Oman residents mourn loss of beloved leader

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Omani expats said Sultan Qaboos, who was in power for five decades, helped create many opportunities for foreigners.

By Sarwat Nasir

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Published: Sat 11 Jan 2020, 10:48 PM

Last updated: Sun 12 Jan 2020, 12:51 AM

Oman became a second home for many foreigners, thanks to the expat-friendly laws introduced in the country under the leadership of the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said.
Omani expats said Sultan Qaboos, who was in power for five decades, helped create many opportunities for foreigners. More than 40 per cent of the population in Oman are expatriates.
An Indian health, safety and environment professional in Oman for two years, Abijith Sasikumar, said: "The Omani people are really friendly and helpful. The development of this country is unbelievable, considering what it was like before Sultan Qaboos. The development of the oil and gas industry under the leadership of the Sultan is what gave expats, including me, a great career.
"Oman, with its big oil reserves, has given a lot of opportunities to expats. Moreover, the people here are supportive and the living cost is low. The country is also safe. It has also been a getaway spot for Emiratis. I regularly see UAE-registered vehicles cruising through the expressway towards Salalah."
A Pakistani computer engineer in Oman for four years, Muhammad Naveed Ashraf, said life in Oman is very peaceful for expats. He expressed gratitude thanked the late Sultan for implementing laws and policies that helped create opportunities for expats in the country.
In 2018, the Ministry of Manpower in Oman implemented a series of new regulations to help protect the rights of foreign workers. One of them, for example, was that if companies were found to be not complying with the labour laws and regulations, it would face a year-long ban on receiving services from the ministry.
"I can say confidently that working and staying in Oman for all expatriates is excellent. The major reason for that is because of the wise leadership and governing policies that were laid down by Sultan Qaboos," Ashraf said.
An Indian artist in Oman for the past 23 years, Anjali Babu, said Oman is very diverse and "welcomes everyone".
"Sultan Qaboos was a great ruler, a great person. I've lived here for 23 years and we are really attached to this country. We are grateful to the people, we have so much freedom here - we have a temple, a church, so many different cultures and festivals."
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com


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