BREAKING: HAITHAM bin Tariq SWORN IN as SULTAN of OMAN (Saturday 11/01/2020)

Envelops of Sultan Qaboos' chosen successor opened - Jan. 11

Following the demise of Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said on Friday, January 10 (2020) night, the Royal Family of Oman was called by its Defence Council for an emergency meeting the next morning to name a heir. The deceased Sovereign didn't have children or brothers & the Royal Family Council had three days to choose his successor. However, they opted to open the two enveloped letters with the late Sultan's preference, for the case they would disagree.

The late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al-Said (1940 - 2020; reigned: 1970-2020)

Enthroned Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said's first speech

Thus the Defence Council opened the sealed envelops (which were kept in different palaces for security reasons) & revealed His late Majesty's successor: HH Say'yid Haitham bin Tariq bin Taimur al Muazzam (Al Said). Haitham bin Tariq accepted & took his oath of office on that Saturday morning, 11 January 2020, before the emergency session of the (bicameral) Council of Oman at its Al-Bustan headquarters. In his first speech as an enthroned monarch, HM the new Sultan promised to follow the path of his late predecessor, and so continue to keep Oman neutral from surrounding Middle East conflicts & a stable mediator in the region (& influencial powers).

Haitham bin Tariq Al Said had been viewed as a potential candidate to the throne, though his half-brother Assa'ad bin Tariq bin Teimur was more popular (in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister). A son of Prime Minister Say'yid Tariq bin Taimur (1921-1980), Haitham is the first cousin of Sultan Qaboos (1940-2020) & brother to his former wife (1976-79) Nawal [Kamila (b. 1951)]. He is married to Say'yida Ahad Al-Busa'idiyah, daughter of former Ambassador to Egypt, & has 4 children, two sons & two daughters.

Born on 13 October 1954, the 65-year-old enthroned Head of State is an Oxford graduate in Foreign Service (1979), sports' enthusiast, who was the first to lead the newly founded Omani Football Assossiation in the early 1980s. Appointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from his very youth, first as an undersecretary (1986-94) & then as its Secretary-General (1994-2002), Haitham bin Tariq also held the position of Minister of Culture & Heritage. A very familiar with financial affairs he recently chaired the 'Vision 2040' of Oman's future sustainable development & was the chief host of officials, royals & other formal delegations from abroad.

Future Sultan Haitham receives Britain's heir apparent

After his formal accession at Al-Bustan - behind closed doors, though broadcasted on national TV later that day - Sultan Haitham received his first honorary 21-gun-salute as Sovereign Head of State in a platform outdoors, with the national anthem played. Then he changed the customary colourful turban & gold-trimmed robes of Sultan to white, more sombre clothes to participate in his predecessor's funeral. His Majesty received delegations of officials & ordinary people, offering greetings on his accession & condolences for Sultan Qaboos, during the next three days at Al-Alam palace. He also takes over as Prime Minister, Defence, Finance, & Foreign Minister; forging to the task to preserve the footsteps of previous Ruler & also continue pushing the nation forward in the 21st century, amid difficulties & lower oil prices.

This is the second of three parts, dedicated to the Royal Succession in Oman; bellow is the previous, this will be attached to the last.

https://royaleventsintheword.blogspot.com/2020/01/breaking-death-state-funeral-of-sultan.html?m=0

Several videos of the abovementioned content: