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Sultanate of Oman

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Wise Leader

In 1970, Oman had little physical or administrative infrastructure, and Sultan Qaboos faced the formidable task of turning a backward, impoverished country into a powerful modern state. A communist-backed uprising had erupted in Oman’s southern Dhofar province, and was keeping the small, poorly equipped army fully engaged. Oman had begun to exploit its oil reserves in the late 1960s but had achieved little development in other sectors. Oman’s health services, education, housing and communications were basic at best.

Sultan Qaboos rallied his troops to defeat the insurgents and then launched a drive to unify and modernise the country. When the Sultan marked his 30th anniversary in 2000, he also celebrated the creation of a prosperous and stable modern state that was ready to face the challenges of a new millennium. Having been transformed into a modern state in just thirty years, Oman’s next challenge is to replace public sector growth with an expanding private sector to enhance future progress and prosperity.

In 1996, Oman passed the Basic Law of the State, containing more than 80 articles to clarify every aspect of the state apparatus and to address the fundamental rights and duties of the Omani citizen. The Basic Law guarantees the equality of all citizens before the law, freedom of religion and of speech, a free press, the right to a fair trial and the right to create national associations. It lays down a legal framework for all future legislation and, as Sultan Qaboos has no children, clarifies the rules of succession.

Article Five asserts that the system of government is a monarchy and that the royal line comprises the male descendants of Sayyid Turki bin Said bin Sultan, Sultan Qaboos’ great-great-grandfather. It stipulates that the successor to the throne shall be a Muslim of sound mind and the legitimate son of Omani Muslim parentage. The rules of succession decree that the ruling family council will choose Sultan Qaboos’ successor within three days of the throne falling vacant. Only if the ruling family council fails to reach a consensus will the Defence Council open the letter written by His Majesty naming his choice of successor.

Democratic principles

The Sultan's visionary and strong-willed leadership, together with the human resources represented by the people of Oman, has resulted in a sense of individual responsibility and duty towards the country's growth. The concept of shared decision-making and national development by the people and the government has always been evident in His Majesty’s political thinking. To further this concept, Oman’s population, both male and female, has been provided with full access to education and economic, social and cultural developments, with the Basic Law of the State ensuring the freedom and rights of all citizens. An enlightened system of open meetings at the state level ensures that popular participation is promoted and feelings of social cohesion and loyalty generated. In November 2002 the right to vote was granted to every Omani citizen, both male and female, over the age of twenty-one years.. All Omani citizens are thus able to vote in the 4th October 2003 elections for the Majlis al Shura’s (Consultation Council) fifth term (2004-2007). In another development, the Supreme Court was created in February 2003. Omani women are increasingly being appointed to Government positions, the most recent being a Minister as President of the Public Authority for Craft Industries in March 2003.

His Majesty's tours of the Sultanate

His Majesty the Sultan's tours of his homeland are a specifically Omani institution and reflect the powerful and unique relationship that exists between His Majesty and his subjects. The tours, Which have been a feature of Omani life since Sultan Qaboos assumed the reins of power, demonstrate his desire to be in touch with his people, with whom he frequently holds face-to-face discussions and sees first hand how they live.

During these tours His Majesty, accompanied by certain ministers and advisers, travels round the country - sometimes for several weeks at a time - stopping off in various places to meet local citizens, sheikhs and dignitaries. These meetings take place either at Royal Camp sites or on the road in more spontaneous encounters.

His Majesty's tours of the wilayats are particularly significant in that they provide a vital and highly personal channel of communication between the leadership and the people, where citizens can speak directly to the Sultan, and express opinions freely. His Majesty told the Kuwaiti daily newspaper Al Seyassah during a tour in February 2006: "I must admit that I greatly enjoy these tours I make around the country... I meet the people face to face and listen to their requests, while they listen to my views... Checking on the state of one's subjects is not unusual in the history of Islam and is generally regarded as one of the duties of a leader. There are citizens whose situations do not allow them to knock on certain doors, so I come to them directly."

Three seminars on the employment of national manpower have been held during His Majesty's tours. The third, which took place in January and February 2005, produced recommendations on several matters including the Sanad project, and are now being put into practice.

During the Royal tours decisions are taken and directives issued on the implementation of road, water, electricity and other service projects in various wilayats, or on resolving obstacles causing delays to projects currently in progress. Since these projects are not covered by the General State Budget, the budget must be amended to accommodate them. Last year - 2005 - additional budget allocations totalled RO331 million.

During (2006) the Royal tour was longer than usual and covered the Dakhiliyah and Wusta Regions and the Governorate of Dhofar, His Majesty ordered the construction of a school, three health centers, a fishing harbour and a desalination plant at a total cost of RO95 million. Projects such as these are usually decided upon as a result of field visits by the ministers accompanying the tour, based on meetings between His Majesty and members of the public in the regions visited.

As His Majesty's tours are usually lengthy affairs, foreign heads of state and senior officials frequently gather at the Royal Camp if they visit the Sultanate during a tour. The tours are regarded as an important part of the country's political life. As Sultan Qaboos has noted: "During my tours of the country I listen to old and young, treating everybody whatever their social status with respect".

Charity and socio-cultural initiatives

During his reign, Sultan Qaboos, with his concern for the severely disadvantaged in society, has made generous personal donations to deserving causes inside and outside Oman. In 1995 he announced that disabled people with limited incomes would be exempt from paying private vehicle registration and renewal fees. In the same year, Sultan Qaboos made a personal donation of RO 1.5 million to some 42,000 families on social security. He was a founder donor of the Omani Organisation for Charitable Works, established by Royal Decree in 1996. Also in that year, he donated $7 million in aid to Palestinian civilians and $1 million to Al Azhar University in Cairo. At the Earth Summit in Johannesburg in 2002, $2 million was pledged to the United Nations towards efforts to combat poverty in Africa. In May 2003, His Majesty directed the despatch of relief flights of materials, foodstuffs, medical supplies, tents and blankets to Algeria to assist those affected by the earthquakes in the capital and suburbs.

Fund for the Development of Youth Projects: In 1998, His Majesty launched the FDYP in order to provide young Omani entrepreneurs with technical assistance and managerial support for the launching of small/medium-sized businesses (eg. factories) and to encourage the private sector to assist with finance.

Sanad Project: This Project was launched by His Majesty in October 2001 with a RO2 million donation from the government. It trains young Omanis to set up their own small businesses (eg. supermarkets) with maximum assistance of RO5,000.000. The private sector is also encouraged to assist with training and financing the Sanad project.

In business, the Sultan has established several annual awards to recognise outstanding Omani ventures

His Majesty’s Cups for Sports: The Sultan is a liberal supporter of sport and youth participation. In 1998, he launched two sports trophies and financial grants for the winning clubs in annual football and hockey tournaments.

His Majesty's Camel Race Cup: Equestrian activities, including the formation of a national team, are currently being promoted in a comprehensive new programme of improved facilities and training for both horse and camel riding and racing, and by the institution of this Cup.

The Sultan Qaboos Award for Environmental Conservation: This UNESCO-administered Award was launched in 1989, offering bi-annual prizes of $20,000 to groups or institutions that deliver outstanding results in protecting the environment. . The Sultanate has been elected to the post of deputy chairman on UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, which recently added 24 more locations as World Heritage Sites around the globe. The Sultanate has seven World Heritage Sites.

The Sultan of Oman’s Chair for Arab and Islamic Studies

Australia: In the field of education, an agreement signed in March 2003 with Melbourne University for the creation of this Chair is the latest in a series of endowments to prestigious universities throughout the world. It is just one example of the Sultan’s role in promoting exchanges and mutual understanding between cultures and peoples.
A chair for Water Management and Economic Diversification, in December 14 2005 at the Roosevelt Academy affiliated to Utrecht University in the Netherlands.
The Dutch government resolved launching of HM Chair in recognition of His Majesty’s contributions and efforts in the field of international peace and cooperation, and development of the Sultanate as a modern state under his leadership.

His Majesty's Research Fund: Within Oman, grants from this Fund have been awarded in 2003 to five research projects at Sultan Qaboos University, in the fields of medicine, the sciences, geography and commerce.

Autobiography

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos was born in Salalah, the most southerly city of the state then known as Muscat and Oman, on 18th November 1940. He was the only son of the late Sultan Said bin Taimur and the eighth direct descendant of the royal Al Busaidi line founded in 1744 by Imam Ahmad bin Said. Sultan Qaboos spent his childhood in Salalah. When he reached the age of 16, his father sent him to a private school in England, and in 1960 he entered The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an officer cadet.

After passing out of Sandhurst, he spent a year with a British infantry battalion on duty in Germany and then held a staff appointment with the British army. Later, speaking to young officers at a passing out parade, Sultan Qaboos recalled his own military training. “The values that I absorbed have remained with me forever afterwards,” he said. “I learned that discipline is not just something one imposes on others; it is something that one has, above all, to apply to oneself, if one is to be a worthy leader of men. I also learned the true meaning of service: that is, to give, and not to expect to receive, and that it is the team, and not oneself, that matters. I learned that with responsibility comes obligation.”

Having finished his military service, His Majesty studied local government in England and then embarked on a tour of the world. When he returned to Oman, he spent six years studying Islam and Omani history in Salalah. On the abdication of his father and his subsequent accession on 23rd July 1970, Sultan Qaboos moved to Muscat to implement his vision for the country’s development.

Like his famous ancestor Imam Ahmad, the founder of the Al Busaidi dynasty, an outstanding leader who had ended a turbulent era of civil wars and brought peace and stability to Oman, Sultan Qaboos inherited a stagnant, conflict-ridden country. In his first address to the nation, he declared that the country would be unified as the Sultanate of Oman, with a new flag, and ended restrictions on freedom of movement. He called on Omanis who had left the country to return home in order to contribute to the challenges that lay ahead and to use their talents and expertise to modernise a once powerful nation that had fallen into poverty and decline.

Apart from his role as ruler, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos is a man of diverse interests. He has been an enthusiastic horseman since childhood and enjoys other outdoor pursuits, including walking and tennis. His military training has left him with a keen interest in weapons and military equipment; he is an adept marksman and is proud of the Omani shooting team’s numerous international successes. He has studied a variety of subjects ranging from religion to astronomy and the environment, languages, literature and history. His passion for music led him to establish the Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra in 1985.