Most news coverage of the Middle East indicates that the region is experiencing a vicious cycle of violence and instability, war and sectarian conflict. Reports of wars and crises dominate the headlines, while areas of relative calm are largely ignored. The most important of these regions is the Sultanate of Oman, whose ruler, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, died on January 10 at the age of 79.

Sultan Qaboos is considered the 14th generation of the Al Said family ruling in Oman, and he reached the throne of the Sultanate on July 23, 1970. And immediately the Sultan, who was twenty-nine years old and who had just graduated from the Sandhurst Academy in Britain, embarked on a mission that was not Absent from his mind, which is setting a clear vision for the development and progress of Oman. To achieve this goal, he was able to combine the charisma he enjoyed with his political acumen, and unified the factions across the country on one issue.

Modern country

During his long reign, which was nearly half a century old, Qaboos transformed Oman into a modern, stable, and inclusive state, characterized by religious coexistence between the sects in it. In fact, the country's constitution prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion. Oman was ranked in the 2019 International Economic Forum free of terrorism.

Oil revenues make up between 70 and 85% of government funding, yet Qaboos’s economic development plan was very ambitious. In 1970, Oman was a country isolated from the rest of the world, poor, and almost empty of infrastructure and amenities. When Qaboos sat on the throne, the average life expectancy in Oman was about 50 years. There were about six miles of paved roads, and three public schools "with about 1,000 boys", while health care was at its lowest. But these days, bridges and internal and external roads, dams and desalination facilities, public utilities, global sports facilities, cultural centers, and hundreds of public and private educational and health facilities are attested, which attest to the success of its modernization program. The average age in Oman is now over 77 years, and the percentage of educated people in Oman exceeds 96% of the population.

Institutional framework

In his insistence on transforming Oman into a modern state, Sultan Qaboos worked to form a strong institutional framework, establishing a national constitution, and a bicameral parliament, in addition to many ministries that effectively lead the modern state. These efforts helped to increase the popularity of Qaboos in Oman, and helped to unify the population and turn them into citizens who are nationally coherent, which appears in the eyes of the Omanis as the father of the Omani Renaissance, which pushed the Sultanate forward globally, as it became a member of the United Nations, and a member of the university Arabic.

During the "Arab Spring" in 2011, Oman escaped the turmoil that afflicted many other Arab countries during that period. And there were demonstrations in two regions, during which the demonstrators focused on fighting corruption and calling for better salaries and fighting unemployment. In response, Sultan Qaboos made a major change in his government, increased wages and promised to create 50,000 jobs in the public sector, which led to the cessation of demonstrations.

More important than all of the above, his foreign policy is considered the most stable inheritance of Qaboos, as it was based on principles and realism, the ratification of all and the non-hostility of anyone. Oman's relationship with the United States was solid, as friendly relations began between the two parties since George Washington's presidency, and Oman became the first Arab country to send its ambassador to the United States in 1840, and under Qaboos’s rule, this relationship was strengthened between the two countries. Qaboos visited the United States in 1974 and 1983. In 2009, Oman signed a free trade agreement with the United States. At the same time, under Qaboos’s rule, Oman maintained friendly relations with Iran, thereby becoming able to play the role of mediator between Iran and the United States to release American hostages from Iran, in addition to hosting secret negotiations that led to the 2015 nuclear agreement.

The Qaboos bin Said journey began half a century ago. His legacy will remain the same, especially in the face of upcoming challenges. The new Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, faces great updates regarding the aspirations of future generations.

Thanks to Sultan Qaboos, Oman is in a better position to address the challenges, as this man was loved by the majority of Omanis, as he moved their country from poverty and isolation to make it an important player in the international scene, in addition to being a modern country, as this was reflected in the transfer of power to his successor Haitham bin Tariq, quickly and easily without any problems. With the support of the Omani people, the new sultan has a unique opportunity to continue the path that his predecessor, Qaboos, paved towards peace, prosperity and modernity.

Linda Papas Fancheh: Expert in Middle Eastern Studies

Qaboos’s foreign policy is one of the most enduring legacies of the late Sultan, as it was based on principles, realism, everyone’s approval, and no one’s antagonism.

Oman was ranked in the 2019 International Economic Forum free of terrorism.

During the so-called Arab Spring in 2011, Oman survived the unrest.