MUSCAT: Lt. Col. Said Salem Al Wahaibi, the Chairman of Assarain Group of Companies who transformed the conglomerate into one of the largest business houses in the country has died.

Al Wahaibi worked for the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur for 15 years and also assumed several positions in the government. In 1974, His Majesty the Sultan appointed Al Wahaibi as the Director of Royal Court Affairs in accordance with Royal Decree No. 74/1.

“For us he was a father figure who was always there for us. We will miss him dearly,” said a senior employee working at Assarain Group.

The Assarain Group is one of the premier trading and investment organizations within the nation, and since its inception in 1975, has been at the helm of business development throughout the Sultanate of Oman, according to the company’s website.