BREAKING: Death & State Funeral of SULTAN QABOOS of OMAN (Friday 10 & Saturday 11 January 2020)

The longest-serving Sovereign of the Arab world has died at the age of 79. HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said passed away on Friday night 10 January 2020, after nearly 50 years of absolute rule, which shaped Oman's modern history & turned it into a wealthy tourist destination inwards & a neutral centre of stability outwards. The third longest-reigning monarch worldwide didn't leave a direct heir, but an enveloped preferation, in case the royal family would disagree on the appointment of his successor. He was mourned nationwide.

Sultan Qaboos (1940 - 2020) reigned for almost 50 years from July 1970.

The Sultan had never made public his exact health condition. To talk about potential succession was seen as a taboo in Oman. However, since at least 2015 it was known that he undertook treatment for extensive periods in Germany & Belgium. Reportedly Sultan Qaboos was suffering from colon cancer & severe diabetes. In December 2019 he went to Brussels for medical checkup, for "a limited period of time". But his treatment was cut short & later the same month the Sultan returned to Oman. Several unconfirmed sources reported that he was in critical condition. Nonethenless, the palace described on Dec. 31 His Majesty's health condition as "stable".

In the early hours of Saturday 11 January 2020, the death of Sultan Qaboos was announced. A statement, issued by the royal court said that it mourns the Sultan with 'great sorrow & deep sadness - yet with complete satisfaction & absolute submission to the will of the Almighty Allah'. No cause of death was made public. Three days of national mourning were announced, with the Omani flags lowered to half-mast for 40 days. The state funeral took place that morning.

Sultan Qaboos' state & nationwide funeral - Saturday 11/01/2020

The late Sultan's body, left Beit al-Baraka palace (where he died) in a flag-drapped coffin, drove by a gun-carriage procession towards Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque (which he opened in May 2001), for funeral prayers. The ceremony was televised live, though closed to the general public. The entire royal family, including Qaboos' chosen successor, Haitham bin Tariq, were in attendance. Following the (late morning) Ibadi prayers, a van procession followed to the (capital) Muscat's Royal cemetery, crowded by mourners. His late Majesty was laid to rest there at ~12pm, with a 21gun-salute fired the same time. For many Omanis this was an emotional farewell to a father-alike figure, who shaped the nation's modern history & developed Oman in its so-called 'reinassance'.

Qaboos' successor, Haitham bin Tariq (centre) during the funeral

Apart from the people of Oman, Sultan Qaboos was globally recognised for his efforts to retain multilateral relations with conflicting sides across the region & even wider. Leaders of states across the world, continental & international assossiations (EU & UN) sent messages of condolences to the new Sultan, recalling the late ruler's tolerance, pacifist efforts & dialoguical approach among conflicting sides. During the three days of Condolence accepting ceremonies (Sunday 12 - Tuesday 14 January), monarchs from Europe & Asia, royal representatives & leaders from the entire Gulf monarchies (& countries of a wider political spectrum) visited the new Sovereign & expressed their condolences firsthand.