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Further Reading

Sultan Qaboos bin Said - 1970-20xx

Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said was born on the Shawwal 17 1359 AH, corresponding to 18 November 1940 of the Gregorian calendar, in Salalah in the Dhofar Governorate of the Sultanate of Oman. He is the eighth Sultan and a direct descendant of the al bu Said dynasty, established by the Imam Ahmed bin Said in 1741 of the Gregorian callendar. He is revered and remembered in Oman as a warrior and an administrator who was able to unify Omani society and develop it into a nation.

His Majesty the Sultan began his education in Oman, and he was then sent by his father Sultan Said bin Tamour to United Kingdom in September 1958 for further studies. He spent two years in a private School in Suffolk and joined the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in 1960. He graduated after two years and joined the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), which was then stationed in Germany. There he spent six months as a leadership trainee.

After completing his military training within the British army in Germany, he studied local government, and completed training courses in management, and embrked on aworld wide cultural tour. He returned to Oman in 1964, then spent most of his time furthering his knowledge of Sharia law and of the history and civilisation of oman.

With the help of British advisors, Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id assumed power on July 23, 1970, in a palace coup directed against his father, Sa'id bin Taymur, who later died in exile in London. The new sultan was confronted with insurgency in a country plagued by endemic disease, illiteracy, and poverty. One of the new sultan's first measures was to abolish many of his father's harsh restrictions, which had caused thousands of Omanis to leave the country, and to offer amnesty to opponents of the previous regime, many of whom returned to Oman. He also established a modern government structure and launched a major development program to upgrade educational and health facilities, build a modern infrastructure, and develop the country's natural resources.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has laid the foundations for a comprehensive national economic, social, and cultural renaissance, and has promoted Oman regionally and internationally, thus restoring the glories of its history and the greatness of its civilization. Since coming to power on 23 July 1970 His Majesty has had a clear, precise, and well defined vision for the future of Omani society, within its regional and international context. This has been his goal in order to advance Omani society and priorities the countrys needs. It was of extreme importance to strengthen the social fabric of Omani society by preserving the heritage of the Omani civilization, this provides a stepping stone for all those efforts aimed at achieving and entrenching the spirit of solidarity and coherence, within the Omani identity.

His Majesty was able to establish a clear framework for stable sustained development, with careful thought, and a comprehensive approach to the goal of completing two main tracks: To establish a national spirit as the pillar for the building and development of all areas. this task that requires a climate of security and safety and has been achieved. To open all sectors to Omani citizens so they may carry out their role as partners in drawing and orienting the process of development. this will depend on Oman's reserves of human resources, putting trust in their capabilities, providing each citizen the opportunity to play his or her part.

His Majesty the Sultan stressed on 27th July 1970 that the " the government and the citizen act as one body that would cease to work as whole if one single organ were to fail to function". He continued by stating that the citizen is: "the axis of the hand mill round which all aims and achievements are focused and for whom various plans and programs and schedules are drawn .. This is the truth that every individual should deliver and every official should bear in mind "

As the citizen simultaneously serves as creator and target of development,his Majesty has strived to make available all resources to contribute to developing his or her capabilities, and to launch the creativity of each person in all fields, whilst stressing the very fundamental fact that "all our experiences and actions stem from our Omani existence [...... ] and are compatible with the values and traditions in our Muslim society. [....] [we] do not make any step without deep thought and total conviction ?".

This is indicative of an orientation towards mutual understanding, hence His Majesty the Sultan's eagerness to achieve the highest possible level of mutual understanding between the state's legislative and executive establishments and between the government and the private sector. "Mutual understanding and enlightened thinking serve as the starting point for the advancement of Oman and an improved service to its people'.

Enlightened thinking is one of the characteristics of His Majesty the Sultan's wise leadership, mutual understanding stems from the participation of Omani citizens, and various institutions in society, in realising the vision expressed by the His Majesty the Sultan, and translating them into plans and programs within the priorities, resources, and targets of the homeland.

Enlightened thinking is also one of the characteristics of His Majesty the Sultan's style in dealing with all issues by means of reasonable and deliberate study. This approach is what lies behind the success of the national development plans, and the huge change and tremendous progress achieved in all sectors. Enlightened thinking is one of the characteristics of His Majesty the Sultan's leadership. In addition mutual understanding stems from the participation of Omani citizen and various institutions in society in realising the vision expressed by His majesty the Sultan,as well as participating in the translation of these ideas into plan and programmes with priorities , resources, and targets of the homeland.

The great transformation of Omani society was been coupled with the building of a modern state, depending in its functioning and roles on the institutions of a modern state. Citizens are included and empowered to participate in building this modern state, on the basis of the rule of law as the foundation stone for government. This raises the citizens' resolve to make a success of their role in building the state, which helps entrench positive thinking further, and strengthens the will for participation and solidarity, and deep allegiance to the homeland and its leadership. Cooperation between the government and the private sector, and the results being achieved, is a clear expression of this.

His Majesty the Sultan has also broadened the basis of government and shura (consultation) through the role and duties of the Omani shura institutions, stemming from the Council of Oman, comprising the State Council, and the Shura Council. The shura regime and its state institutions are bolstered by a modern and independent judicial regime, aimed at achieving justice, and a feeling in society of total safety and security, such as the Omani people have enjoyed since the launch of the modern Omani Renaissance.

His Majesty the Sultan always strives to allow every opportunity for maximum use of the capabilities of the Omani people at all levels and in all sectors in order fulfil the needs and requirements of the current phase of national development. He also endeavours to achieve an atmosphase of harmonious cooperation between the goverment , the private sector, and the citizens. He seeks to strengthen and encourage the commitment of all Omani experts. His Majeasty sees their role and positive contribution the present and future and wants to see them flourish within a climate of safety and security, in this eag flourishing age of reirth , where all institutions of the state perform their roles in building the structure of Oman's modern awakening. these sam institutions protect oman's numerous achievements, and maintainin stability and security in the homeland under the rule of law.

In addition to his achievements in building the modern state, His Majesty has always respected Omani heritage and tradition. He goes on annual field tours round the country, where he meets his people face to face. He receives personal letters from them, listens to their views and suggestions, and directing government establishments to take action for their interests and security.

Alongside his achievements in creating a modern state, His, Majesty remains committed to Oman's heritage and tradition. He makes annual tours of the country to examine the state of affairs and meet his loyal people face to face in the remote regions. There he listens to their requests and views, addresses himself to their interests and security and receives personal letters, which he reads with care before deciding on appropriate courses of action.

Applying his military experience, His Majesty has successfully modernised his armed forces. He is committed to the protection of international shipping in Omani territorial waters, which include an important part of the Strait of Hormuz; this Strait is vital to the Gulf region and is the corridor through which most of the region's oil production is shipped to the outside world. In addition, this important maritime passage has been utilized for the shipment of many of the region imports and exports.