The meeting also addressed the importance of promoting the right to development as a supportive framework for addressing contemporary and interconnected challenges, ensuring that communities and peoples benefit from development opportunities in a more inclusive and equitable manner.
The Sultanate of Oman's delegation at the meeting was represented by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Qutabi, Head of the International Organisations Department at the Foreign Ministry, and a number of officials.
Al Qutabi delivered a speech in which he emphasised that the human being represents the core and ultimate goal of the development process, reviewing the Sultanate of Oman's experience in developing the social protection system and its foundation on enhancing social justice, equal opportunities, and expanding the protection umbrella to include various segments of society, in line with the targets of Oman Vision 2040.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation and exchanging knowledge, expertise, and best practices to achieve the right to development, reaffirming the Sultanate of Oman's commitment to the principles of the Declaration on the Right to Development and its continued efforts to build a more stable, equitable, and inclusive society.
Furthermore, the Sultanate of Oman participated in the high-level event titled "Human Rights for All: From Commitment to Collective Action," held in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The Sultanate of Oman's delegation at the meeting was represented by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Al Qutabi, Head of the International Organisations Department at the Foreign Ministry, along with a number of officials, with the participation of high-level representatives from countries and international organizations.
The event was co-hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mexico, and the Netherlands, and discussed ways to enhance collective action and international cooperation in the field of human rights, translating international commitments into effective actions and practices that contribute to safeguarding human rights for all.
The discussions also addressed the importance of strengthening multilateral action and coordination between countries and international institutions, and supporting joint efforts aimed at consolidating human rights principles and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), thereby contributing to building safer, more stable, and prosperous societies.
The Sultanate of Oman also participated in the ministerial meeting titled "Reinforcing Cooperation to Achieve a Safe and Stable Maritime Domain," held at the UN headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The Sultanate of Oman was represented at the meeting by Dr. Adnan Hamad Al Azri, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations for Maritime Affairs.
The meeting was organized with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Estonia, Japan, the Netherlands, and the Philippines, alongside the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The meeting discussed ways to enhance freedom and security at sea, safeguard freedom of navigation through vital maritime passages, and protect subsea infrastructure, alongside strengthening international cooperation, maritime domain awareness, and information exchange to address emerging challenges and risks.
The Sultanate of Oman participated as well in the high-level meeting on the Declaration on the Protection of Humanitarian Workers, held at the UN headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Oman was represented at the meeting by Khalid Saleh Al Rabkhi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations in New York.
The meeting discussed ways to enhance the protection of humanitarian workers, ensure their safety, and enable them to perform their duties in crisis and conflict zones, alongside strengthening respect for international humanitarian law and accountability, and supporting international efforts aimed at enhancing their protection. The meeting was held at the invitation of the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Sierra Leone, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In addition, the Sultanate of Oman participated in the high-level meeting on Climate Action and Just Transition, held at the UN headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, at the invitation of António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The Sultanate of Oman was represented at the meeting by Khalid Saleh Al Rabkhi, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations in New York, with the participation of a number of Heads of State and Government, senior officials, and representatives of international organizations, financial institutions, and the private sector.
The meeting addressed ways to strengthen joint international action to face climate change challenges, accelerate the implementation of climate commitments, and achieve a just and sustainable transition, alongside enhancing adaptation efforts and resilience while taking into account the national priorities and circumstances of countries to achieve a balance between development requirements and climate action. Participants also discussed ways to enhance multilateral cooperation, mobilise necessary efforts and resources to support climate action, and expand international partnerships to contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building a more sustainable future for coming generations.
