Your Excellencies,
Honourable Guests,
Dear Invitees,

Good evening.

I am immensely honoured to be given the opportunity to stand before you this evening in my capacity as the Captain of the Jewel of Muscat.

It has been my honour to serve the Royal Navy of Oman for a period of 24 years, during which I encountered exciting challenges while navigating the waters of different seas around the world. However, I would like to assure you that nothing matches the honour of being selected to command this fabulous sail ship. It really represents an incentive for every ambitious young Omani impatiently waiting to be given a chance to plunge into the exciting maritime arts and adventures that symbolizes our centuries-old maritime heritage and form part of the old traditions of Omani sailors who traversed all seas and oceans and interacted with different and varied cultures besides playing a vital role in spreading friendship, exchanging knowledge and promoting trade links with different nations.

Today, our youth have renewed hope and enthusiasm to engage in future adventures and to achieve results much better than those they achieved in the past. Personally, the scientific aspects of this unique project are of great value to me, besides the fact that the project offers an opportunity for the young generation to acquaint themselves with the geography, sciences and cultures of other nations, and also to showcase the treasures of our maritime history through Jewel of Muscat and also the treasures of the wrecked parent ship dating back to the 6th century.

I am personally honoured to be assigned the important task of commanding the Jewel of Muscat on its historic trip to Singapore and on the same maritime route that was followed by our foregathers through the Indian Ocean. I promise you that I and my colleagues, the other sailors, will utilize our full capacity and past experience to reach Singapore safely, raising the flag of Oman, redolent of frankincense and friendship, high.

We pray to God to prolong the life of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said to whom we are all indebted for all the great achievements realized by the youth of Oman.

I am confident of the capabilities of the crew members of the Jewel of Muscat and their patience and dedication but, I also request from you, our dear guests, two things:

Firstly, to treasure this jewel in your hearts, to always remember us and to wish us success in your daily prayers.

Secondly, I now request you to welcome the crew members of Jewel of Muscat and to wish them all success and prosperity.

Thank you all.