Notes

On the 18th of November, Oman celebrates the Oman National Day which is one of the most important festivals in the country. In this public holiday, Omani people celebrate the independence from Portugal control in 1650, making Oman the oldest independent state in the Arab world.

National Day events include parades, fireworks, camel races, a horse show, and once every five years, a military exhibition drill. The holiday gives Omanis the opportunity to return to their home villages which makes the traffic level during the holiday much heavier than usual.

Glorious National Day Military Parade

The Glorious National Day Military Parade is the highlight and main event of the national day holiday in the country. It has been held since the early 1970s and has been held in different cities ever since its inception.[3]

The following units of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces are represented at the parade:

Royal Army of Oman (RAO)
Royal Navy of Oman (RNO)
Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO)
Royal Guard of Oman (RGO)
Sultan's Special Forces (SSF)
Royal Oman Police (ROP)
Royal Court Affairs (RCA)

Upon the arrival of Sultan to the royal box on the parade ground in their position as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the parade formations give the royal military salute, with the massed bands playing the As-Salam as-Sultani while the artillery fires a 21-gun salute. Afterwards, the parade commander approaches the royal box to request for permission from the sultan to begin the parade. Once the parade is commenced, the inter-service massed bands of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces passes the royal box in slow and quick time past playing marching music. Then, the parade commander motions for the formations on the parade ground to march off passing before the royal box accompanied to musical marches, giving the Sultan the military salute as they march past. After that, the combined bands gave a musical performance of various pieces from the ancient Omani heritage, as well as international symphony pieces. Following the performances, the troops then chant the military anthem (Ya Hay Ya Qayoom) and pledged their Loyalty and Allegiance to the Sultan, before sounding a threefold Long Live His Majesty the Sultan. Finally the royal anthem is then played a second time as the troops present arms, signaling the conclusion of the military parade. His Majesty then leaves the parade ground with his aides and minister, to attend the other national day events held that day.