On January 10th, 2020, the Middle Eastern nation of Oman awoke to a potentially catastrophic development. The beloved Sultan of Oman, whose absolute reign had lasted for nearly fifty years, had died. To make matters worse, Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said never publicly declared his successor. But a chaotic transfer of power, which seems all too familiar in many nations these days, did not occur. Instead, the new Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was sworn into office the very next day. So what’s so important about Oman? Who was the previous ruler and who is the new? This week’s post is all about this very underrated country in the Middle East.

Quick Facts: Oman History & Culture

--Oman is a small country at the south-eastern end of Arabian peninsula. It borders Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. It sits along the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical waterway that grants access into the Persian Gulf and the region’s rich oil reserves.

--The region around has been ruled by the al-Said family since 1744, when it once boasted a large sea-faring empire.

--The nation has a small population of only about 4.6 million. Most Omanis practice Ibadi Islam, which is unique sect of the religion that is not quite Sunni or Shia.

--Oman's government is one of the few remaining absolute monarchies left in the world. All political and military power is vested in the Sultan.

A Succession Crisis Averted

The fact of Oman’s absolute monarchy was especially problematic in recent days as Sultan Qaboos left no clear public heir to his throne in place. Instead, the plan was that the ruling family would choose a new Sultan. If they could not reach a consensus within a few days, they would open a sealed envelope which contained the name of Qaboos’ choice. Instead, it appears the ruling family deferred directly to the wishes of the late-Sultan himself to open the envelope which named his cousin Haitham as Sultan.

What is Oman’s role in the region?

For several decades, Oman has tried to play the role of mediator in international disputes. Oman has been especially helpful in negotiating between the United States and Iran ever since Iran’s 1979 revolution. The Omanis were critical in helping to set the groundwork for the negotiation of the (now mostly scrapped) Iran nuclear deal. Omani culture prides itself on maintaining good relations with other nations and generally refuses to take sides in regional conflicts.

Who was Sultan Qaboos?

Qaboos bin Said al-Said was the only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur. Taimur was extremely suspicious of foreign interference in Oman and tried to close the country off from outside investment. By 1970, Qaboos saw his opportunity to ascend to the hereditary throne and deposed his father. Qaboos quickly changed his father's policy of isolationism by opening up the country to foreign investment. For nearly fifty years, he continued to modernize the country and worked to keep Oman neutral in foreign affairs.

Who is Sultan Haitham?

Sultan Haitham is the cousin to the late-Sultan Qaboos. As mentioned earlier, he was personally chosen by Qaboos to be his successor. At age 65, Haitham seems to want to chart a similar course as before. In his coronation speech, he emphasized a continuation of the Omani policy of neutrality in most disputes and reaffirmed Oman’s role as a mediator among nations throughout the region. But Oman has been troubled recently by a stalling economy, and Haitham will need to continue his predecessor’s work of diversifying Oman’s economy away from total reliance on oil revenues. In addition, rising unemployment among the country’s large youth population could threaten the absolute power of the Sultan position.

What does this mean for the United States and for you?

For now, it appears that Oman will remain a steady partner in the region that does not cause trouble to any of its neighbors. The U.S. (and the world in general) needs a stable force to continue to help moderate tensions between Iran and America. In turn, this stability helps moderate energy prices which impact the price of everyday goods throughout the country. In a region plagued by war, chaos, and proxy fights, Oman’s peaceful transition of absolute power is a welcome departure.