PM meets new sultan of Oman, offers condolences

CAIRO – 12 January 2020: Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, along with a ministerial delegation, arrived on Sunday in Muscat, Oman’s capital, to offer condolences over the death of Sultan Qaboos, who has ruled the Arab country since 1970.

Arriving in Muscat, Madbouli met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur, the new sultan of Oman, at the Al-Alam Palace. Madbouli expressed Egypt's sincere condolences to the people and leadership of the Sultanate of Oman, Nadr Saad, the Cabinet spokesman said.

Madbouli expressed Egypt's aspiration to strengthen brotherly and historical relations with Oman during the reign of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, and wished him success in his duties.

For his part, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq asked to convey his and his people’s thanks to the brotherly Egyptian people, and to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. He expressed his appreciation for the Egyptian-Omani relations and the brotherly ties that bind the peoples of the two countries.











In the below lines, Egypt Today provides information about late Sultan Qaboos:

Qaboos, born in Salalah on 18 November 1940, received his primary and secondary education at Salalah then travelled to study in England at a private school at age 16. He entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After graduating from Sandhurst in September 1962, he joined the British Army and was posted to the 1st Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), serving with them in Germany for one year. He also held a staff appointment with the British Army.

Qaboos was briefly married to a first cousin. They had no children and divorced in 1979.

The sultan was previously diagnosed with colon cancer. He was believed to have been in poor health in recent months and travelled to Belgium for a medical checkup in December.

The eighth Sultan of Oman is considered in the direct hierarchy of the Al-Busaid family, founded by Imam Ahmed bin Saeed in 1741 and whose memory remains respected in Oman as an enlightened warrior and administrator, who also succeeded in uniting the country after years of civil war.

Sultan Qaboos won a number of prizes, most notably International Peace, the necklace of the Isabella Catholic Order, the Knight of the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, the Knight of the Royal Victorian Medal, the Medal of the Grand Cross of the Order of the Chorus of Honor, the Thin Scarf.

He implemented many development projects to raise the standard of living of the Omani citizen. He inaugurated many schools and hospitals while Oman had only three schools and no more than two hospitals in Muscat and Salalah in the beginning of 1970.

Besides his position as Sultan of Oman, he also served as Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Planning, and President of the Central Bank.