Omanis celebrated the life of Sultan Qaboos on Tuesday, three years after his death at the age of 79 in 2020.
Social media posts with the hashtag “Qaboos in our Hearts” accompanied words and archival footage of the long-time ruler.
“The 10th of January, an important day in Oman with a deep sorrow in the hearts of its people. Our loyal father has departed, leaving behind a great, immortal legacy,” Twitter user Al Sheibah Khalfan wrote, along with a video of Sultan Qaboos in military uniform.
Hameed Al Blooshi posted a poem, with black and white photos of Sultan Qaboos in his youth and pictures of his funeral.
“We miss you father on a night like this,” part of the poem said.
Former Shura Council member Ishaq Alsiabi recalled a conversation he had with Sultan Qaboos when Mr Alsiabi was seven years old.
“Golden moments that cannot be forgotten. With his humility Sultan Qaboos planted in our hearts loyalty and love. So he will always remain #Qaboos in our hearts,” he wrote.
The Port of Salalah's official account quoted Sultan Qaboos's calls for environmental preservation.
“'We must cherish and preserve this land from all those who wish to tamper with its beautiful, God-given nature.' Immortal words uttered by Sultan Qaboos on Omani Environment Day,” a post read.
Lecturer and PhD student Yusuf Al Hasani said: “You were and still are the father whose love is endless” along with a video of the Sultan and Surat Al Fatiha, often read by Muslims over the dead.
People from neighbouring countries also joined in remembrance.
Saudi writer Khaled Al Sabe wrote: “The Sultan of peace, the Sultan of hearts. This man who created a great nation and delivered the trust and departed. He left behind a strong, solid and cohesive country with the whole world. May your soul rest in peace, the greatest and purest of men.”
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Water waste
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
