Sultan of Oman. He was the longest serving leader in the Middle East, having ruled the country since 1970 after taking over the leadership from his father, Said bin Taimur, in a peaceful coup. Born in Oman in 1940, he traveled to Great Britain in 1958 to attend Sandhurst and joined the British Army where he was posted to the 1st Battalion The Cameronians of Scottish Rifles, serving in Germany for a year. Upon his return to Oman in 1966, he was placed under house arrest for six years by his father to separate him from government affairs. With a desire for change, he launched a coup against his father, backed by the United Kingdom and was thought to be planned by British security forces and prime minister Harold Wilson. The sultan's leadership is credited with drastically improving living standards in Oman by reforming a nation that was home to only three schools and harsh laws. He used oil revenues during his reign to build schools, roads and hospitals, as well as encouraging the development of private enterprises. Sultan Qaboos, who died of colon cancer, never married or had children and was succeeded by his cousin Haitham bin Tariq.
Sultan of Oman. He was the longest serving leader in the Middle East, having ruled the country since 1970 after taking over the leadership from his father, Said bin Taimur, in a peaceful coup. Born in Oman in 1940, he traveled to Great Britain in 1958 to attend Sandhurst and joined the British Army where he was posted to the 1st Battalion The Cameronians of Scottish Rifles, serving in Germany for a year. Upon his return to Oman in 1966, he was placed under house arrest for six years by his father to separate him from government affairs. With a desire for change, he launched a coup against his father, backed by the United Kingdom and was thought to be planned by British security forces and prime minister Harold Wilson. The sultan's leadership is credited with drastically improving living standards in Oman by reforming a nation that was home to only three schools and harsh laws. He used oil revenues during his reign to build schools, roads and hospitals, as well as encouraging the development of private enterprises. Sultan Qaboos, who died of colon cancer, never married or had children and was succeeded by his cousin Haitham bin Tariq.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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