| Dr. Khamis Al Jabri CEO Oman Sail Dr. Khamis Al Jabri has a career of vast achievements, beginning in 1990 at the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, England, he was crowned with the Sword of Honor from the late Majesty, Sultan Qaboos (may Allah bless his soul). Attained a PhD in Strategic Studies from the University of Exeter, England (2012) and in April 2020, he was royally appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Oman Sail. Within his prolific career in the Royal Navy of Oman he attained the rank of Commodore and served as the Director General of Operations and Plans. Al Jabri has produced multiple advisory strategic papers for the Omani government, military and security agencies. He has also overseen many strategic initiatives to maximise operational effectiveness of warships and naval bases. Through his published book “The Role of Sea Power in Oman’s Security and Economy”, he has advised the government on the importance of investing in maritime security, economy and tourism. He has recommended a joint National Maritime Policy to harmonize Oman’s seafaring and commercial interests utilizing the nation’s natural resources in a sustainable manner for the prosperity of Oman and the well-being of its citizens, all in accordance with Oman’s 2040 vision. |
Dr. Al Jabri, can you share a personal story or moment from your early life that sparked your interest in a naval career and led you to pursue your studies and service at the Britannia Royal Naval College?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: As a young man growing up in Ibri, a city that is far away from the sea, a maritime career or lifestyle was not a regular discussion for students planning their life after school.
I have always been a student proud of our national history, I believe that understanding where we have come from will help shaping where our future lies. In learning and researching the history of Oman at school I found our maritime exploration inspiring. The role that Oman’s maritime assets have played in our development as a nation captivated me from an early age, from the early spice trade with the east, to the voyages our fore fathers made across East Africa, Asia and to as far afield as New York on the ship ‘Sultana’ in 1840.
As Omanis we owe a duty of service to our country in whatever capacity suits our skill set. I am blessed to have been able to take my passion for the ocean and convert this to career of service to our nation.
Any naval man or woman will tell you that the Britannia Royal Naval College- Dartmouth (B.R.N.C) is the most prestigious naval academy in the world. Since it’s foundation in the 1860’s, B.R.N.C. has developed their curriculum to produce naval officers with rounded leadership capabilities. When I joined the Royal Navy of Oman, I was privileged to have been selected to attend the officer training at B.R.N.C. The experiences I had during my time in Dartmouth have shaped my leadership philosophies and have benefited me in my naval service to Oman and now within the business sector as C.E.O. of Oman Sail.
How has your education, particularly your PhD in Strategic Studies and other advanced degrees, influenced your approach to leadership and strategy within the Royal Navy of Oman and Oman Sail?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: I think that real leadership is centered on the attitude of the individual concerned. Does that person have the temperament, empathy and authority to lead in any given situation.
My education has allowed me to share leadership theories with people of different cultures and professions and these shared experiences have taught me the importance of adaptable leadership. Situational awareness complemented by team spirit and empowerment are essential components of my leadership style.
In my naval career, I advanced from the front line of service into a variety of leadership positions within the Royal Navy of Oman. These experiences at the coal face of military service enabled me to interrogate the theories taught to us to ensure that they would provide practical, achievable solutions when applied in the real-world scenarios. During my military career I found that this form of hands-on leadership, where academic theory was backed up with solid operational competence, was desired by those above me and respected by my subordinates.
Since transitioning into the commercial world at Oman Sail, my adaptable leadership style has been an asset as I have been challenged in an industry that lacks the stringent command structures of military life. Our leadership team at Oman Sail is made up of a combination of Omanis and non-Omanis in areas across maritime sport, event management, marketing and commercial water sports activities. The diverse nature of their experiences and skill sets has enabled me to broaden my mind to what leadership means in an organization.
I continue to learn from the team around me at Oman Sail and from my peers within the OMRAN Group leadership team. I believe that my experiences as a military leader are also adding value to my colleagues within the OMRAN Group, specifically my strategic studies, as we feed into the nation’s plans to produce an aligned vision for tourism in Oman.
What are some of the most impactful strategic initiatives you have overseen to enhance the operational effectiveness of Oman’s naval forces and maritime infrastructure?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: Starting out as a cadet from, I had to learn about every aspect of a maritime career from the ground up.
In my 30 year career in maritime industries I have been fortunate enough to help shape the Sultanate of Oman’s naval policy. Attaining the rank of Commodore, I served as Director General of Operations and Plans at Naval Headquarters.
The operational procedures I developed while in this role at the Royal Navy of Oman, lead to effective management of our military assets, in no small part to my granular knowledge of the responsibilities of the respective ranks within the service. The focus of these procedures was centered of the ability of the navy’s human capital to run the services efficiently and maximize the potential of every asset we had at our disposal.
The operational effectiveness of these procedures was tested during joint and combined maritime exercises, including the UNION-16 for the Gulf Cooperation Council and I was Deputy Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman for the Joint Oman-UK Exercise known as A’SAIF A’SAREE – III in 2018 meaning “Swift Sword”.
In your book, “The Role of Sea Power in Oman’s Security and Economy,” you discuss the importance of maritime security. How do you see Oman’s maritime policies evolving in the next decade?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: In the book, I recommended a joint National Maritime Policy to harmonize Oman’s seafaring and commercial interests, and I still believe this approach would contribute significantly to Oman’s economic diversification and offer further security within the region.
Utilizing the nation’s natural maritime resources in a sustainable manner for the prosperity of Oman and the well-being of its citizens, all in accordance with Oman’s 2040 vision, would be an effective and efficient way of maintaining maritime security through partnerships and cordial relationships while also benefitting the development of the nation.
I believe that Oman as a maritime nation should have a tangible maritime policy that details measurable objectives in the military, economic, energy, food security and tourism sectors. This would lead to Oman truly reaping the benefits of our Blue Economy.
How does Oman Sail align with Oman’s Vision 2040, and what role do you see it playing in promoting maritime tourism and economic development?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: Oman Sail contributes to 11 of the 12 national priorities, showing that the programs we implement across Oman’s coastline contribute materially to the objectives set out in Vision 2040.
Oman Sail’s activities across the globe over the first 12 years of existence promoted the potential of Oman as a destination for maritime tourism. Our teams sailed in regattas across Europe, Asia, Oceania and North America and at each event our marketing team brought a flavor of Oman to life with spectator experiences that were linked to attracting visitors to Oman.
Post my royal appointment in 2020 our strategy has shifted to a focus of staging these events and activities in the waters of Oman to drive more direct economic impact to our tourism sector. Over the past four years the activities driven by Oman Sail have delivered an economic return of 4.8 OMR for every 1 OMR we have invested in our activities. This spend has been with Oman Air, Oman Airports, a variety of hotel properties and most significantly with Omani owned businesses within the SME sector. As an example, in 2021 Oman Sail staged 9 international sailing championships. In the delivery of these events we engaged 111 Omani SMEs to provide products and services, spending 197,200 OMR directly with these businesses. This figure does not include the additional spend of the international guests with Omani SME’s during their stay here.
As a direct result of these activities, our base in Mussanah has been accredited by the Asian Sailing Federation as their first High Performance Training Centre. Our Mussanah sailing center now plays host to European sailing teams looking for a world class winter training base, thus providing a sustainable economic legacy to Mussanah.
I would also highlight the work that Oman Sail does at a community level across Oman to create opportunities for the youth of the nation. Our sailing programmes are not merely about sport, the curriculum delivered by our fully Omanised team add important education modules on water safety, environmental protection and health/well being. These programmes are fully inclusive with courses for male and female athletes of all abilities, including for people with physical and learning disabilities.
At Oman Sail we believe our responsibility to Oman extends far beyond sailing and touches on many aspects of the national economy and culture that are often overlooked.
Sustainability is a key focus globally. How is Oman Sail leveraging Oman’s natural resources sustainably to benefit both the economy and the environment?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: As sailors ourselves, we recognize the importance of protecting our natural resources for the benefit of all citizens and visitors to Oman. Over the past four years Oman Sail has taken a leading role in protecting our natural resources through beach clean up initiatives, reef renewal schemes, awareness campaigns and community education programs about the importance of preserving our natural resources and how people’s day to day habits can positively impact the long term health of our natural marine assets.
These activities have been recognized internationally with multiple awards celebrating our commitment to the ocean. In 2021 Oman Sail was awarded a Guinness World Record for the most nationalities collecting litter at the Youth Sailing World Championships in Mussanah when staff from Barceló Mussanah Resort and members of the OMRAN Group set a new record with 73 nationalities collecting over 344kg of litter. This high profile achievement not only highlighted that maintaining and regenerating our marine environment has to be a collaborative effort.
The passion demonstrated by our people in this area must be matched by government policy and material change to our day to day habits if we are truly going to affect positive change and protect the oceans what have contributed so much to Oman’s development as a nation over hundreds of years. This is imperative if we are to leave a lasting maritime legacy for future generations to benefit from as we have.
Being named one of the top 100 Arabian CEOs by the G2T Global Awards is a significant achievement. What does this recognition mean to you, and how does it reflect your contributions to Oman’s maritime sector?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: It was a huge honor to be named amongst the top 100 Arabian CEOs and to be part of such illustrious company. I believe that Oman Sail mission’s – To reignite Oman’s maritime eminence – is crucial in connecting Oman with our maritime heritage and modernizing how we view the opportunities the ocean can generate for future generations of Omanis. The contributions that Oman Sail has made to date, and those we will make in the future, can be of great significance for the nation and its people in so many sectors, such as tourism, social development, youth development, sport and various maritime industries. This is a mission that is powered by our people and their passion to create a prosperous future for all Omanis.
What are your strategic goals for Oman Sail in the next five years, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: Oman Sail, in partnership with our stakeholders, have set out a long term strategic plan that is centered on three areas – sport performance, economic development and social impact.
Sport has the power to create a strong sense of national identity and pride for our people. We have invested in creating these opportunities for young sailors over the past 16 years and we have achieved a lot in that time, up to winning silver at the 2023 Asian Games. Our sailing department have put in place a high performance development plan focused on winning multiple medals in the 2026 and 2030 Asian Games, and qualifying teams for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles before competing for medals at the Brisbane Games in 2032.
With all of our activities, both here in Oman and in international territories, we work collaboratively with government stakeholders to maximise the impact on the tourism sector across the Sultanate of Oman. Over the coming years Oman Sail will increase the number of major events that we stage in Oman and leverage international media coverage linked to the nations participating. These programmes will deliver significant direct economic benefits to the nation, while also stimulating longer term legacy impact on the economy through increased visitation as a result of the awareness we generate for what is possible in Oman.
Lastly, all of our activities are developed in a way to enrich the community with leadership and youth development opportunities using sailing as a tool to instill resilience, confidence, and transferable skills to benefit the youth of Oman in their future endeavors. This longer term benefit of this work will be seen as our Omani participants rise to positions of influences and add value on a daily basis to their chosen fields. The Oman Sail alumni network is already having significant impact on the goals of Vision 2040 and we expect this to continue and grow.
What advice would you give to young professionals and aspiring leaders in Oman who wish to pursue a career in maritime security and strategic studies?
Dr. Khamis Al Jabri: We live in changing times and being part of an organization charged with protecting and developing our nation is incredibly rewarding. The skills I have acquired during my time with the Royal Navy of Oman and now with Oman Sail have been valuable in areas I didn’t think were connected at first, and now each experience adds to the last and builds towards the next. I would encourage anyone with a passion for the sea, for our heritage, and anyone looking to represent the nation to consider the wide range of opportunities available in maritime industries.
Over generations Oman’s success was fueled by the maritime sector. Now is the time for our future leaders to understand the power of the sea and harness it for the benefit of all Omanis.