HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, yesterday morning visited the Sultan Qaboos University and the Sultan Special Forces Headquarters in Oman, while Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah visited the Royal Cavalry.

Later in the afternoon, Their Royal Highnesses attended a luncheon on board a ship.

The arrival of His Royal Highness at Sultan Qaboos University was greeted by Her Highness Sayyidah Muna bint Fahad Al Said, Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Cooperation, Sultan Qaboos University; Professor Amer Ali Al Rawas, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Sultan Qaboos University; and, Dr Said bin Ali Al-Yahyaee, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Community Service.

His Royal Highness later visited various labs, such as the NANO Lab, Industrial Engineering Lab; Research and Applied Analysis Unit in Science College, as well as the College of Science Museum.

Before concluding the visit, His Royal Highness signed a Visitor’s Book and received a ‘pesambah’ from Professor Amer Ali Al Rawas, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Sultan Qaboos University. His Royal Highness also presented a souvenir to the Professor.

Sultan Qaboos University, which is located in Al Khoudh, is the only public university in the Sultanate of Oman. It was established in 1986, and commenced with five colleges, namely Medicine, Engineering, Agriculture, Education and Science.

The College of Arts was established in 1987, while the College of Commerce and Economics was developed in 1993. The College of Law and the College of Nursing were established in 2006 and 2008 respectively.

Sultan Qaboos University currently has nine research centres such as the Omani Studies Centres, Oil and Gas Research Centre, Communication and Information Research Centre, Water Resources Research Centre and Centre for Environmental Studies and Research.

Accompanying His Royal Highness were Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhi, Minister of Oil and Gas as Minister-in-Attendance; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Awang Besar bin Haji Abu Bakar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Sultanate of Oman; and senior government officers.

Shortly after concluding the visit to Sultan Qaboos University, His Royal Highness visited the Sultan Special Forces Headquarters.

Upon arrival at the Administrative Building of the Headquarters, His Royal Highness Prince General Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and General of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), was welcomed by Brigadier General A’mir bin Salim bin Mubarak Al Amri, Commander of the Sultan Special Forces.

His Royal Highness was briefed on the structure and organisation of the Sultan Special Forces.

After the briefing, His Royal Highness was invited to take a closer look at various military equipment. After boarding a vehicle together with the Commander of the Sultan Special Forces, His Royal Highness headed towards a training range where His Royal Highness witnessed a military demonstration.

The visit to the Sultan Special Forces concluded with His Royal Highness receiving a ‘pesambah’ from the Commander of Sultan Special Forces. His Royal Highness also presented a plaque to the Commander.

The Sultan Special Forces was established in February 1977 under the direct Command of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and is placed under the supervision of the Minister of the Royal Office.

Accompanying His Royal Highness were Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhi, Minister of Oil and Gas as Minister-in-Attendance; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Awang Besar bin Haji Abu Bakar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Sultanate of Oman; Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Yussof bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Deputy Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

In a separate event, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah visited the Royal Cavalry.

Accompanying Her Royal Highness were His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Muntaqim and Her Royal Highness Princess Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah.

The arrival of Her Royal Highness was welcomed by Brigadier General Abdulrazak Al Shahwarzi, Commander of the Royal Cavalry. Her Royal Highness was then briefed on the cavalry and later witnessed a horsemen performance.

The Sultanate of Oman has a long history of horsemen and is now well-known for the preservation and breeding of pure Arabian horses. It holds high reputation and was the first Middle Eastern country to become a full member of the World Arabian Horse Organisation (WAHO) since 1979.

Among the activities carried out by the Royal Cavalry are local and international horse races and Arabian horse shows.

Later in the afternoon, Their Royal Highnesses attended a luncheon on board of a ship at Al Mukalla Port. Accompanying Their Royal Highnesses were HRH Prince ‘Abdul Muntaqim and HRH Princess Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah.

Upon arrival at Al Mukalla Port, Their Royal Highnesses were welcomed by Commander Abdullah Nasser Al Shabibi, Deputy Commander of Al Mukalla, and were then invited to board the Royal Yacht ‘AL MURRIH. Shortly afterwards, the ship left the port.

Accompanying Their Royal Highnesses were Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhi, Minister of Oil and Gas as Minister in Attendance; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; and Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Awang Besar bin Haji Abu Bakar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Sultanate of Oman and his spouse.

On Tuesday, Their Royal Highnesses attended a separate official dinner ceremony.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince attended an official dinner ceremony hosted by His Highness Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers of the Sultanate of Oman, at the Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Muscat.

The arrival of His Royal Highness at Qantab Ballroom, Al Bustan Palace Hotel, was greeted by His Highness Sayyid Fahad. His Royal Highness was then introduced to the guests from the Sultanate of Oman, while His Highness Sayyid Fahad was introduced to the Brunei delegation.

Accompanying His Royal Highness was Dr Mohammed bin Hamad al Rumhi, Minister of Oil and Gas as Minister-in-Attendance; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Awang Besar bin Haji Abu Bakar, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Sultanate of Oman.

Meanwhile, in a separate event, Her Royal Highness attended an official dinner ceremony hosted by Her Highness Sayyidah Berthe Fahad Al Said, the wife of His Highness Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers of the Sultanate of Oman. The event took place at Al Angham Restaurant, Royal Opera House in Muscat.

The arrival of Her Royal Highness was greeted by Her Highness Sayyidah Berthe Fahad.

Also welcoming Her Royal Highness were two of the daughters of Her Highness Sayyidah Berthe Fahad, Her Highness Sayyida Mona bint Fahad Al Said and Her Highness Sayyida Aliya bint Fahad Al Said.

Also present at the dinner were Dr Madeeha bint Ahmed bin Nassirah Shibaniyah, Minister of Education; Dr Rawiyah bint Saud Al Busaidiyah, Minister of Higher Education; and Shelkha Ayisha bint Khalfan Al-Siyabiya, Chairperson of the Public Authority for Craft Industries.

Accompanying Her Royal Highness was Datin Hajah Norbayura binti Haji Lamit, wife of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Sultanate of Oman. - Borneo Bulletin (6 February 2014)