Sultan of Oman Qaboos bin Saeed died on Friday evening at the age of 79, according to what the official Omani News Agency quoted the Royal Court as saying.
"The Diwan of the forgotten royal court, with the permission of God Almighty, mourns the presence of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said bin Taimur Al-Muadham," who died on Friday evening, January 10, the agency said on its website and on its Twitter account.
The agency added that the Sultan’s office announced “mourning and disrupting the official work of the public and private sectors for three days and flagging flags in the next forty days.”
The Diwan of the Royal Court announced mourning and the suspension of official work for the public and private sectors for a period of three days, and flags at half-mast would be flown for the next forty days.
On Tuesday, the Omani media quoted the Diwan of the Royal Court as saying that "Sultan Qaboos' condition has been stable" since his recent hospitalization.
The official Omani News Agency stated that the Sultan's death came "after a lofty renaissance he had established in 50 years since he took the reins of power on July 23, 1970, and after a wise and triumphant march filled with tender that covered Oman from one extreme to the other and affected the entire Arab, Islamic and international worlds as a whole." It resulted in a balanced policy, which the entire world paid tribute to.
On Saturday, the Supreme Defense Council of the Sultanate called the Council of the Royal Family to convene to determine who will rule for the rule of government in the country after the death of Sultan Qaboos, according to what the official media said, citing a statement issued by the Council.
If the Ruling Family Council does not reach an agreement, a council that includes military and security officials, Presidents of the Supreme Court and Presidents of the Council of State and Shura Council shall announce the assumption of the person whose name the Sultan has confidentially named in a closed letter ruling in the Sultanate.
Among the most prominent candidates to succeed Sultan Qaboos, Asaad bin Tariq (65 years), who was participating in public events on behalf of the late Sultan, and was commander of armored vehicles in the Omani army.
Besides him, the Minister of Heritage and Culture Haitham bin Tariq, 65, Shihab bin Tariq, 63, is a close advisor to the Sultan, and Fahd bin Mahmoud, who is the Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs.
Reports also speak of Taymour bin Asaad, son of Asaad bin Tariq, who is 39 years old, as one of the candidates to succeed the late Sultan.