Sultan Qaboos will be remembered as a peacemaker

Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman has passed away. In his death, the world and the Middle East have lost a wise, able, and secular leader. I was sad to hear the news. I'd visited Oman many a time for work and was impressed with the peace and equanimity in the country.

It was always a pleasure to travel to Oman due to the excellent network of roads and a wide array of hotels and restaurants. The sultan modernised Oman with tourism playing a major role after oil. The serene environment in the state was principally due to the wise and enlightened leadership of Sultan Qaboos. He maintained a low profile, kept above regional and global strife, and focused on the welfare of his people.

His people were dear to him. Every year he organised camps, visited different regions and stayed in tents to be able to meet the country folk and talk to them. The company I worked for in the Middle East supplied Arabic breads (khubooz) for the meals at these camps. We prided ourselves on knowing that Sultan Qaboos of Oman eats our khubooz, when he travels and meets his people. Sultan Qaboos will be missed by all.

-Rajendra Aneja, India

*Sultan Qaboos was a very wise and prudent ruler, reformer, visionary, and bold leader who tirelessly worked for the welfare of his people. He was truly a 'Sultan of the masses.'

Sultan Qaboos was a statesman whose role as a global peacemaker was hailed and appreciated by global community. He was at the forefront of diplomatic efforts in promoting peaceful negotiations in many of the recent conflicts. His profound legacy is modern and stable Oman. He will be greatly missed and forever remembered for his commitment to peace in this volatile region. ?

-Ramesh G Jethwani, Bengaluru, India