Reign as Sultan

Sultan Qaboos meets with United States Vice President Dick Cheney during his visit to the Middle East in 2002.
The political system which Qaboos established is that of an absolute monarchy. Unlike the situation in neighboring Saudi Arabia, Qaboos' decisions are not subject to modification by other members of Oman's sultanic family. Government decisions are said to be made through a process of decision-making by "consensus" with federal, provincial, local and tribal representatives, though critics allege that Qaboos exercises de facto control of this process.[citation needed] Qaboos also regularly engages in tours of his realm, in which any citizen with a grievance or request is allowed to appeal to the sultan in person. Critics claim these meetings to be scripted as well.[citation needed]
More recently, Qaboos has allowed parliament elections (in which women have voted and stood as candidates) and pledged greater openness and participation in government. As yet, however, this parliament lacks substantial political power.
Qaboos' supporters point to his relative success in governing the country. By Persian Gulf standards, Oman boasts good public order (it is an extremely safe country), middling prosperity (given its level of oil revenues) and a relatively permissive society.[citation needed] Since he acceded to the throne, Oman has broadened international relations, allowed newspapers, established high schools, built highways, opened hotels and shopping malls and spends a substantial portion of its dwindling oil revenues on health care and education.[3] Full democracy, they say, might threaten these accomplishments.[citation needed]
Unlike the heads of other Arab Gulf states, Qaboos ibn Sa‘id has not publicly named an heir. Article 6 of the constitution actually provides that the Ruling Family Council chooses the successor after the throne becomes vacant, and that the sultan's preference, to be expressed in an official letter (which Qaboos maintains has already been sealed and delivered to the defence minister), is only resorted to in the event of lack of familial consensus. Critics fear, however, that the resulting uncertainty could inspire a power struggle among members of the dynasty and/or the military. A power vacuum could thus coincide with the expected depletion of Oman's oil supplies, threatening the nation's continued peace and prosperity.
In 1998, Qaboos ibn Sa‘id was presented with the International Peace Award by the National Council on US-Arab Relations[citation

Sultan Qaboos

Sultan Qaboos

His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos bin Saidsub section- Overview Stone Age 4000 BC 3000 BC 2000-1000 BC Dawn of Islam Oman's Rulers Al Bu Said Dynasty H.M. Sultan Qaboos
Sultan Qaboos bin Said was born in Salalah in Dhofar on 18th November, 1940, the only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur (1932-1970) and the eighth direct descendant of the royal Al Busaidi line, founded in 1744 by Imam Ahmed bin Said. Sultan Qaboos has received his primary and secondary education in Salalah, and When he reached the age of 16, his father sent him to a private educational establishment in England. At the age of 20, he entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. After passing out of Sandhurst, he joined a British Infantry battalion on operations in Germany for one year and also held a staff appointment with the British Army.
After his military service, Sultan Qaboos studied local government subjects in England and, after a world tour, returned home to Salalah where he studied Islam and the history of his country. Upon his accession to the throne on 23 July 1970, he moved to Muscat where he declared that the country would no longer be known as 'Muscat and Oman', but would be united as the 'Sultanate of Oman'.
Since this time, Sultan Qaboos has faced many obstacles, not least than when he came to power. Oman today has an excellent health service, a clear road network and many educational establishments for girls and boys, from nursery levels, to university degrees.
His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has described his situation thus:"I am working for Oman - the country and its people...for me it is a delight to see my country and my people in the situation I imagined from the very first day I assumed power. I feel that I am a man with a mission rather than a man with authority.".