IOR/R/15/6/183-297

The sub-sub-series 'Muscat State Affairs' documents the involvement of the British Government in the administration of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman's domestic and foreign affairs from the late nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Whilst the sub-sub-series contains material ranging in date from 1890 to 1961, most of the material dates from the early 1920s to the late 1940s.

Subjects covered in considerable depth include the following:

• Relations between the British and the Sultan (including several files and volumes devoted to treaty relations between Britain and Muscat)
• The finances of the Sultanate (including details of tax revenue, expenditure and related matters such as customs administration)
• Relations between the Sultan and other Arab rulers, as well as the Sultan's relations with the shaikhs of the Omani tribes
• The Muscat-controlled territory of Gwadur [Gwadar], including discussion of its status, its boundaries, and its administration
• The boundaries of the Sultanate
• Matters concerning members of Muscat's ruling family
• The recruitment of officers for the Muscat Infantry (also referred to as the Muscat Regiment and the Muscat Levy Corps)
• The appointment of a British official as Muscat Minister for Foreign Affairs
• Military intervention by the British on the Sultan's behalf
• Port facilities at Muscat
• The supply of motor vehicles, arms, and ammunition by the British Government to the Muscat Government.

British official correspondence mainly comes from the Political Agent and Consul at Muscat, the Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, the Government of India, the India Office, the Foreign Office, and various other British Government departments. Most of the files and volumes contain correspondence from the Sultan of Muscat and Oman [mainly Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd and Sa‘īd bin Taymūr Āl Bū Sa‘īd] or his representatives. Other correspondents include local shaikhs, representatives of neighbouring states, banks, shipping agents, and other companies and individuals with interests in the Sultanate.

The sub-sub-series contains a significant amount of correspondence written in Arabic, as well as a small number of letters written in French, several items written in Urdu, and one or two items written in Farsi and Turkish. English translations are included in most cases.