A true pioneer and founder of the Flamma International group of companies, the late Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali was a voracious reader, much-loved columnist and posthumous recipient of the prestigious Council of Gulf International Relations’ Pen of Press prize. A visionary of his time, his go-getting attitude was born from humble beginnings and an innate desire to connect Oman and communicate its rich offering to the wider world. A lifelong thirst for knowledge and self-development took him overseas before he was called back to Oman at the behest of His Majesty, the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said, to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An ardent champion of his homeland throughout his life, he soon realised that to compete on the world stage the country needed an English language newspaper. In 1975 he launched the iconic Times of Oman and a great media dynasty was born and 45 years later, his bright legacy lives on through the next generation of Al Zadjalis.