Monday 08 / December / 2025
Muscat: The National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA) has released a landmark historical work, “Oman-Russia Relations in the Nineteenth Century AD – A Documentary Study Based on Russian Archives.”
This publication forms part of the Authority’s strategic mission to enhance Omani and Arab scholarly resources with rigorously documented historical sources and to foster academic research into the Sultanate of Oman’s rich diplomatic history.
This comprehensive volume presents a formidable scholarly compilation drawn from nearly 2,852 meticulously curated Russian documents, including official correspondence, reports, memoranda, cartographic materials and historical photographs.
It serves as an exhaustive reference that details the evolution of bilateral ties between the Sultanate of Oman and Russia during the 19th century.
The work notably underscores the strategic significance of Omani ports and their central role in the era’s global maritime commerce.
Structured into three principal chapters, the publication systematically traces the progression of diplomatic and trade relations, provides an analytical overview of Russian activities in the Gulf region, and documents the political, economic, and social fabric of Omani society during this period.
It is further enriched by documentary appendices featuring reproductions of over 50 rare archival records from Russian collections, complemented by detailed indices to aid academic navigation.
Dr. Hamad bin Mohammed Al Dhoyani, Chairman of the National Records and Archives Authority, emphasised that this seminal work reflects the Authority’s dedication to illuminating Oman’s civilisational narrative through international primary sources.
“The Russian archives offer unambiguous evidence of the substantial historical relationship between our nations and vividly illustrate Oman’s considerable political and commercial influence during the 18th and 19th centuries,” he stated.
The book is heralded as a pioneering academic contribution that establishes the critical value of Russian archival material for Gulf historical studies. It inaugurates a projected series of publications designed to open new research avenues for scholars focused on Oman’s international engagements.
The volume’s author, Dr. Dharar Mohammed Fadhl Al Mawla, noted that its publication marks a significant advancement in providing Omani and Arab libraries with authoritative source material that reveals fresh perspectives on regional history.
“This book is the fruit of a decade-long endeavour dedicated to the translation and academic verification of rare Russian documents,” Dr. Al-Mawla explained. “It contributes profoundly to our understanding of the depth of Oman-Russia relations and the Sultanate of Oman’s multifaceted historical role, offering a vital alternative to the traditionally dominant British and French documentary narratives.”
Adding expert commentary, Dr. Ahlam bint Hamoud Al Jahwari, Director Specialist for Documentary Studies at the Authority, highlighted the publication’s academic importance.
“This work constitutes a major qualitative addition to documentary studies concerning both Arabian Gulf history and modern European history, as it systematically introduces a crucial corpus of Russian documents to the Arabic-speaking scholarly world for the first time,” she said.
She further elaborated that the study of relations from 1792 to 1917 demonstrates the consistent development of political and economic bonds between Oman and Russia and reaffirms Oman’s central position in historical trade and navigation networks.
The publication draws upon over 300 referenced sources, including documents, visual materials, maps, and memoirs, supported by appendices containing more than fifty rare records from one of the world’s premier archives.
“The substantial scholarly content enables researchers to engage with an alternative narrative of the region’s international relations, grounded in Russian archival evidence,” Dr. Al Jahwari concluded.
“This publication embodies a critical step in the Authority’s ongoing efforts to translate and provide global historical records to the Arab research community in accordance with the highest international academic standards.”
