The Royal Navy of Oman (RNO) celebrated Monday its Annual Day, which falls on 3 November every year in a ceremony held at Said Bin Sultan Naval Base today under the auspices of Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sa’eedi, Minister of Health. The ceremony witnessed graduation of a new batch of university officers.

The ceremony began with performing the military salute to the chief guest. Then, the chief guest inspected the first column of the protocols guard.

After that, the chief guest pinned long-service and good-conduct medals on RNO commissioned and non-commissioned officers. He also handed over appreciation awards to top graduates of the Sultan Qaboos Navy Academy.

The parade column performed a military show by staging slow and regular march before the main dais. The RNO Music Band performed a musical show. Then, the participants at the parade took the oath of loyalty and proclaimed thrice Long Live His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

The ceremony was attended by commanders of the Sultan Armed Forces (SAF), military and security departments, honorable members of the State Council, members of Majlis A’Shura, governors, walis, members of the Municipal Council in the Governorates of North and South Al Batinah, senior officers at SAF, military and security departments, Military Attachés at Embassies of the sisterly and friendly countries in Muscat, parents of the graduates and RNO personnel.

On the RNO Annual Day, Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al-Ra’eesi, RNO Commander pinned long-service and good-conduct medals and appreciation certificates to RNO distinguished personnel.

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sa’eedi, Minister of Health praised the parade while presiding over the ceremony by saying: “I feel proud to see this level of punctuality, professionalism and harmony during this parade that reflected the major development reached by SAF particularly the RNO.”

“I congratulate all RNO personnel on this occasion. I also seize this opportunity to extend sincere greetings to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said on the occasion of the 48th Glorious National Day, praying to Allah the Almighty for the return of this national occasion on His Majesty with good health, wellbeing and a long life, and Oman with progress and welfare,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Military Attaché of the Italian Embassy in the Sultanate of Oman organized, in Muscat, a ceremony on the occasion of the Italian Armed Forces Day, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The guest of honor at the event which was held at Inter-Continental Hotel Muscat was Commodore Mohammed bin Ahmed al-Lamki, Commander of the Signal Corpse at the Sultan’s Armed Forces. 

The event was attended by Federica Favi, the accredited Italian Ambassador to the Sultanate, senior officers from the Sultan’s Armed Forces (SAF), government and private sector officials, Ambassadors and Military Attachés of other countries, and senior businessmen from various companies and institutions in the Sultanate.

On the sidelines of the event, the Officer Cadet Mohammed bin Juma al-Khatri, from the Royal Navy of Oman was awarded the Italian '”Marine Dagger”' Award, which is granted by the Italian Navy to talented navy officers.

It should be noted that al-Khatri received earlier the U.K.’s Admiral Award as the best international student at the U. K’s Royal Navy College in 2018.