Muscat – His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander, presided over a military parade staged at Al Sumoud Ground of Sultan’s Special Force on the occasion of the 54th Glorious National Day on Monday.

The event saw the participation of units representing Royal Army of Oman (RAO), Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), Royal Navy of Oman (RNO), Royal Guard of Oman (RGO), Sultan’s Special Force (SSF) and Royal Oman Police (ROP), in addition to ground and mounted military music bands.

Upon His Majesty the Sultan’s arrival at the parade ground, he was received by H H Sayyid Shihab bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs, Gen Sultan bin Mohammed al Nu’amani, Minister of Royal Office, Vice-Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al Ra’eesi, Chief of Staff of Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), and Maj Gen Musallam bin Mohammed Jaaboub, Commander of SSF.

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.

The parade commander then stepped forward to the Royal Dais and  requested His Majesty the Sultan to signal the start of the military parade.

The joint corps of military music bands representing SAF, RGO, ROP and Royal Court Affairs played sundry tunes as they marched before the Royal Dais.

It was followed by columns of Protocols Guard joining the parade and performing ceremonial gestures to the accompaniment of melodies rendered by the joint corps of military music bands as they performed the military salute to His Majesty, the Supreme Commander.

His Majesty the Sultan watched a musical show staged by mounted bands representing the RGO cavalry and Royal Cavalry. They passed before the Royal Dais, performing the military salute to His Majesty the Sultan.

The columns of the parade then cheered ‘Faith in Allah, Loyalty to the Sultan, Sacrifice for the Nation’ and chanted ‘Long Live His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander’ thrice.

The joint corps of military music bands played the Royal Anthem, while columns of the parade performed the military salute marking the conclusion of the military parade.

This was followed by His Majesty the Sultan leaving the parade ground.

Alongside His Majesty the Sultan, the parade was attended by Royal family members, members of the Al Busaidi family, ministers, advisers, commanders of SAF, commanders of military and security services, heads of diplomatic missions of Arab and foreign countries accredited to Oman, members of State Council and Majlis A’Shura, undersecretaries, senior military and security officers, retired officers and citizens.

ONA