Muscat: Locals and expats in Oman have joined together to wish His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur, all the success for the future, as he prepares to take the Sultanate forward.
Sultan Haitham took his oath on Saturday, January 11, following his ascension to the throne, Omani national Hamdoon Al Hashmi said, “All of us Omanis are with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. We will always continue to honour and support our Sultan, and we all hope he leads Oman forward with prosperity.
“I am looking forward to seeing what plans he has for the youth,” he added.
“The youth of our country have tremendous potential, and they can do great things. It is extremely important that all of us in Oman take the responsibility of building this nation together. We will all strive to build this country along with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, and become a stronger nation, one based on tolerance and peace.”
Ahmed Al Hooti, the head of economic research at the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, added, “All of us in Oman are brothers and sisters, and on behalf of everyone in the country, I wish His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq the utmost success in his role. I ask God to help him in his task of taking the country forward.
“God willing, he will deliver more success to this country, and make us economically stronger,” he added.
“There is a lot of potential in our country, so if we work on this quickly and sincerely, then we can achieve many good things in the future. If the private and the government sector collaborate together on this, we can do much for our youth, because they are the future generation.”
“We hope Oman’s legacy continues under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq,” added Nalin Chandna, the CEO of National Gas Company. “We all have very positive thoughts and hope Oman continues to progress more.”
Mukund Manohar, an Indian expat and the President of the Indian School Muscat Alumni (ISMA) association, added, “We also pledge our support to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq and pray to the almighty to give him long life, good health and continued success. My fellow alumni and myself are truly privileged to have had the opportunity to grow up in this country and to be part of the modernisation of Oman.”
Dr Nuhaila Al Rawahi, an educational psychologist in the Sultanate, said, “His Majesty Sultan Haitham was personally chosen for this role, and for that we are proud to serve, and will remain loyal to him and the country. As for myself, I will always attempt to work harder and do better in all fields. To make the biggest impact, we must start at the grass-roots levels, and it is at home, in the nurseries, and in the schools, where all of it begins.”
Ali Al Barwani of the Oman Road Safety Association added, “Whether we are Omanis or expats in this country, we are all working together to build Oman into a country that provides good opportunities for all, and we will continue to do so under our new Sultan, His Majesty Haitham bin Tariq. We hope that under his reign, Oman continues to gain the respect of other countries, and becomes a nation that has a strong, sustainable economy that will benefit everyone.
“His Majesty, I am sure, will be a wise leader who will work for the betterment of our country, and because he was very closely involved with the Oman Vision 2040 plans, I am sure he will do what is right for the country,” added Al Barwani. “We will always be ready to serve our Sultan and help our country in whatever manner we can.”
Syed Jameel, a Pakistani expat who served as tournament coordinator for the Oman Cricket Association, had a more personal experience to share of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.
“We used to meet Sultan Haitham due to his involvement with the Oman Cricket Association, and in addition to being an avid sports lover, what really struck me was his intelligence. It is this intelligence that, I am confident, will make him take Oman forward.
“May he continue to always do what is best for the country, so that everyone in the country, both Omanis and non-Omanis, are able to contribute to his vision,” added Jameel. “I sincerely hope, and wish, from the bottom of my heart, that his reign is long and successful.”
Ramanuj Venkatesh, an Indian citizen raised in Oman, who works as a financial analyst, said, “Many of us expats are truly privileged and we can call ourselves lucky to have lived in a country like Oman, where we were able to enjoy a life that we would perhaps not get in our home countries. I am sure that, thanks to the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham, expats in the country will continue to remember Oman as a peaceful and friendly country.
“Wherever I may go in this world, I will always continue to have loyalty for Oman, and currently, that loyalty also extends to His Majesty Sultan Haitham,” he added. “Omanis are among the friendliest people you will see anywhere in the world, I am sure that under Sultan Haitham, it will continue to gain the respect of people.”