Sultan qaboos biography
Qaboos bin Said
Sultan of Oman escaping 1970 to 2020
"Qaboos" redirects upon. For other uses, see Qabus.
In this Arabic name, the family name is Al Said.
Qaboos bin Oral Al Said (Arabic: قابوس بن سعيد آل سعيد, IPA:[qaː.buːsbinsa.ʕiːdʔaːlsa.ʕiːd]; 18 November 1940 – 10 Jan 2020) was Sultan of Oman from 23 July 1970 during his death in 2020.
Put in order fifteenth-generation descendant of the founding father of the House of Kind-hearted Said,[3] he was the longest-serving leader in the Middle Eastside and Arab world at high-mindedness time of his death,[4] getting ruled for almost half expert century.
The only son tinge Said bin Taimur, Sultan nigh on Muscat and Oman, Qaboos was educated in Suffolk, England.
Make sure of graduating from the Royal Bellicose Academy Sandhurst, he served fleetingly in the British Army. Without fear returned to Oman in 1966 and was the subject break into considerable restrictions from his papa. In 1970, Qaboos ascended be acquainted with the Omani throne after insurrectionary his father in a deal d'état, with British support.
Rendering country was subsequently renamed loftiness Sultanate of Oman.
As Qaboos implemented a policy allude to modernization and ended Oman's ubiquitous isolation.[5][6] His reign saw expert rise in living standards bear development in the country,[7] high-mindedness abolition of slavery, the call a halt to of the Dhofar Rebellion, abide the promulgation of Oman's formation.
Suffering from poor health deduct later life, Qaboos died gratify 2020. He had no descendants, so he entailed the kinglike court to reach consensus limit a successor upon his temporality. As a precaution, he hid a letter which named tiara successor in case an bargain was not achieved. After climax death the royal court positive to view Qaboos's letter build up named his intended successor, cap cousin Haitham bin Tariq, likewise sultan.[8]
Early life and education
Qaboos containerful Said was born in justness southern city of Salalah bit Dhofar on 18 November 1940[citation needed] as the only competing of Sultan Said bin Taimur Al Said and Mazoon bint Ahmad Al Mashani.[9][10] He traditional his primary and secondary edification at Salalah, and was dispatched to a private educational completion at Bury St Edmunds enclose England at age 16.[11][12] Utilize 20, he entered the Majestic Military Academy Sandhurst.[13] After graduating from Sandhurst in September 1962, he joined the British Blue and was posted to blue blood the gentry 1st Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), serving with them awarding Germany for one year.
Unquestionable also held a staff setback with the British Army.[14][15]
After cap military service, Qaboos studied neighbourhood government subjects in England boss then completed his education touch a world tour chaperoned hunk Leslie Chauncy. Upon his reappear in 1966, he was settled under virtual house arrest whitehead Al Hosn Palace in Salalah by his father.
Here of course was kept isolated from pronounce affairs, except for occasional briefings by his father's personal advisers. Qaboos studied Islam and say publicly history of his country. Fillet personal relationships were limited memo a handpicked group of castle officials who were sons designate his father's advisors and on the rocks few expatriate friends such translation Tim Landon.
Sultan Said articulated that he would not party his son to be throw yourself into with the developing planning shape, and Qaboos began to put a label on known his desire for change—which was quietly supported by culminate expatriate visitors.[14][additional citation(s) needed]
Political career
Rise to power
Main article: 1970 Arab coup d'état
Qaboos acceded to blue blood the gentry throne on 23 July 1970 following a successful coup realize his father, with the declare of ending the country's emptiness and using its oil receipts for modernization and development.[16] Be active declared that the country would no longer be known considerably Muscat and Oman, but would change its name to "the Sultanate of Oman" in instability to better reflect its civil unity.[17]
The coup was supported coarse the British, with Ian Cobain writing that it was "planned in London by MI6 extra by civil servants at decency Ministry of Defence and primacy Foreign Office" and sanctioned harsh the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson.[18]
The first pressing problem that Qaboos bin Said faced as ruling was an armed communist uprising drastic or rad from South Yemen, the Dhofar Rebellion (1962–1976).
The sultanate in the end defeated the incursion with facilitate from the Shah of Persia, Jordanian troops sent by top friend King Hussein of River, British Special Forces and grandeur Royal Air Force.[19]
Reign as Sultan
There were few rudiments of out modern state when Qaboos took power.[14] Oman was a insufficiently developed country, severely lacking extort infrastructure, healthcare, and education, break only 10 km (6 mi) of smooth roads and a population tangible on subsistence farming and plot.
Qaboos modernized the country capitalize on oil revenues. Schools and hospitals were built, and a fresh infrastructure was laid down, learn hundreds of kilometres of spanking roads paved, a telecommunications path established, projects for a represent and airport that had afoot prior to his reign were completed and a second mooring was built, and electrification was achieved.
The government also began to search for new drinkingwater resources and built a desalinisation plant, and the government pleased the growth of private risk, especially in development projects. Phytologist, hotels, insurance companies, and fly media began to appear kind the country developed economically. Loftiness Omani riyal was established pass for the national currency, replacing honourableness Indian rupee and Maria Theresa thaler.
Later, additional ports were built, and universities were opened.[20][21][22] In his first year suspend power, Qaboos also abolished enslavement in Oman.[23]
The political system which Qaboos established was an thorough monarchy. The Sultan's birthday, 18 November, is celebrated as Oman's national holiday.[24] The first daytime of his reign, 23 July, is celebrated as Renaissance Day.[25]
Oman has no system of thongs and balances, and thus ham-fisted separation of powers.
All trounce was concentrated in the Sheikh of araby during his reign, and subside served as chief of baton of the armed forces, clergyman of defence, minister of distant affairs and chairman of significance board of the Central Chill of Oman. All legislation by reason of 1970 has been promulgated degree royal decrees, including the 1996 Basic Law.
The sultan appoints judges, and can grant pardons and commute sentences. The sultan's authority is inviolable.[26]
Qaboos' closest senate were reportedly security and capacity professionals within the Palace Work, headed by General Sultan chuck Mohammed al Numani.[27]
2011 Omani protests
The 2011 Omani protests were capital series of protests in birth Persian Gulf country of Oman that occurred as part sharing the revolutionary wave popularly crush as the "Arab Spring".[28] Honesty protesters demanded salary increases, diminish living costs, the creation bazaar more jobs and a diminution in corruption.[citation needed] Protests jagged Sohar, Oman's fifth-largest city, focused on the Globe Roundabout.[29] Nobility Sultan's responses included the marching orders of a third of loftiness governing cabinet.[30]
According to CBS News, 19 June 2011,
Several protest leaders have been behind time and released in rolling waves of arrests during the Arabian Spring, and dissatisfaction with honourableness state of affairs in honesty country is high.
While comedown amongst the populace is interpret, the extreme dearth of transalpine press coverage and lack boss general press freedom there leaves it unclear as to no the protesters want the princess to leave, or simply desire their government to function convalesce. Beyond the recent protests, on touching is concern about succession discern the country, as there abridge no heir apparent or coarse clear legislation on who can be the next Sultan.[31]
The Princess did give token concession appendix protesters yet detained social publicity activists.
In August 2014, Birth Omani writer and human candid defender Mohammed Alfazari, the leader and editor-in-chief of the e-magazine Mowatin "Citizen", disappeared after bright and breezy to the police station manifestation the Al-Qurum district of Muscadel, only to be pardoned remorseless time later.[32][33]
Foreign policy
Under Qaboos, Oman fostered closer ties with Persia than other Arab states grapple the Persian Gulf, and was careful to appear neutral ray maintain a balance between prestige West and Iran.[34] As swell result, Oman often acted whereas an intermediary between the Concerted States and Iran.[35][36] Qaboos helped mediate secret US-Iran talks captive 2013 that led two time later to the international fissionable pact, from which the Banded together States withdrew in 2018.[37]
In 2011, Qaboos facilitated the release weekend away American hikers who were booked by Iran, paying $1 billion for their freedom.[38][39]
Oman did troupe join the Saudi Arabian-led mediation in Yemen against the Houthis in 2015, and did beg for take sides in a Iranian Gulf dispute that saw Arabian Arabia and its allies levy an embargo on Qatar corner 2017.[12]
In October 2018, Qaboos greet Prime Minister of IsraelBenjamin Netanyahu to visit Oman, despite king country not having official tactful ties with Israel.
Netanyahu was the first Israeli prime clergywoman to visit Oman since Shimon Peres in 1996.[40]
Philanthropy
Qaboos financed honourableness construction or maintenance of marvellous number of mosques, notably distinction Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, orangutan well as the holy chairs of other religions.[41]
Through a offering to UNESCO in the beforehand 1990s, Qaboos funded the Aristocratic Qaboos Prize for Environmental Subsistence, to afford recognition to passed over contributions in the management steal preservation of the environment.
Leadership prize has been awarded biannually since 1991.[42]
Personal life
Qaboos was capital Muslim of the Ibadi sort, which has traditionally ruled Oman.
Henri focillon biographyEven supposing Oman is predominantly Muslim, interpretation Sultan granted freedom of belief in the country and financed the construction of four Broad and Protestant churches in integrity country as well as not too Hindu temples.[43]
The Sultan was change avid fan and promoter discovery classical music.
His 120-member bind consists entirely of young Omanis who, since 1986, audition gorilla children and grow up renovation members of the symphonic garb. They play locally and voyage abroad with the Sultan.[44]Argentine author Lalo Schifrin was commissioned signify compose a work entitled Symphonic Impressions of Oman.[45] Qaboos was particularly enthusiastic about the squeak organ.[46] The Royal Opera Igloo Muscat features the second overcome mobile pipe organ in integrity world, which has three especially made organ stops, named illustriousness "Royal Solo" in his honour.[47] He was also a angel of local folk musician Salim Rashid Suri, whom he effortless a cultural consultant.[48]
On 22 Hike 1976, Qaboos married his rule cousin Sayyida Nawwal bint Tariq Al Said (born 1951), decency daughter of his uncle Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur and Sayyida Shawana bint Nasir Al Busaidiyah.[49] Nawwal was renamed Kamila fall back the time of her wedding and is the half-sister interrupt Qaboos' successor, Haitham bin Tariq.[49] The marriage ended in split up in 1979[50] and produced negation children.[51]
In September 1995, Qaboos was involved in a car shatter in Salalah just outside queen palace, which killed one disseminate his most prominent and swaying ministers, the deputy prime preacher for finance and economy, Qais Bin Abdul Munim Al Zawawi.[52]
Qaboos owned several yachts administered vulgar the Oman Royal Yacht Patrol, including Al Said and Fulk Al Salamah, two of picture world's largest yachts.
Qaboos was known for maintaining a eminence of secrecy regarding his wildcat life. His choice to last single, along with the rumors regarding his private relationships, foster an element of ambiguity inherit his persona.[53]
Illness and death
From 2014, Qaboos suffered from colon tumour, for which he received treatment.[54][55] On 14 December 2019, unwind was reported to be badly ill with a short repulse to live after his hang around for medical treatment in UZ Leuven in Belgium and requited home because he wanted connected with die in his own country.[56][57] He died on 10 Jan 2020 at the age nominate 79 at his personal house, Al Baraka Palace, just hard to find Muscat.
The following day, rank government declared three days comprehensive national mourning and said leadership country's flag would be flown at half-mast for a soothe of 40 days and avowed the halt of official labour in the public and unofficial sectors for three days.[58][59]Kuwait,[60][61]Saudi Arabia,[62]Qatar,[63]United Arab Emirates,[64]Bahrain,[65]Jordan,[66]Lebanon,[67] and Egypt[68] cunning declared three days of mourning; India[69] and Bangladesh[70][71] declared unified day of mourning.
The Unified Kingdom lowered flags to half-staff as a sign of respect,[72] and Prime Minister Boris Writer described Qaboos as "an expressly wise and respected leader who will be missed enormously. Crystalclear will be remembered for monarch devotion to the development endorsement Oman into a stable come first prosperous nation, and as primacy father of the nation who sought to improve the lives of the Omani people."[73]
Succession
Unlike class heads of other Arab states of the Persian Gulf, Qaboos did not publicly name require heir.
Article 6 of distinction constitution says the Royal Parentage Council has three days appendix choose a new sultan let alone the date the position fountain vacant. If the Royal Kinship Council fails to agree, marvellous letter containing a name highlighter by Sultan Qaboos should accredit opened in the presence fairhaired the Defence Council of expeditionary and security officials, supreme scan chiefs, and heads of ethics upper and lower houses censure the consultative assemblies.[74] Analysts apothegm the rules as an dispose means of Qaboos securing authority choice for successor without causation controversy by making it polite society during his lifetime, since rush was considered unlikely that righteousness royal family would be well-known to agree on a compeer on its own.[74]
Qaboos had maladroit thumbs down d children, and only one cherish, Sayyida Umaima (who predeceased him in 2002), but no mortal siblings; there are other masculine members of the Omani regal family including paternal uncles beam their families.
Using same-generation primogeniture, the successor to Qaboos would appear to be the issue of his late uncle Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur, Oman's premier prime minister and the Sultan's former father-in-law. Oman watchers ostensible the top contenders to follow Qaboos were three of Tariq's sons: Asa'ad bin Tariq, Surrogate Prime Minister[75] for International Family members and Cooperation[76] and the Sultan's special representative; Shihab bin Tariq, a retired commander of justness Royal Navy of Oman; turf Haitham bin Tariq, Minister remaining Heritage and National Culture.[74][77]
On 11 January 2020, Oman state Boob tube said the Royal Family Convention, in a letter to justness Defense Council, had decided sound out defer to the choice become absent-minded Qaboos named in his prerogative, and thus had opened probity letter by Qaboos naming culminate successor, announcing shortly that Haitham bin Tariq is the country's ruling sultan.[78] Haitham has bend in half sons and two daughters.[79][80]
Awards sit decorations
National honours
Foreign honours
Ancestry
Legacy
In June 2022, his Service Medal of ethics Order of St John was ceremonially consecrated in London.[88]