AGP Executive Report

Oman Sports & Inclusion: Oman’s national deaf futsal team is gearing up for its first-ever Asian Deaf Futsal Championship in Bishkek (June 26–July 5), after strong Gulf and world-level showings. Oman Motorsport: Al Faisal al Zubair has launched his 2026 international GT3 programme, unveiling a Ferrari 296 GT3 and setting a six-round campaign starting this weekend at Misano. Oman Business & Logistics: Asyad Group has closed a deal to buy a controlling stake in Uzbekistan logistics platforms, aiming to link Oman’s ports to Central Asia’s trade corridors. Oman Arts & Culture (Regional): Saudi action thriller “7 Dogs,” starring Monica Bellucci, opened strongly across the Middle East, including ticket sales in Oman. International Sports: Nepal posted 275/7 vs Malaysia in an Asia Cup qualifier, powered by Kushal Bhurtel’s 126 off 54. Press Freedom: Ghana’s Journalists Association will honour press freedom and media development ahead of World Press Freedom Day (June 6).

Oman Sports & Events: Oman’s national deaf futsal team is gearing up for its first-ever Asian Deaf Futsal Championship in Bishkek (June 26–July 5), with training in full swing and two friendlies already played. Motorsport: Omani racer Al Faisal al Zubair has officially launched his 2026 international GT3 programme, unveiling his Ferrari 296 GT3 and setting a six-round plan starting this weekend at Misano. Aquatics: Oman’s Abdulmonem bin Khamis al Alawi has been named head referee for the men’s 5km race at the Asian Open Water Swimming Championships in Bali (June 13–15). Tennis Community: The Indian Social Club (ISC) Oman wrapped up its Annual Tennis League in an Americano doubles format, with Suhail Khan, KK Girish and Shanawaz KK crowned joint champions. Arts & Culture: MoCSY is set to launch “The Splendour of Oman” on June 8, showcasing Omani women’s fashion through a creative mix of art workshops, photography, digital design and installations. Regional Arts/Entertainment: Saudi action thriller “7 Dogs,” starring Monica Bellucci, has logged a strong Arabic box office opening across the Middle East and drew ticket sales including in Oman.

Deaf Sports Breakthrough: Oman’s national deaf futsal team is gearing up for its first-ever Asian Deaf Futsal Championship in Bishkek (June 26–July 5), after strong recent Gulf and U20 World Championship showings. Tourism & Hospitality Investment: Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed two usufruct deals—RO12mn+ total—to build a four-star resort in Al Hamra and a five-star hotel in Mirbat, aiming to boost jobs and room supply. Creative Arts & Fashion: MoCSY will launch “The Splendour of Oman” on June 8, showcasing Omani women’s fashion through artworks created in three workshops spanning fine art, photography, digital design and installation. Motorsport Spotlight: Omani GT driver Al Faisal Al Zubair unveiled his 2026 Ferrari 296 GT3 season program with events lined up at Misano, Paul Ricard and Monza. Green Mobility Push: Oman’s EV count has reached about 5,800, with a target of 8,000 by year-end as the country ramps up its clean-energy transition. Sports Calendar (Esports): Oman’s national esports team will compete in the Asian Games Esports Qualifiers for League of Legends in Kuala Lumpur (June 12–14).

Tourism & Heritage: Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism signed two new usufruct deals for hospitality projects—an Al Hamra four-star resort and a Mirbat five-star hotel—pushing investment beyond RO12mn and aiming to boost rooms, jobs, and governorate-level tourism. Arts & Fashion: A new creative exhibition, “The Splendour of Oman,” opens June 8 at the Omani Society, spotlighting Omani women’s fashion through workshops that feed visual art, photography, digital design, and installation work. Sports (Oman on the move): Oman’s national esports team will compete in the Asian Games Esports Qualifiers for League of Legends in Kuala Lumpur (June 12–14). Motorsport Spotlight: Omani racing driver Al Faisal Al Zubair unveiled his 2026 Ferrari 296 GT3 season programme, with early action at Misano and later stops including Paul Ricard and Monza. EV Push: Oman’s EV count is about 5,800, with a target of 8,000 by year-end. Regional Arts/Entertainment: Exhibitionto highlights Omani women’s fashion arts, while streaming buzz notes Brad Pitt’s F1 staying strong on Apple TV.

Omani Fashion Spotlight: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth will launch “The Splendour of Oman” on June 8 at the Omani Society HQ, turning traditional women’s attire into a multi-media art exhibition after three workshops bringing together visual artists, photographers, digital designers and students. Bollywood Nostalgia in Muscat: “Tribute to Legends – Sadak” lands at Sheraton Oman on June 5, with a six-hour concert celebrating Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi. Media Growth at Home: Oman’s Ministry of Information reports strong digital momentum in 2025, with major gains in video and audio plays on the “Ayn” platform and expanding children’s content. Healthy Cities Check: WHO visited Barka to review progress toward international healthy city accreditation, including community partnerships and accreditation files. Trade Boost: India–Oman CEPA takes effect, bringing duty-free access for most Indian exports and quota-based concessions for items like dates. Sports & Talent: Oman’s table tennis officials selected for the ITTF World Masters in South Korea, while Oman clubs gear up for upcoming external competitions.

Bollywood Nostalgia in Muscat: “Tribute to Legends – Sadak” brings Hindi cinema’s golden-era hits to the Sheraton Oman Hotel on June 5, with a six-hour lineup running late into the night. Oman Media Growth: The Ministry of Information reports big gains on the “Ayn” platform in 2025, with total video/audio plays up to 18.7m and a strong children’s interface audience. Dhofar Tourism Boost: Kuwaiti arrivals to Oman rose 17.2% (2024–2025), with Dhofar’s khareef season driving visitor growth and capacity now topping one million in peak months. CEPA Trade Deal: India-Oman CEPA takes effect June 1, granting duty-free access for most exports and aiming to ease shipping pressures amid Gulf disruption. Sports Spotlight: Ahmad al Harthy and Oman Racing by Century Motorsport land a podium at Monza in GT World Challenge Europe. Public Health & Governance: WHO reviews Barka’s Healthy City progress, while a Shura Council briefing highlights its legislative and oversight role.

Bollywood Nostalgia in Muscat: “Tribute to Legends – Sadak” brings classic Hindi hits to the Sheraton Oman Hotel on June 5, with a six-hour concert featuring Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi favourites. Tourism & Hospitality Push: Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism signed usufruct deals for a 4-star resort in Al Hamra and a 5-star hotel in Mirbat, with investment above RO 12m (about $31m). Healthy Cities Spotlight: A WHO team visited Barka to review progress on the Barka Healthy City initiatives and accreditation files. Culture Meets Community: Oman’s Shura Council hosted a delegation from the 39th Command and Staff College course, highlighting the Council’s legislative and oversight role and its partnership-building work. Sports on the Move: Oman’s Ahmad al Harthy and Oman Racing by Century Motorsport scored a Monza podium in GT World Challenge Europe; meanwhile, Omani clubs are gearing up for external AFC competitions and an Omani umpire has been named for the ITTF World Masters. Trade That Could Boost Local Makers: India-Oman CEPA took effect June 1, offering Indian exporters immediate duty-free access on 98% of Oman’s tariff lines—good news for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, leather, handicrafts and agri-exports.

Tourism & Hospitality Investment: Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism has signed two usufruct deals for a 4-star resort in Al Hamra and a 5-star hotel in Mirbat, with investment above RO 12 million (about $31m), aiming to boost jobs and expand room supply. Trade & Economy: India-Oman CEPA takes effect today, bringing zero-duty access for a wide range of Indian labour-intensive exports and expanding services and professional mobility. Arts & Education: Al Batinah North students are turning visual arts into enterprise through a “Creative Industries in Visual Arts” project, while Muscat’s Stall Art Gallery hosts “In the Presence of Absence,” a group exhibition exploring memory and belonging until June 10. Sports Spotlight: Oman beach handball gears up for the IHF World Championship in Croatia (June 23–28), starting against Croatia in Group D. Culture & Community: Manah’s Oman Across the Ages Museum marks Eid Al-Adha with “Joy of Generations,” featuring folk performances, workshops, and storytelling.

Oman Creative Education: Al Batinah North students turned visual arts into enterprise through a year-long “Creative Industries in Visual Arts” project, training young artists to market their own products and build future careers. Gallery & Contemporary Art: Stall Art Gallery in Qurum hosts “In the Presence of Absence,” a five-artist exhibition exploring memory, belonging and what remains after departure, running until June 10. Tourism Investment: Oman’s Ministry of Heritage and Tourism signed usufruct contracts for a 4-star resort in Al Hamra (Al Dakhiliyah) and a 5-star hotel in Mirbat (Dhofar), with investment above OMR12 million. Mountaineering Inspiration: Nadira Al Harthy shared her emotional climb from Oman’s mountains to Mount Everest at Nepal’s Sagarmatha Day ceremony. Eid Family Culture: Oman Across Ages Museum’s “Joy of Generations” brought folk performances, face painting, children’s workshops and storytelling to Eid Al-Adha visitors. Trade & Mobility: India-Oman CEPA duty concessions kick in from June 1, expanding services and professional mobility alongside zero-duty access for major Omani exports.

Maritime Safety Alert: Oman’s Maritime Security Centre warned of a suspected floating mine west of the Inshore Traffic Zone in the Strait of Hormuz, urging seafarers to keep well clear and report any suspicious objects. Diplomacy vs. Tensions: As US-Iran ceasefire talks continue, Iran says no final agreement is in place yet and insists its focus is ending the war, while also stressing that future Hormuz management concerns only Iran and Oman. Strait Stakes: The US also reported disabling another merchant vessel attempting to breach its blockade, underscoring how Hormuz disruptions keep rattling global trade. Eid Culture in Oman: In Manah, the Oman Across Ages Museum marked Eid Al Adha with “Joy of Generations,” featuring folk performances, kids’ art activities, and interactive storytelling for families. Entertainment Buzz: The viral action sequence from the Arabic film “7 Dogs” (with Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt cameos) is drawing attention across the Gulf, including Oman.

Middle East Diplomacy: Iran’s Foreign Ministry says no final agreement has been reached with the US, even as Washington weighs a possible 60-day ceasefire extension and talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz; Iran’s Esmaeil Baghaei says negotiations focus on ending the war and rejects “must” language, while the White House says Trump will only back a deal that meets his “red lines,” including preventing nuclear weapons and securing Hormuz shipping. Oman-Hormuz Link: Iran’s top diplomat Abbas Araghchi tells Oman that Hormuz management should follow international law and sovereign responsibilities, amid reports of disputes over tolls and who controls navigation. Arts & Culture (Oman): Oman’s Al Seeb Eid festival is set to run with heritage shows and family activities, and the National Museum opens “One to a Million: Italian Design Stories,” adding to Muscat’s cultural calendar. Sports & Entertainment: Cricket fans get a headline—Shubman Gill becomes the first IPL captain to score a hundred in a playoff as Gujarat Titans reach the final.

Oman–Hormuz diplomacy: Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi says he held a “very productive” call with Oman’s Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi on the Strait of Hormuz’s legal management, stressing international law and safe navigation. US–Iran deal drama: US President Donald Trump says he’s meeting in the Situation Room to make a “final determination” on a possible ceasefire-and-talks framework, including reopening Hormuz and mine removal—while Iran insists there is still “no final agreement” and rejects US “language of must.” Tolls and sovereignty row: Iran signals it may charge fees for Hormuz navigation/security, while Oman tells US Treasury chief Scott Bessent it has “no plans” to facilitate any tolls. Ceasefire under pressure: Despite reports of a tentative 60-day truce extension, both sides trade accusations of violations, with drone interceptions and strikes reported around the Gulf. Local arts & culture: Dhofar’s wild side gets a spotlight through a young wildlife photographer’s patient storytelling, capturing rare moments in the region.

Eid in Al Seeb: Oman’s Al Seeb kicked off a three-day Eid Al-Adha festival with heritage music, folk performances, poetry recitals, kids’ cultural competitions, and horseback activities, plus a consumer exhibition for local SMEs and street vendors. Oman in the Iran-Hormuz spotlight: Iran’s foreign ministry condemned US threats against Oman, calling any sanctions “unlawful,” while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Oman against any role in a Strait of Hormuz tolling system. Ceasefire under strain: US and Iran reportedly edged toward a 60-day ceasefire extension, but conflicting claims and fresh strikes kept the truce fragile, with drone shootdowns near Bandar Abbas and renewed accusations of violations. Culture & design in Muscat: The National Museum opened “One to a Million: Italian Design Stories,” spotlighting modern Italian industrial design through objects and immersive displays. Sports preview: Qatar’s 2026 World Cup group guide highlighted Group B fixtures and preparations after disruption from the wider regional conflict.

Eid in Al Seeb: Oman’s Wilayat of Al Seeb kicked off a three-day Eid Al-Adha festival with heritage music, folk performances, poetry recitals, children’s cultural competitions, and horseback riding and horsemanship lessons, plus a consumer exhibition featuring local SMEs and street vendors. Omani arts on show: The National Museum in Muscat opened “One to a Million: Italian Design Stories,” spotlighting modern Italian industrial design through objects, illustrations, and immersive displays. Heritage spotlight: A feature on Al Zīnah explores the Omani and Arabian tradition of adorning horses with silver, linking it to dignity and craftsmanship. Regional diplomacy and tension: Iran condemned US strikes near Bandar Abbas and warned of “necessary measures,” while reports say the US and Iran reached an outline 60-day ceasefire extension pending Trump’s approval—amid fresh drone and missile exchanges that also drew sharp threats involving Oman. Wellness sport: India unveiled the first-ever World Yogasana Championship 2026 (June 4–8, Ahmedabad), with Oman listed among participating nations.

Eid Fashion Spotlight: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Arsenal-themed Eid Al Adha outfit went viral, sparking debate over whether it’s a kurta, thobe, or kandura as he celebrated with a diverse Muslim community in the Bronx. Hormuz Tensions, Oman in the Crosshairs: US President Donald Trump dismissed an Iranian state-TV report of a draft deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and warned Oman to “behave,” saying the strait will be open to everyone and threatening severe consequences if it isn’t. Fresh Strikes and Retaliation: The US carried out new strikes near Bandar Abbas, shooting down four Iranian drones and hitting a ground control station; Iran’s IRGC responded by targeting a US airbase, while Kuwait said its air defences were intercepting missile and drone threats. Markets React: Oil prices swung sharply on renewed attacks and shifting deal hopes, with traders watching whether a fragile ceasefire can hold. Iran’s Connectivity Returns: After 88 days of near-total blackout, parts of Iran’s internet reportedly resumed, bringing a flood of posts—some hopeful, others furious.

Gulf Arts & Culture, but with a regional backdrop: Oman’s name is again tied to Strait of Hormuz talks as US President Donald Trump warned the country to “behave” or face possible action, while the White House rejected an Iranian state-TV report describing a draft US-Iran MoU. Diplomacy & Trade Routes: Iran’s state media claims a framework would restore commercial Hormuz shipping to pre-war levels within a month, lift the US naval blockade, and have Iran manage traffic in cooperation with Oman (military vessels excluded), with any final deal potentially approved via a UN Security Council resolution within 60 days. US-Iran Tension: Trump said the US is “not satisfied,” Iran is “negotiating on fumes,” and there’s no sanctions relief—while Washington called the Iranian report a “complete fabrication.” Markets: Oil prices slid sharply on the reported prospect of Hormuz reopening, even as details remain disputed.