Haitham bin Tareq … best successor to the best predecessor

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ALLAH the Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “… their mark is on their faces.”

In the past, Arabs used to recognize someone’s knightliness by studying their facial expressions to determine their good name, reverence, honor and humility. This is what people read today in the face of the Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tareq who completes the path of his predecessor, the builder of Oman’s renaissance.

In a speech, the late Sultan once said: “The land of Oman is good and only good seed grows there” and we see it in the modern Omani character, because someone who knew how to plow the land cultivated everything that is good in it to serve the country and its future. He also cooperated and stood together with his brothers for a cause.

The cause initiated by the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said is assured of progress – in terms of its design – to complete the renaissance, and Sultan Haitham bin Tareq made this announcement in his first speech after the inauguration. The dreams of Sultan Qaboos bin Said for Oman were great and he devoted his life to achieving them, but the ailment he suffered in recent years impeded realization of those dreams.

Nonetheless, to guarantee the fire of zeal in his pursuit does not fade away for the cause to continue in the manner in which he started Oman’s modern renaissance, his successor who is characterized by greatness, would continue to develop the predecessor’s aspirations and seek to implement them, not hindered by any obstacles. Instead, he will water them with firm determination to complete the path.

Sultan Qaboos based his choice of successor on the man’s biography in civil work, high cultured personality, and knowledge about other nations. Sultan Haitham bin Tareq, a graduate of the University of Oxford and a postgraduate degree holder, also held several official posts, especially local and foreign affairs.

The depth of his diplomatic and political experience during his work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, besides serving as a personal envoy of the Sultan to a number of countries and his political background rendered him head of the Supreme Committee for implementing the Vision of “Oman 2040”. Certainly, the desire to achieve the late Sultan’s dreams is integral to the interest of the current Sultan who will no doubt work to develop infrastructure and the legal system to transform the Sultanate to an investment destination and economic hub in the region.

This is what many in the Gulf and Arab world hope from the holder of the trust, Sultan Haitham bin Tareq, who undoubtedly corresponded with leaders he met recently, including his brothers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) or Arab and foreign leaders who went to console the bereaved family, on the important role played by the Sultanate in the region and the need to continue to improve the economic scope of openness to the world.

Sultan Haitham pledging to complete the course the late Sultan established to make great strides in itself indicates the correctness of the choices Oman worked on for half a century and will be the cornerstone of the new phase of the renaissance on which hopes are attached by Oman, the GCC, as well as the Arab and Islamic world.

The man’s apparent features over his life tell us that Oman will enter a new phase of renaissance and remain active, especially in the investment field, as the Sultanate does not suffer any budget deficit or deficit in investment projects. Therefore, expanding these areas and making room for greater margins will benefit the country and its people. Blessed is the best successor to the best predecessor.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah
Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times
[email protected]

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