Muscat City Centre bore a closer resemblance to the National Football Stadium on Tuesday as hundreds of fans turned out to meet their heroes including Ali Al Habsi and Juma Al Wahaibi.
Gulf Air, Oman’s national airline, organised a daylong event to highlight their recent sponsorship of the national football team and to serve as a curtain raiser to the forthcoming friendly between Bahrain and Oman on 2 June in Muscat.
Crowds began forming early in the morning at the Gulf Air stand for a chance to meet the star players, who gave away hundreds of autographed souvenir footballs and posters.
"I am so excited," said Mark Mather, a 27-year-old expatriate resident from the UK. "I am thrilled to meet Ali Al Habsi today, who plays for my home team Bolton Wanderers."
Gulf Air recently concluded a multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with Oman Football Association, whereby the airline will be the official sponsor for the national senior, Olympic, Under-19 and Under-17 teams.
"Seeing the adoring look on so many youngsters’ faces when they met their heroes was worth as much as our sponsorship deal," says Gulf Air General Manager Jaffar Juma.
“We hope we can provide a measure of support and encouragement to the Oman football teams to help them raise their world rankings and at the same time foster exciting new football talent across the Sultanate."
About Gulf Air
Founded in 1950, Gulf Air, owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman, is the only truly Pan Gulf carrier in the Middle East region.
The regional, geographic and cultural values that the airline has embraced over more than half a century are still central to defining its brand and service ethos.
Today the airline’s network stretches from Europe to Asia and covers 50 cities in 30 countries. The fleet comprises 34 aircraft and has the distinct advantage of possessing the strongest network across the Middle East.
A platform for sustained commercial operation has been established over the past three years as part of a multi-phased turnaround programme. It has also provided a framework for a succession of innovative products and services including the unique Sky Chefs and Sky Nannies that form part of Gulf Air’s ’smart airline, successful business’ vision.
International recognition has been achieved as a result of the turnaround programme leading to numerous awards for the airline’s innovative and high quality products and services: These include:
• Best Onboard Catering in First and Business Class (Skytrax World Airline Catering Awards 2005)
• Best designed in-flight magazine (American Creativity Awards,2005)
• Middle East Leading First Class Airline (World Travel Awards 2005)
• World’s Leading Airport Lounge (World Travel Awards 2005)
• Middle East & North African Platinum Best Airline (MENA Travel Awards 2004
• Most Improved Airline (Skytrax Awards 2004)
• Middle East First Class Airline (Arabian Business Awards)
• Best new product launch for in-flight services (PAX international Readership Awards)
• Best First Class Onboard Food (Skytrax Food Category 2004)
• Best Business Class Check-in (Skytrax Check-in Category 2004)
• Middle East region’s best airport restaurant for its restaurant in Bahrain International Airport lounge (PAX International Readership Awards 2005)
