The first Omani air unit based at Thumrait, equipped with ex-RAF Hawker Hunter FGA.9 aircraft, was tasked with ground attack and intercept missions.

[4][5] The US Air Force's 16th Special Operations Wing, 823rd 'Red Horse' Squadron went to RAFO Thumrait on 17 April 1996 for 'Eastern Castle', an exercise with the Omani military.

During this exercise, the US Air Force built runway and apron extensions, and installed overhead lighting in the base's aircraft hangars.

On 2 October 2018, the first four of eight Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets II (Army Co-operation) Squadron travelled to RAFO Thumrait from their home base of RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland for Saif Sareea 3.

This time, as part of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (140 EAW), the Typhoons will be supported by an E-3D Sentry AEW1, operated by 8 Squadron, normally based at RAF Waddington in England.