I first landed in Oman in 1995 as a 10-year-old and ever since then I have fallen in love with this beautiful country that is now my first home. In the last 25 years I have closely seen the rapid developments taking place at an unbelievable pace. I literally saw the country growing.

Many people may not realise now how much the Sultanate has grown in a short span of time. For example, we see thousands of commuters now travelling daily to work. But we need to remember that just about 50 years ago there were no fuel stations on the road, not many cars and, in fact, no roads. It was all just sand…and look where the country is today.

But what makes this country so special? Why do expats prefer to stay back and never want to go back? These are the frequent questions people usually ask. Well, the country is so peaceful than any other place in this world, but it also gives one a sense of belief to stay safely and live happily.

We had a leader (the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said) who took care of his people and built the country from scratch. I was always in awe of His Majesty’s immense humility and tolerance. Not only could he understand the troubles and needs of his people, but he also had the foresight to see what they would need for years to come. We are yet to come to terms with his passing away but his legacy will remain unmatched.

This National Day The Arabian Stories (TAS) is celebrating people who have contributed remarkably to the growth of this country. They are men and women, both Omanis and expats, who have played an important role over the last many years. We proudly call them TAS ICONS and we are featuring their inspiring stories in this special magazine.

As we proudly march ahead under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, TAS ICONS will be a textbook for many generations who would want to look back at the achievements of people who have contributed to the development of this great nation.

May our country prosper more! Happy reading!