Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Aviation artist Bader Yousif Murad has good reason to jump for joy ... his dream of celebrating 'Our Race' has come true after five years of persistence and persuasion paid off in style.
Airline executives unveiled his dashing design in front of the world's press at the weekend just days before the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
And Bader, 42, pictured above, from Muharraq, believes the Airbus A-330-200 winged wonder will spell out a special message to passengers on their way to the kingdom: "The Bahraini flag and the gold colour representing our heritage all flows very well together and tells F1 fans that 'our home is your home' ... you are very welcome here!"
Entitled 'Pearl of the Desert', the new Formula One livery brings to life Bader's vision of combining the colours of Bahrain's desert, the kingdom's Arabic culture, the airline's national identity and the kingdom's international racing circuit.
It took delighted Bjšrn NŠf, chief executive officer of Gulf Air, just five minutes to approve the project which had been on the drawing board for five long frustrating years.
Now that the interests of Bahrain are its sole consideration and the airline is in charge of its own future destination, such strategic decisions can be made clearly and concisely.
Mr NŠf said: "It embodies the spirit of nationalism and modernity and, at the same time, conveys the message that the kingdom is a prominent sporting destination in the region and Gulf Air is its sports ambassador.
"With the region's biggest motor sport spectacle just around the corner, Gulf Air is taking the carnival atmosphere to greater heights by dedicating an aircraft painted with an F1-theme livery."
