Sunday 12 / July / 2026
Muscat: The launch of Oman Air's direct flights between the Sultanate of Oman and the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, represents a strategic milestone that reflects the depth of the growing bilateral relations between the two countries and opens new avenues for cooperation across various domains, particularly in the fields of economy, tourism, investment and cultural exchange.
On the economic front, the direct air link is expected to facilitate the movement of business-people and investors, reduce travel time and associated costs, a step that would enhance opportunities for forging new commercial and investment partnerships. It also supports the growth of trade exchange between the two nations and enables Omani and Uzbek companies to access new markets, aligning with the Sultanate of Oman's strategic approach to diversify its economic partnerships in line with the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
In the tourism sector, the direct route serves as a vital bridge for boosting mutual tourist flows and revitalising the hospitality industry. The Sultanate of Oman boasts unique tourism assets combining nature, heritage and culture, while Uzbekistan is home to historic cities such as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, which rank among the most prominent destinations along the historic Silk Road.
Furthermore, this route carries significant importance in fostering cultural and human rapprochement by encouraging mutual visits and expanding cooperation in the fields of education, culture and research, thereby reinforcing mutual understanding between the two friendly peoples and laying the foundation for more deeply rooted and sustainable relations.
Sayyida Wafa Jabr Al Busaidi, Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the Republic of Uzbekistan, expressed her delight at the inauguration of Oman Air's direct flights to the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, operating twice weekly, and conveyed her aspiration to increase the frequency of flights in the coming period, given the positive indicators the route has demonstrated.
In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), she affirmed that the launch of the direct route is the fruit of the wise vision of the leadership of both countries and their forward-looking perspective on enhancing bilateral ties. She expressed her confidence that this route will contribute to revitalising trade exchange, strengthening humanitarian, cultural, and tourism cooperation, and supporting diplomatic relations and the exchange of delegations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Uzbekistan. She further voiced her optimism regarding the promising future of this route and the prospect of achieving further progress in bilateral relations.
The inauguration of this route forms part of a shared vision to strengthen air connectivity between Central Asia and the Gulf region, thereby supporting economic and regional integration and positioning the Sultanate of Oman as a key gateway to Gulf and Indian Ocean markets, while establishing Uzbekistan as a promising gateway to Central Asian markets.
Aziz Mirjalilov, Head of Marketing Policy Division at the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, stated that the two countries enjoy continuously developing friendly relations founded on mutual respect, growing economic cooperation, and increasing cultural exchange between their peoples. He explained that in recent years, tourism has emerged as one of the most promising areas of bilateral cooperation, supported by the facilitation of travel procedures and the growing interest among travelers from both nations.
He noted that since June 2025, Omani citizens have been eligible to visit Uzbekistan without a visa for up to 30 days, making travel significantly more accessible.
He affirmed that for Omani visitors arriving in Tashkent, Uzbekistan offers a broad range of modern tourism facilities, including world-class hotels, services compliant with halal standards, family-oriented attractions, shopping centres, cultural sites, and an air transport network. Tashkent also serves as a convenient gateway to the country's most significant historical destinations via a modern high-speed rail network.
He stated that the launch of direct flights, coupled with the visa-free regime and the continuous strengthening of bilateral cooperation, will increase tourist flows, encourage investment in the tourism sector and deepen the friendship between the peoples of Uzbekistan and the Sultanate of Oman.
In this context, Oman Air organized a familiarisation visit for representatives of a number of travel and tourism companies to Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, aimed at stimulating tourist activity on this route through the provision of integrated holiday and travel packages and the introduction of tourism programmes via the "Oman Air Holidays" platform.
The orientation programme for representatives of travel and tourism agencies included site visits and photographic tours of several prominent tourist and heritage landmarks in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, featuring Suzuk Ota, Gul Bazar tourist attractions, the Centre of Islamic Civilization and the Hazrati Imam Complex, in addition to a visit to the Central Asia Palace of Culture. The programme also included a visit to the Amirsoy Mountain Resort in the Bostanlyk District of the Tashkent Region to explore the area's tourism and natural assets and the diverse experiences it offers.
The tour further encompassed a visit to the Zomin region (Jizzakh Region), including the Sufa Plateau, the suspension bridge, zipline facilities, rope-jumping attractions, cable cars, recreation centres, and heritage sites in the area.
The programme also featured a visit to Samarkand and its heritage sites, including the Gur-e-Amir Mausoleum, Registan Square, the Siob Bazaar, and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque.
Eng. Hamoud Musabah Al Alawi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, explained that the national carrier is working to increase the number of users of the new route through two parallel channels. The first focuses on the Sultanate of Oman, through collaboration with tour operators in Muscat, noting that the inaugural flight to Tashkent was accompanied by representatives of travel and tourism companies that cooperate with the airline.
In a statement to Oman News Agency (ONA), he stated that the second channel involves the appointment of a representative for the company in Uzbekistan, one of whose primary responsibilities is to promote the services of the national carrier, alongside marketing the Sultanate of Oman and its rich tourism assets and potential.
He further noted that the representative's mandate extends to promoting Oman Air across various Central Asian countries and collaborating with tour operators on the Uzbek side.
Yahya Khamis Al Hassani, Executive Director and Founder of Alwan Travel and Tourism company, stated that the visit to Tashkent included a series of meetings with tourism service providers, as well as inspections of a number of hotels within and outside the city, including resorts located beyond Tashkent, aimed at identifying the tourism assets that could be promoted in the Omani market.
He explained that one of the most notable features of this country is its status as a conservative Muslim nation, making it a suitable destination for Omani families. He highlighted the diversity of accommodation options, including four- and five-star hotels and resorts, alongside a well-developed infrastructure comprising shopping malls, parks and children's entertainment facilities, as well as a variety of restaurants offering distinctive cuisine that aligns with the cultural norms of the community—factors expected to attract significant interest from families.
He added that the visit included exploration of a number of tourist sites to form a comprehensive overview of the country and the level of tourism services it provides, affirming that it represents a promising tourist destination. He expressed hope that the operation of regular flights by Oman Air would contribute to enhancing tourist traffic to the country.
