The Joint Omani-Saudi joint naval drill “Winds of Peace 2026” commenced Sunday. The exercise is being carried out by several vessels from the Royal Navy of Oman’s fleet in the Al Batinah maritime region.

The exercise features the participation of crews from vessels of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. It is supported by the Royal Army of Oman and the Royal Air Force of Oman.

The exercise will encompass numerous training programs and practical applications, involving the execution of various naval operations, formations, maneuvers, and specialized exercises. This will be alongside an exchange of expertise among the participating ship crews, in accordance with the exercise’s planned agenda, Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

The execution of this joint exercise falls within the framework of the annual training plans of the Royal Navy of Oman and the joint exercise plans with the navies of sisterly and friendly countries. It aims to maintain the operational readiness levels of the Royal Navy of Oman’s fleet and its personnel across various naval specializations, aligning with the national tasks assigned to it.

In another development, the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) celebrated its Annual Day, which coincides with the 25th of January each year, along with the graduation of the Basic Officer Candidate Course and the Limited Service/University Graduate Officer Candidate Course.

The ceremony took place Sunday at the military parade grounds of Ghala Base and Sultan Qaboos Air Academy, under the patronage of HH Sayyid Dr. Kamil bin Fahd Al Said, Secretary General at the Secretariat General of the Council of Ministers.

On this auspicious occasion, the RAFO performed a military parade that demonstrated the skill of its personnel and highlighted the great attention accorded to the RAFO by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander.

Upon the arrival of the chief guest to the celebration ground, the graduates gave the military salute and the RAFO band played the Royal Anthem. Then, HH Sayyid Dr. Kamil inspected the front column of the graduates’ column.

After that, the front column of the graduates presented an infantry parade - headed by the Sultan Qaboos Air Academy’s standard, passing in front of the dais, to the accompaniment of bands playing military music. Then, the column moved forward in the parade formation.

Then, HH Sayyid Dr. Kamil handed over the Sword of Honour to Flying Lieutenant Al Farooq Hamad Al Jabri, who won the overall first place at the Basic Officer Candidates Course. He also honoured Air Lieutenant Abdulrahman Nabhan Al Amri, who won first place at the level of the Course for Limited Service and University Officer Recruits.

This was followed by protocols of the Sultan Qaboos Air Academy’s standard handover from the graduating batch to the batch currently undergoing training, whose members swore to keep the Academy’s standard fluttering high.

The graduating officers chanted the anthem of the Royal Air Force of Oman afterwards, took the oath of loyalty, pledged allegiance and proclaimed thrice: “Long live His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander.”

A number of fighter aircraft of the Royal Air Force of Oman presented an airshow in the sky of the celebration square, demonstrating RAFO’s high level of modernization, its armament, training and human capabilities. The overall display reflected the great attention accorded to the RAFO by His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, the Supreme Commander. After that, the RAFO band played the Royal Anthem.

Then, the Commander of the graduates’ column asked HH Sayyid Dr. Kamil permission to dismiss. The graduates’ column quitted the parade ground, passing in front of the dais. After that, the RAFO Band played a variety of military melodies that reflected the perfect musical performance that distinguishes its members and the modern musical equipment and instruments with which it has been equipped.

The event was attended by some Royal family members, ministers, commanders of the Sultan’s Armed Forces and other military and security services, as well as a number of invitees.