Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the ruler of Oman, died on Friday, the Royal Court has informed. He was 79 years old.
Qaboos had deposed his father, Said bin Taimur, in a bloodless coup in 1970 to become ruler of Oman. He was the Arab world's longest-serving ruler and is credited with modernising Oman.
Qaboos is credited with using money from oil revenue to boost welfare spending and improve infrastructure. Qaboos was close to major western powers, but also maintained ties with Iran. Interestingly, Sultan Qaboos studied for a short time in Pune.
There have reports claiming Qaboos was being treated for cancer.
also read
- Israel-Iran tensions: Air India suspends flights to Tel Aviv
- Iran's aerial attack on Israel: 5 major developments as over 200 drones shot down by IDF, US forces
- Middle East conflict: Drone strike in Syria kills 6 US-backed Kurdish fighters
- Iraq warns of ‘dangerous consequences’ after US strikes kill over 30 on its soil, Syria
- Will respond strongly if bullied, says Iran as US prepares for strikes in Iraq, Syria
The Royal Court issued an obituary, saying, "“To the people of the beloved homeland in all its districts, to the Arab and Islamic nations and to the world at large. It is with hearts filled with faith in Allah and his Providence ,and with great sorrow and deep sadness—yet with complete satisfaction and absolute submission to the will of the Almighty Allah, that the Diwan of Royal Court mourns His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, who passed away on Friday, the 14th of Jumada Al-Ula, the 10th of January 2020."
Three-days of mourning has been declared. Qaboos did not have children and had not publicly named a successor. A statute passed in 1996 states that the ruling family would have to announce a successor within three days. Twitter users claimed early on Saturday that security had been tightened across Oman and the military is on alert for the transition of power.
