Khamis Al Jabri

Oman Sail exists to reaffirm Oman’s maritime credentials on the global stage, from developing the next generation of sailors to helping Omani athletes to medals at competitions such as the Olympics.

What are the trends and peculiarities currently observed in your sector, and what policies or changes would you welcome to boost growth?

Oman Sail was established in 2008 to rekindle Oman’s maritime eminence, promote the Sultanate of Oman around the world through sailing, and provide long-term learning opportunities for the youth of Oman. Our primary focus is on developing young and elite sailors to excel in the sport, ensuring accessibility, and attracting global sailing events to the Sultanate, including in 2023 the return of the 44Cup, all of which contribute toward Vision 2040 and have a positive socio-economic impact in the country. Our sector is experiencing notable trends, including a growing emphasis on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, highlighting the importance of sustainability. Additionally, a robust culture of collaboration has emerged, with partnerships driving growth within and beyond the sailing community. Our collaborations in 2024 have been instrumental in supporting our activities, and this has included the ASYAD Group, which has opened exciting new avenues for our community sailing programs. We also renewed ties with Duqm Refinery for the Al Nokhedha initiative, which nurtures young talent. In addition, empowering the local community, has been a key focus that we welcome to further foster inclusion and participation beyond competitive sailing.

What are the biggest challenges you expect to have to contend with over the next year, and how are you prepared to tackle them?

As we look ahead to the next year, we see a positive economic outlook in Oman. The alignment and introduction of new government agencies over the past years have provided clarity of mandates and improved synergy with stakeholders. These developments are favorable for us as they enhance our operational environment. Whilst challenges remain, we believe that the foundations we laid down have prepared us well for business continuity. We have strategically forged partnerships that are crucial for our expansion and long-term growth.

What does sustainability mean to your company and how is it incorporated into your operational philosophy?

Sustainability is not limited to specific initiatives but rather central to our planning and implementation processes. We have actively driven initiatives that involve multiple stakeholders to achieve better ESG outcomes. Our proud achievements in 2023 include the para sailing SailFree program being honored as the Best Sports Event CSR Initiative at the Middle East Sports Industry Awards. This is the third time within two years Oman Sail has achieved awards at this prestigious event. Also, Oman’s Paralympic Sailing team won a bronze medal at the 16th Special Olympics World Games in Germany. In a testament to our commitment to sustainability and innovation, Oman Sail, in collaboration with the Cheltenham Muscat school, in 2023 embarked on an initiative to raise awareness about environmental conservation and etched our name once again in the Guinness World Records™. Together, we set the record for the “Largest Plastic Bottle Sentence” by collecting 32,316 bottles within five weeks. The initiative was about raising awareness of the global issue of plastic waste and emphasized the need for collective action to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

What is your outlook for 2024?

We anticipate that the global economy will continue to recover, which will benefit our operations. The steps we have taken in recent years, including a focus on strategic partnerships, monetizing our assets, expanding business offerings, and a focus on sustainability, have positioned Oman Sail for growth and success in the coming year. We remain committed to our mission of advancing sailing in Oman and contributing positively to our nation’s development. We are optimistic that our 49er Olympic team that won Oman’s first ever silver medal at the 19th Asian Games in 2023 and narrowly missed out on automatic qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Sailing competition after finishing 6th at the Asian Sailing Championship in Thailand can still qualify for the Paris Olympics in 2024 within the Last Chance Regatta in France in April. This qualification to the Olympics would be a first for the Sultanate of Oman, and winning a medal would be a remarkable achievement.