The NRAA publishes the Second Part of The Book “Omani-British Relations” and the European and American Competition

The National Records and Archives Authority has issued the second part of the book “Omani-British Relations from the Seventeenth Century to the End of the Nineteenth Century”, as part of the twenty-second volume of the “Series of Research and Studies in National and International Records. The book consists of 454 pages and contains 14 research papers, including 11 research papers in Arabic and three in English. These papers are written by researchers with different points of view due to their affiliation with various intellectual schools and backgrounds. They all discuss the growth of relations between the two countries and its impact and reflection on the desire of the European and American side to establish good relations with Oman and Zanzibar (Muscat and Zanzibar). The book displays the Omani-British relations from historical, political, economic and military aspects from the seventeenth century to the end of the nineteenth century. Researchers highlight these aspects from an abstract point of view excluding preconceived notions and theories to understand the circumstances and conditions of the various events based on research and study process without resorting to common and unproved interpretations. From this point of view, the National Records and Archives Authority’s rich asset of records concerning Omani-British agreements and correspondence was used.

His Excellency Dr. Hamad Mohammed Al-Dhawyani, Chairman of the NRAA, stated that the book aims at reviewing and analyzing researches and studies and shed light on the Omani-British relations by discussing the interaction of Omani-British relations and European and American competition, during the period from the seventeenth century to the end of the nineteenth century. These relations began within the framework of trade exchange and the establishment of economic relations that organized by agreements, cooperation protocols, customs exemptions, the quality of commercial goods, maritime traffic and the use of ports in Oman and its territories. The relations developed rapidly to involve the political fields in the eighteenth and the mid-nineteenth century by diplomatic representatives and agreements. His Excellency added that these agreements and procedures reinforced all causes to ensure that European countries do not compete with Britain, especially since the region has witnessed British-French competition, which in some cases led to a military clash and political dispute.