Oman names culture minister as successor to Sultan Qaboos

This appeared in The Millennial Source

Oman’s new , former culture minister Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, has vowed to uphold his predecessor’s approach as regional peacemaker after being named as the new ruler of the Gulf Arab country.

Haitham made the vow after being named as the successor to Sultan Qaboos Al Said, the region’s longest-ruling monarch, who died at the age of 79 after a long battle with colon cancer. Since January 10, Oman has been in three days of mourning.

Sultan Qaboos has no children and has not publicly designated an heir. Under Oman’s succession laws, the Royal Family Council is required to meet within three days to designate a successor.

Haitham is Qaboos’s cousin and the Al Said family has ruled Oman since the eighteenth century.

Who was Sultan Qaboos?

The Middle East’s longest-ruling monarch took charge after overthrowing his father in 1970, supported by former colonial power Britain.

Qaboos is renowned for his diplomatic balancing as he often served as a facilitator between conflicted parties, including Iran and the United States — most notably in 2012–2013 to resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.