MUSCAT: July 23 is remembered as the day when the late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Bin Taimur acceded to the throne and established the Sultanate of Oman.

On the death of Sultan Qaboos in January 2020 His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik acceded the throne, and has been responsible for successfully navigating the country through the challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“The strides that the country made under the leadership of HM Sultan Qaboos since 1970 were transformative. Significant investments across the economy took Oman into a thriving economy with much improved living standards for all citizens,” the Oxford Business Group wrote in its report last year.

“We grew up with his vision, step by step. Some dates feel like an eternity. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos will remain forever in our hearts,” said Nishad Padiyarath, CEO of The Arabian Stories in his tribute.

In his historic Royal speech, delivered on February 23, 2020, His Majesty Sultan Haitham paid glowing tributes to Sultan Qaboos, in which he said: “The past five decades have witnessed a great transformation in building a modern state, establishing advanced infrastructure, all over the country, under the leadership of the architect of modern Oman, the Late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, and with the efforts of the loyal people of Oman. We would like to voice our appreciation for their endeavours to promote Oman’s prosperity and stature. We will proceed along the path of development and we will continue the blessed renaissance march as the late Sultan wished it to be. Conscious of the immense responsibility, we reaffirm that Oman will always remain our supreme goal, in all actions and pursuits.”