Issa Sultan Al Ismaili, a young Omani entrepreneur and the first Omani Director at Oman Sail as Director of Events. Passionate about his country and the Oman Sail Project with a service oriented background.
His career started 8 years ago with Gulf Air in Bahrain before moving to Muscat and was part of the event team setting up the first 3 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix where his operations experience flourished. He has spent 4 years with Gulf Air before he decided to follow his passion and founded Oman World Tourism in early 2006 to become the most forward thinking Destination Management Company to Oman.
Oman Sail:
Joined Oman Sail LLC as Project Manager and within a short time was selected to be Director of Events. His basket of successful events achievements included: Arabian Tour 2009, Extreme Sailing Muscat 2010 & 2010 European Series and The Indian Ocean 5 Capes Race 2010.
Today he is leading the project on the first ever owned event by Oman Sail, Sailing Arabia – The Tour. Based loosely on the demanding and internationally renowned Tour de France a la Voile, a one-design fleet of sailboats will compete in an annual series from Bahrain via Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khayma and the Musandam Peninsula to Muscat. Boats will represent their nation, a sponsor or be an individual entry. Six boats will start the inaugural Sailing Tour in January 2011.
Other Involvement:
Founder and Non Executive Director – Oman World Tourism
Executive Director – Misk Muscat International LLC, Master Franchise of Gloria Jeans Coffees to Oman
Partner – The View Properties, Oman
About OMAN SAIL
Oman Sail is rekindling Oman's maritime heritage.
Our innovative training programmes for thousands of young Omanis are inspiring a new generation to discover and enjoy sailing. For many, as a recreation which combines physical exercise with mental stimulation and teamwork – and for some, as a competitive sport at the very highest levels internationally.
The first graduates of our training programme have already achieved many victories as part of our elite inshore and offshore racing teams.
Why?
Oman Sail contributes to Oman's development. Our work raises the profile of Oman internationally, as a uniquely authentic high-end tourist destination, and as a destination for foreign investment. Our ever-expanding grass-roots sailing training programmes provide self-confidence (and marketable skills) to the youth of Oman. Other benefits to our programme are less quantifiable, but just as important. Our star sailors provide real Omani role models on the international stage. And by rekindling the nation’s maritime heritage, we are reconnecting the youth to their past more directly than a history lesson ever could do.
Last but no means least, we are ambassadors for Oman: world-class, talented, cosmopolitan and hospitable.
How?
Our ambitions and objectives are long-term: creating a national sailing education programme to provide the talent for our inshore and offshore teams – along with the supporting technical infrastructure and development – will take at least a decade to reach fruition.??Currently, both Omani and non-Omani sailors currently sail under the Oman Sail flag, but as our project succeeds, the proportion of Omanis will inevitably increase as sailors graduate from our training programmes into our teams: expatriate talent is being used simply to develop and train Omani sailors to the very highest level.
However in 2010, we already have international teams competing on the world stage, promoting Oman, and the first Omani stars of the Oman Sail Racing Teams are winning competitions around the world.