Haitham bin Tariq al Said named Sultan of Oman after Qaboos demise

Haitham bin Tariq al Said named Sultan of Oman after Qaboos demise. The new ruler is cousin of Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said.

In posts on their Twitter accounts on Saturday, Omani newspapers Al Watan and Al Roya said Minister of Heritage and Culture Haitham bin Tariq was taking the oath of allegiance as sultan.

The Doha-based Al Jazeera broadcaster also reported that Haitham succeeded Qaboos.

Sultan Qaboos, the Arab world’s longest-serving ruler, died Friday aged 79.

With great sorrow and deep sadness… the royal court mourns His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who passed away on Friday,” said a statement from the royal court.
Muscat announced three days of national mourning after the Sultan’s death.

Sultan Qaboos of Oman

Oman’s ailing Sultan Qaboos bin Said was one of the Middle East’s longest serving rulers.

He maintained the country’s neutrality in regional struggles.

Gulf state Oman’s high military council began the process to choose his successor.

Oman declared three days of official mourning with flags flown at half-mast for 40 days.

Qaboos, 79, had ruled since taking over in a bloodless coup in 1970 with the help of former colonial power Britain.

State news agency ONA did not give any cause of death, but Qaboos had been unwell for years.

However, he also had spent a week in Belgium undergoing medical treatment in early December.

Qaboos had no children and had not publicly appointed a successor.

A 1996 statute says the ruling family will choose a successor within three days of the throne becoming vacant.

The high military council issued a statement which state media carried on Saturday.