MUSCAT: His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur passed away on Friday, January 10, 2020. Today, it has been 30-days since our beloved leader left us for heavenly abode.

Three days of official mourning was declared, with flags flown at half-mast for 40 days which concludes on February 21.

The passing of the longest serving ruler in the Arab world marks the end of an era. For the Omani people and the residents he was a father figure. For many leaders in the region and across the globe, he was an elderly statesman who they looked up to.

“His Majesty Sultan Qaboos was not just a leader for us. He was our father and our guardian torch-light. We are privileged to have lived in the era of Qaboos for 50-years. When you look back, should be proud that you lived as an Omani in times of Qaboos. His passing is a momentous loss for us,” said Pankaj Khimji speaking in an interview with The Arabian Stories.

Sultan Qaboos will forever be remembered as the moderniser of Oman and a foreign policy pragmatist. “His greatest legacy, perhaps, will be the peaceful and stable Oman he has left behind,” said Atul Sreenivasan, a financial analyst based in Muscat.

Omanis are yet to come in terms with his demise. “Every time when I wake-up I feel incomplete. Our Sultan maybe gone but its difficult to sink-in. He is one of those leaders who unselfishly dedicated his life for his people,” said Mohammed Al Abri, a local resident.

As Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Makthoum, UAE Vice President and ruler of Dubai said: “the Sultan loyalty, wisdom is gone…” Yes, Sultan Qaboos is gone, but not from our hearts. We will remember him every single-day forever! We will miss you Baba Qaboos!