Salalah: His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander, presided over a military parade staged at Al Nasr Square in the Governorate of Dhofar today on the occasion of the 52nd Glorious National Day..
The event saw the participation of symbolic units representing the Royal Army of Oman (RAO), the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), the Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), the Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), the Sultan’s Special Force (SSF), the Royal Oman Police (ROP), ground and mounted military music bands, as well as Firaq Forces.
Upon His Majesty the Sultan’s arrival at the parade grounds, he was received by HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Nuamani, Minister of the Royal Office, and Vice Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis Al Raisi, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed Forces(SAF).
When His Majesty the Sultan ascended the Royal dais, columns of the parade performed the military salute. The joint corps of military bands played the Royal Anthem, while the Sultan of Oman’s Artillery fired a 21-gun salute to His Majesty the Sultan.
Then, the parade commander stepped forward, requesting His Majesty the Sultan to signal the start of the military show.
The joint corps of military bands representing the SAF, the RGO, the ROP and the Royal Court Affairs (RCA) played sundry tunes as they marched in slow and normal pace before the Royal dais. Then, columns of the Protocols Guard joined the parade and performed ceremonial gestures to the accompaniment of melodies from the joint corps of military bands—performing the military salute to His Majesty, the Supreme Commander.
Then, columns of camouflage uniforms, representing the SAF, the RGO, the SSF and the ROP, queued before the Royal dais, performing the military salute to His Majesty, the Supreme Commander, to the accompaniment of melodies from the joint corps of military bands.
His Majesty the Sultan watched a musical show staged by mounted bands representing the RGO and the Royal Cavalry. They passed before the Royal dais, performing the military salute to His Majesty the Sultan.
Then, His Majesty the Sultan watched a presentation by the RAO’s Firaq Forces. They chanted lyrics of allegiance and gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan as they passed before the Royal dais and gave the military salute to His Majesty, the Supreme Commander.
Later, the columns of the parade performed an ensemble of cheers that proclaimed “Faith in Allah, Loyalty to the Sultan, Sacrifice for the Nation”. They chanted thrice “Long Live His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander”. Then, the joint corps of military bands played the Royal Anthem, while the columns of the parade performed the military salute marking the conclusion of the military show.
On this occasion, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander, received a commemorative gift from the valiant armed forces. HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs had the honour of presenting the gift. Then, His Majesty the Sultan left the parade grounds.
The military parade was attended by Royal family members, ministers, the chairmen of the State Council and Shura Council, advisers, commanders of SAF, military and security departments, heads of diplomatic missions from Arab and friendly countries accredited to the Sultanate of Oman, members of the State Council and the Shura Council, undersecretaries, retired military commanders, judges, members of the Public Prosecution Department, ambassadors at the Foreign Ministry, walis, sheikhs and dignitaries from the Governorate of Dhofar, military attaches of Arab and friendly embassies in the Sultanate of Oman, senior military officers, senior state officials, senior retired officers, commissioned and non-commissioned officers and cadets of the SAF, the RGO, military and security departments and a large gathering of citizens from Dhofar Governorate.