Officers feted with Royal Patent Certificate
MUSCAT: Major General Matar bin Salim al Balushi, Commander of the Royal Army of Oman (RAO) handed over the Royal Patent Certificate to a group of graduating officers from various training colleges on Thursday.
He congratulated the officers on their graduation after completing military training, acknowledging the effort they put in to reach this level and the valuable military skills they have acquired. He also commended them for earning the trust of His Majesty the Supreme Commander as officers in the Royal Army of Oman.
Major General Al Balushi encouraged them to continue dedicating themselves to their upcoming tasks. — ONA
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
a day ago
- Times of Oman
Downe House Muscat welcomes Helen Booth-Smith as new Principal
Muscat: Downe House Muscat, a leading British International School for girls in the region, is delighted to announce the appointment of Miss. Helen Booth-Smith as its new Head of School, effective from the start of the 2025–26 academic year. A respected educator and senior leader, Miss. Booth-Smith has been an integral part of Downe House Muscat since its establishment in 2022 having served as Deputy Head. During this time, she has led academic and pastoral provision across Grades 1 to 12, playing a central role in developing the school's academic standards and fostering a learning environment where every pupil is known and valued. Throughout her tenure, Miss. Booth-Smith has contributed significantly to the school's growing academic reputation, helping to deliver excellent academic results and championing a culture of high expectations and achievement. As she steps into her new role as Head of School, she will continue to shape and refine the school's tailored pathways, ensuring pupils are well prepared for success in IGCSEs, A-Levels, or the Omani General Education Diploma. As part of the prestigious Downe House family of schools, Downe House Muscat offers a dynamic curriculum that combines the academic rigour of the Cambridge Programme with the educational excellence of Downe House UK, inspiring curiosity, creativity, and independence, while maintaining a deep commitment to Arabic Language and Islamic Studies. A passionate educator, she has remained actively involved in teaching, earning respect for the value-added progress achieved by the students. She brings with her a rich background in British and international education, with previous leadership roles in Cairo and London, as well as experience with Teach First, where she supported school-wide improvements across the UK. Commenting on her appointment, Miss. Helen Booth-Smith said: 'I am honoured to lead Downe House Muscat into its next chapter. This is a community shaped by care, ambition, and shared values — a place where every girl is encouraged to challenge herself and is supported to succeed. As we move forward, I am committed to ensuring that our culture continues to expect excellence and live kindness every day.' Miss. Booth-Smith will work closely with the current Founding Head Miss. Michelle Scott to ensure continuity and a smooth transition of leadership. Miss. Scott will be stepping down at the end of this academic year after having successfully launched and established the school. Mrs. Emma McKendrick, Headmistress of Downe House UK, commented 'It has been a great privilege to work with Miss Scott in her role as Founding Principal of Downe House Muscat. Setting up a school during the pandemic brought with it unique challenges and yet she never lost sight of the need to keep the girls' best interests at the centre of all that she did. Her commitment and dedication to ensuring the delivery of a first-class holistic education to every pupil is the most powerful legacy to leave and one which will live on for many years to come. I am most grateful to her. It will be a great privilege now to work with Miss. Booth-Smith, Miss Scott's successor. Having known Helen as Vice Principal, I am in no doubt that she will continue to build and develop our school community with both grace and humility but also ambition. Enabling all our girls in Muscat to benefit from an education where every girl can shine will, I know, be at the core of all she does. I look forward to visiting and seeing the continuation of the Downe House spirit shining through!' Downe House Muscat has recently celebrated several notable achievements. In the past academic year, 100% of Grade 12 graduates secured places at their first-choice universities, both in Oman and internationally. Pupils were recognised with eight prestigious Pearson Education Learner Awards, including the 'Highest Mark in the World' for A-Level Arabic. Beyond the classroom, the Under-12 football team was crowned champions of the Muscat School Secondary Sports League, reflecting the school's commitment to all-round excellence. Looking ahead to the 2025-26 academic year, the school will further expand its offering with the launch of its new Kindergarten for KG1 and KG2, with a curriculum that is supported by small class sizes, bespoke facilities, and dedicated Early Years specialists, creating a warm and purposeful environment that nurtures curiosity, creativity and confidence.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
Oman marks World Oceans Day, renews pledge to protect marine environment
Muscat - On the occasion of World Oceans Day (which falls on 8 June every year), the Sultanate of Oman highlights efforts on protecting the marine environment and promoting ecological sustainability. Oman is considered a leading country in this field. Oman boasts a long coastline of approximately 3,165 kilometres that makes the country home to a rich biodiversity of coral reefs, seabirds, fish and rare and endangered species like sea turtles. Oman is actively seeking to preserve its marine environment through a set of elaborate initiatives and policies. The Environment Authority was established to act as the body responsible for developing environmental strategies, notably in the field of protecting oceans and coasts. The Environment Authority conducts studies and research aimed at understanding common environmental challenges posed by the marine environment like pollution, overfishing and climate change. As part of its efforts to promote marine sustainability, Oman keeps implementing a variety of projects, including the "Artificial Coral Reefs" project, which aims to rehabilitate damaged coral reefs, enhance biodiversity, support sustainable fishing and protect coastal areas. Oman has also established a number of marine reserves like Ras Al Jinz Marine Reserve, the Daymaniyat Islands Marine Reserve, and Al Khor Marine Reserve, which all provide safe sanctuary for endangered marine species. Oman's efforts also include awareness campaigns and workshops aimed at raising and developing the knowledge of citizens and residents about the importance of preserving marine life. In particular, such initiatives target younger generations, encouraging them to actively contribute to environment conservation efforts. Oman also accords attention to international cooperation in the field of marine environment protection. This attention takes shape in Oman's regular participation in relavamt global programmes and agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity. Through this comprehensive approach,—which combines effective policies, innovative projects and community engagement—the Sultanate of Oman sets an exemplary model for marine environment protection.
Times of Oman
2 days ago
- Times of Oman
HM the Sultan congratulates the king of KSA on the success of the Hajj season
Muscat : His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik sent a cable of congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the success of this year's Hajj season 1446 AH. His Majesty the Sultan praised the great efforts made by the Kingdom's government each year to serve the Guests of God and provide all necessary conditions and services for the smooth, safe, and easy performance of the Hajj rituals. He asked God Almighty to grant the Kingdom continued success in organiaing the performance of this ritual in the most perfect manner, and to reward the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with the best reward.
