JERUSALEM, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his one-day visit to Oman was part of a wider effort to forge ties with Arab countries.

The Israeli government first announced the rare trip on Friday, in an apparent sign of warming relations with the Gulf state, despite no formal diplomatic ties between the two countries.

"On Friday, my wife and I returned from a historic diplomatic visit," Netanyahu said, referring to the first official Israeli visit to Oman in 22 years.

"I met with the leader of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, a very experienced and impressive man," Netanyahu told his weekly cabinet meeting, according to a statement released by his office.

"We discussed in detail the challenges facing the Middle East ... There will be more," he said.

Israel and Saudi Arabia reportedly held talks recently in secret channels arranged by their mutual ally, the United States.

Israel currently has no formal ties with Muslim countries in the Middle East except Egypt and Jordan.