Oman
Oman, 1970 to today. Draft, not yet reviewed
Oman has been continuously ruled by the Al Bu Said dynasty since 1744. After the Dhofar rebellion and the 1970 Omani coup d'état, the state of Muscat and Oman transitioned into the modern state under Qaboos bin Said. Oman is an absolute monarchy ruled by a sultan, who serves as both head of state and head of government. Oman's oil reserves are ranked as the 22nd largest globally.
Seat of power: Muscat
Rulers
Qaboos bin Said Al Said
Sultan of Oman, 1970–2020
In 1970, Qaboos ascended to the Omani throne after overthrowing his father in a coup d'état, with British support. As sultan, Qaboos implemented a policy of modernization and ended Oman's international isolation.
Portrait of Qaboos bin Said Al Said: Foreign Ministry of Oman, OGL-om 1.0, file
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Haitham bin Tarik Al Said
Sultan of Oman, 2020 to today
Haitham bin Tariq acceded to the throne in 2020 following the death of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Since becoming Sultan, Haitham has largely continued his predecessor's domestic and foreign policy, which saw Oman develop into a stable, modern country.
Portrait of Haitham bin Tarik Al Said: Foreign Ministry of Oman, OGL-om 1.0, file
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Culture
- The nearly five-decade reign of Qaboos bin Said marked the beginning of a period of rapid modernization now known as the Omani Renaissance, which saw a rise in the country's living standards, the abolition of slavery, the end of the Dhofar Rebellion, and the promulgation of Oman's constitution.
- A portion of Oman's economy involves tourism, and trade of fish, dates and other agricultural produce.
- Oman is a member of the United Nations, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Picture
The Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat, completed in 2001, is the largest mosque in the country and can accommodate 20,000 worshipers.
Image: Richard Bartz, CC-BY-SA-3.0, file
Sources
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.