Times of Oman's ‘I Love the Sultan’ campaign winners receive prizes

Muscat: Happy winners of the ‘I Love the Sultan’ campaign gathered at the scenic Rumba Lattina restaurant at The Cave complex in Muscat yesterday in the midst of cheers and celebrations.
Out of the total registered names, a hundred people won prizes. Prizes included a brand new Nissan Xtrail, diamonds, several iPhone7s, iWatches, a luxury family holiday and other gifts, thanks to the major sponsorship partners, including Suhail Bahwan automobiles, Malabar Gold & Diamonds and Sheraton Oman hotel.
Eleven-year-old Fahad Ahmed, a student of Grade 6 at the Indian School Al Wadi Al Kabir was the winner of the Nissan Xtrail. He said, “I am really happy to have won, I want to thank the Times of Oman newspaper and my school for giving me this great opportunity to take part in the campaign through which I can show my love to the Sultan, indeed I love him. I will give the car to my father, because I cannot drive it.”
Of the 80,000 names registered, 65 per cent were males, and 35 per cent females. More than 70 per cent of the participants are residents of Muscat, and the majority of respondents are between the ages of 26 and 35. More than 40 per cent of the winners were children.
Richard Pakenham, chief sales and Marketing Officer at the Muscat Media Group gave away the prizes to the excited winners and said, “As everyone now knows, the ‘I Love the Sultan’ campaign was an overwhelming success, and with more than 80,000 registered names the portrait looks magnificent. For those fortunate enough to have their names pulled from the draw which we conducted last week, they are gathered here today with some of the sponsors, so it is a happy occasion.
“Of the total registered, we had more than 15,000 Omanis which is wonderful and we had almost 20,000 students registered, the schools really got behind the project,” he added.
“We were not expecting to win at all. This is the first time we have won a prize in Oman. We are so excited,” said an excited Jiji, father of Edwin, who won a holiday package.
Elizabeth, the winner of an Apple iWatch said that she was happy to win the watch, “I am really happy to have won the watch and will start wearing it right away.”
“We were expecting to win something small, but a car was something we never thought of. We have not decided what to do with it yet, but we are absolutely delighted,” said Mohammed Yunus father of Fahad who won the Nissan Xtrail.
More than five different nationalities participated in the campaign, including citizens from Pakistan, Philippines and Bangladesh.
“I Love the Sultan” campaign was started by the Muscat Media Group to celebrate the 46th National Day with a poster carrying names of everyone who registered.
Everyone who registered also entered into the biggest-ever prize draw from Muscat Media Group (MMG) with prizes worth OMR25,000. The portrait was published on National Day in the Times of Oman and Al Shabiba newspapers, their social media platforms and websites.