The formalization of their relationship took place in 1833 when the two countries signed the “Treaty of Amity and Commerce.” This treaty marked the inaugural bilateral agreement between the United States and an Arab Gulf state. In 1840, the Sultan’s envoy, Ahmad bin Na’aman, embarked on a journey to New York aboard the Sultanah, making bin Na’aman the very first accredited Arab diplomat to the United States. Notably, the Sultanah was also the first Arab vessel to navigate to the shores of the United States. By 1880, the United States had taken the initiative to establish its inaugural Consulate in Muscat, an endeavor aimed at fortifying both the political and economic ties between the two nations.

Oman and the United States expanded their trade and diplomatic relations in 1958, when they signed the “Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights” in Salalah. In 1972, the United States opened its Embassy in the capital of Muscat and the Sultanate opened its embassy in Washington D.C. the following year. Oman and the United States signed a military cooperation agreement In 1980, which was revised and renewed in 2010, continuing its close military partnership.

Presently, the United States and Oman maintain enduring diplomatic missions in their respective capitals, with official delegations making regular visits to both nations. The strong and steadfast relationship between the United States and Oman persists, underscored by the bilateral Free Trade Agreement inked in 2006 and operationalized in 2009. This agreement serves to bolster trade and investment between the two countries. In 2016, a significant milestone was reached when the United States and Oman entered into the U.S.-Oman Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, further enhancing and broadening their bilateral cooperation.