Today, my column will taka a lighter look at how His Mahesty Sultan Haitham's governorate visits remind us leadership still comes with handshakes, not just headlines.
There is a particular kind of silence that falls over any Omani governorate when word spreads: His Majesty is coming.
It is not the tense silence of a test. It is the hush before a majlis coffee is poured — expectant, respectful, and just a little bit excited. Because when His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik visits the governorates, he doesn’t just arrive. He shows up. Not on a screen. Not through a decree. But in person.
From Musandam to Dhofar, the playlist is familiar by now: the motorcade, the waving flags, the officials waiting. But look past the protocol and you will see the pattern that makes these visits different. He listens more than he speaks. He walks the ground, not just the red carpet.
The truth is, Omanis are queue people. We queue for karak, for petrol, for Eid tickets. We understand waiting. So when His Majesty the Sultan comes our town, our project, our problem — it lands differently. It says: you are not a line item in Vision 2040. You are a place with a name, and people with stories.
On the lighter side, watch the kids. They don’t care about GDP. They care that His Majesty waved back. That he took the painting even though it was slightly wet. That he laughed when the falcon refused to land on the glove. In a region of big speeches, Oman has a leader who is also good at small moments.
There’s strategy here, of course. Oman Vision 2040 can’t live in Muscat alone. Development, diversification, tourism — they all need the governorates to believe they are part of it. A Royal visit is infrastructure of the heart. It is a reminder that policy has a postcode.
But it’s also just Omani. The majlis culture writ large. Show up. Sit down. Ask how the family is before you talk business.
In a world of Zoom summits, His Majesty runs his meetings at 1:1 scale, in real towns, with real people who need him most, the Omanis.
So next time you hear the helicopters, or see the flags go up on the roundabouts, don’t just think about official visits. Think about His Majesty the Sultan’s doing his rounds.
And if you are lucky to meet him, he might ask about your well being too.
In conclusion, I would say that countries have presidents. Tribes have shaikhs. Oman has a Sultan who checks on his people always.
Thank you Your Majesty for all that you are doing for Oman and its people.
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