The highly anticipated state visit of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman to Spain, originally set for May 21, 2025, has been postponed. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain were set to receive the Oman Sultan on Wednesday at the Royal Palace. The decision follows the passing of Lady Al Jalila, the Sultan’s mother-in-law, on May 19, 2025. Official announcements from the Spanish Royal Household and Omani media, including the Oman Observer, confirm the cancellation, with the visit deferred “until further notice.”
The visit aimed to deepen ties between Oman and Spain, featuring a formal reception at Madrid’s Royal Palace, a meeting at La Zarzuela Palace, and a gala dinner hosted by King Felipe and Queen Letizia. No new date has been announced for the rescheduled visit, leaving diplomatic circles awaiting further updates. This development underscores the respect for personal loss amidst international engagements, highlighting the human element in diplomacy.
The State visit was going to be the first incoming State visit to Spain in the year 2025. In 2024, King Felipe and Queen Letizia received many international heads of the state officially but there was no incoming state visit. Although King Felipe and Queen Letizia visited Netherlands in April and Italy in November as part of two outgoing Spanish State visit.
With State visit postponement, Queen Letizia has one scheduled engagement for the week – on Tuesday she will join King Felipe for the annual Madrid Press Association Awards.