A 21-gun salute greeted the President, Mrs McAleese, as she stepped from the Government jet here yesterday afternoon at the start of a four-day State visit to Oman.
She was met by her host, Sultan Qaboos al-Said, who led her along red carpets through a guard of honour. The two heads of state stood to attention on a covered podium on the tarmac as the Irish and Omani national anthems were played by the band of the Second Squadron of the Royal Guard of Oman.
The sultan introduced her to members of the cabinet and to EU and US ambassadors based in Oman. The President introduced the Irish party, including her husband, Dr Martin McAleese, the Irish Ambassador, Mr Conor Murphy, the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, and the Minister of State for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Tom Kitt, and officials.
Sultan Qaboos escorted Mrs McAleese into the ornate royal terminal and offered her Omani coffee and halwa, a traditional sweet jelly.
The sultan is an absolute ruler, and when he travels the roads are closed. Consequently the route into Muscat was cleared of all traffic yesterday afternoon as the royal cavalcade bearing Mrs McAleese and her party sped from the airport to the Al Alam Palace.
Jeeps with mounted guns were positioned at the front and rear, helicopters hovered overhead and interested bystanders watched from the pavements. Irish and Omani flags decorated part of the route.
At the Al Alam Palace in central Muscat, the sultan, in traditional dress, and the President met for more than an hour and discussed possible agreements on technical and training matters.
Dozens of courtiers in white, ceremonial daggers in their belts, organised the event and escorted the presidential party into the immensely ornate palace decorated in blue, white and gold, with red carpet leading up the long wide stairway to the entrance.
On arrival at her hotel, the sumptuous Al Bustan Palace, on a private beach outside Muscat, where Britain's Duke of York is currently a guest, she was greeted by a military fanfare and wafts of incense in the great cathedral-like lobby.
The road to the hotel, which was built 10 years ago for a meeting of the Gulf Co-Operation Council, was carved through red-hued hills. The ninth floor, where the presidential suite is located, is run by palace staff.
Last night Mrs McAleese returned to the Al Alam Palace for a state banquet hosted by Sultan Qaboos. She wore a specially acquired long purple evening gown designed by the London-based Irish designer, Lorcan Mullally.
Some 230 guests attended the formal event. There were no speeches, but a military band played Irish and Omani pieces.