Oman: America’s Cup success

In a region where its neighbours are more usually associated with projecting soft power and personal prestige through the promotion of glitzy sporting and leisure events, the sultanate achieved a major (if relatively quiet) success when it became the first Middle East country to host an America’s Cup yacht racing. The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Oman took in waters off Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, but it was organised by Oman Sail, established in 2008, and heavily sponsored by Omani government departments and corporations; it ended in Muscat on 28 February with Sir Ben Ainslie’s BAR team winning a tightly fought series.