Sohar صحار
—  City  —
Sohar Fort, Al Hujra, Sohar.
Sohar Location in Oman
Coordinates: 24°20′31.2″N 56°43′47.6″E / 24.342°N 56.729889°E / 24.342; 56.729889
Country	Oman
Region	Al Batinah Region
Time zone	Oman Standard Time (UTC+4)

Sohar (Arabic: صحار‎) is the most developed city in Sultanate of Oman outside the capital Muscat. It is about 200 kilometers north of Muscat. Sohar was an ancient capital of Oman and many believe it to be the birthplace of Sinbad the Sailor ^[1]. Having a rich sailing history, Sohar was traditionally a fishing town, but is more recently known as Oman's industrial hub due to the massive developments in the Sohar Industrial Port.

Sohar is the fifth most populated city in Oman with a population of 140,006 according to the results of the 2010 census.^[2]

History[link]

As the largest town in the region, Sohar has been supposed to be identical with the Omana mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Natural History, which settlement seems to have given Oman its name.^[3]

Industry[link]

Sohar is currently experiencing significant investment and economic shifts making it the focus of attention of many local and international investors and businessmen. This change is due to a series of investment projects and economic giant in Sohar industrial area where Port of Sohar is located. Established in 2002, the port has a strategic importance due to its nearness to the Strait of Hormuz. It is operated by Sohar Industrial Port Company (SIPC)and it is considered a world class port. With current investments exceeding $12 billion, it is one of the world’s largest port development projects.

The Omani government has paid special attention to the city of Sohar, and placed it in the priorities of the future plan of the Omani economy in 2020. The goal of the Omani government is to make Sohar a business and industrial hub and help the Omani economy diversify away from oil. In order for the Omani economy to achieve this economic diversification, the Omani government is investing in a number of projects in the industrial area of Sohar. For example, it is investing more than 5 billion dollars in the steel industry in which Oman aims to be one of the Gulf Cooperation Council's leading producers. In addition to the steel industry, there is also the industry of aluminium in Sohar industrial area. Sohar Aluminium Company was established in 2004 and it is considered one of the leading projects that play a major role in the sultanate’s economic diversification strategy.

Education[link]

Sohar has four high educational institutes:

• Sohar University - a private university in association with the University of Queensland. [1]
• The College of Applied Sciences - a government owned college.[2]
• Oman Medical College - a private university in association with West Virginia University School of Medicine. [3]
• International Maritime College Oman. [4]
• Pakistan School Sohar A Co-educational Pakistani School

Parks[link]

Sohar has two main parks. The first is Sohar Park, which is located in Al Humbar. The second is the Silver Jubilee Park which is located in Sallan.

Shopping[link]

Sohar has a traditional Souk in the town center, and another traditional shopping market in Al Hujra near the Sohar Fort.

There are also a number of modern shopping malls and hypermarkets: the Lulu Supermarket was destroyed by fire after arsonists set fire to it during the Arab Spring demos in February however, Safeer Mall, Mars Hypermarket, Al Maya, and Centerpoint all continue to serve the community. Safeer Center boasts its new (June 2011) anchor tenant Carrefour.

Sports and Leisure[link]

The city has the Sohar Regional Sports Complex and the Sohar Plaza Cinema.

Main Landmarks[link]

• Globe Roundabout
• Sohar Gate
• Bahjat Al Anthar (The Sultan's Palace in Sohar)
• Sohar Fort
• Bull Fighting Arena
• Handcrafts Market
• Fish Market
• Sohar Amusement Center.

External links[link]

• Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Notes[link]

v t e Portuguese Overseas Empire North Africa 15th century 1415–1640  Ceuta 1458–1550  Alcácer Ceguer (El Qsar es Seghir) 1471–1550  Arzila (Asilah) 1471–1662  Tangier 1485–1550  Mazagan (El Jadida) 1487– middle 16th century  Ouadane 1488–1541  Safim (Safi) 1489  Graciosa 16th century 1505–1769  Santa Cruz do Cabo  de Gué (Agadir) 1506–1525  Mogador (Essaouira) 1506–1525  Aguz (Souira Guedima) 1506–1769  Mazagan (El Jadida) 1513–1541  Azamor (Azemmour) 1515  São João da Mamora (Mehdya) 1577–1589  Arzila (Asilah) Sub-Saharan Africa 15th century 1455–1633  Anguim 1462–1975  Cape Verde 1470–1975  São Tomé1 1474–1778  Annobón 1478–1778  Fernando Poo (Bioko) 1482–1637  Elmina (São Jorge  da Mina) 1482–1642  Portuguese Gold Coast 1508–1547 (1600)  Madagascar2 1498–1540  Mascarene Islands 16th century 1500–1630  Malindi 1500–1975  Príncipe1 1501–1975  Portuguese E. Africa  (Mozambique) 1502–1659  Saint Helena 1503–1698  Zanzibar 1505–1512  Quíloa (Kilwa) 1506–1511  Socotra 1557–1578  Accra 1575–1975  Portuguese W. Africa  (Angola) 1588–1974  Cacheu3 1593–1698  Mombassa (Mombasa) 17th century 1645–1888  Ziguinchor 1680–1961  São João Baptista de Ajudá 1687–1974  Bissau3 18th century 1728–1729  Mombassa (Mombasa) 1753–1975  São Tomé and Príncipe 19th century 1879–1974  Portuguese Guinea 1885–1975  Portuguese Congo   1 Part of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1753.   2 A Factory (Anosy region) and small temporary coastal bases.   3 Part of Portuguese Guinea from 1879. Southwest Asia 16th century 1506–1615  Gamru (Bandar-Abbas) 1507–1643  Sohar 1515–1622  Hormuz (Ormus) 1515–1648  Quriyat 1515–?   Qalhat 1515–1650  Muscat 1515?–?   Barka 1515–1633? Julfar (Ras al-Khaimah) 1521–1602  Bahrain (Muharraq and Manama) 1521–1529?  Qatif 1521?–1551? Tarut Island 1550–1551  Qatif 1588–1648  Matrah 17th century 1620–?   Khor Fakkan 1621?–?   As Sib 1621–1622  Qeshm 1623–?   Khasab 1623–?   Libedia 1624–?   Kalba 1624–?   Madha 1624–1648  Dibba Al-Hisn 1624?–?   Bandar-e Kong Indian subcontinent 15th century 1498–1545  Laccadive Islands       (Lakshadweep) 16th century Portuguese India · 1500–1663  Cochim (Kochi) · 1501–1663  Cannanore (Kannur) · 1502–1658, 1659-1661  Quilon (Coulão/Kollam) · 1502–1661  Pallipuram (Cochin de Cima) · 1507–1657  Negapatam (Nagapatnam) · 1510–1962  Goa · 1512–1525, 1750  Calicut (Kozhikode) · 1518–1619  Portuguese Paliacate trading outpost (Pulicat) · 1521–1740  Chaul · 1523–1662  Mylapore · 1528–1666  Chittagong · 1531–1571  Chaul · 1531–1571  Chalé · 1534–1601  Salsette Island · 1534–1661  Bombay (Mumbai) · 1535  Ponnani · 1535–1739  Baçaím (Vasai-Virar) · 1536–1662  Cranganore (Kodungallur) · 1540–1612  Surat · 1548–1658  Tuticorin (Thoothukudi) 16th century (continued) Portuguese India (continued) · 1559–1962  Daman and Diu · 1568–1659  Mangalore · 1579–1632  Hugli · 1598–1610  Masulipatnam (Machilipatnam) 1518–1521  Maldives 1518–1658  Portuguese Ceylon (Sri Lanka) 1558–1573  Maldives 17th century Portuguese India · 1687–1749  Mylapore 18th century Portuguese India · 1779–1954  Dadra and Nagar Haveli East Asia and Oceania 16th century 1511–1641  Portuguese Malacca 1512–1621  Maluku · 1522–1575  Ternate · 1576–1605  Ambon · 1578–1650  Tidore 1512–1665  Makassar 1553–1999  Macau 1571–1639  Decima (Dejima, Nagasaki) 17th century 1642–1975  Portuguese Timor (East Timor)1 19th century Macau · 1864–1999  Coloane · 1849–1999  Portas do Cerco · 1851–1999  Taipa · 1890–1999  Ilha Verde 20th century Macau · 1938–1941  Lapa and Montanha (Hengqin) 1  1975 is the year of East Timor's Declaration of Independence and subsequent invasion by Indonesia. In 2002, East Timor's independence was recognized by Portugal & the world. North America and the North Atlantic Ocean 15th century 1420 Madeira 1432 Azores 16th century 1500–1579?  Terra Nova (Newfoundland) 1500–1579?  Labrador 1516–1579?  Nova Scotia Central and South America 16th century 1500–1822  Brazil 1536–1620  Barbados 17th century 1680–1777  Nova Colónia do Sacramento 19th century 1808–1822  Cisplatina (Uruguay) 1809–1817  Portuguese Guiana 1822  Upper Peru (Bolivia) Portuguese colonization of the Americas - Theory of Portuguese discovery of Australia - Portuguese colonialism in Indonesia

This article about the geography of Oman is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Coordinates: 24°20′31.2″N 56°43′47.6″E / 24.342°N 56.729889°E / 24.342; 56.729889

Manoj Tiwari
Born	1 February 1971 Atarwalia, Bihar, India
Other names	Mridul[1]
Occupation	Actor, singer, director, television presenter
Years active	1983 – present
Spouse	Rani Tiwari[2][clarification needed]
Children	One daughter[3]

Manoj Kumar Tiwari (born 1 February 1971)^[3] is a singer, actor, television presenter and music director^{[clarification needed]} from Bihar, India. He has acted in the Bhojpuri genre of the Indian film industry and in 2005 was reported to be one of the two leading male stars of that genre.

Early life[link]

Manoj Tiwari was born on 1 February 1971, one of the six children of Chandra Deo Tiwari and Lalita Devi.^[3] His birthplace was Atarwalia, a small village in Kaimur district of Bihar.^[4]

Career[link]

Prior to Tiwari's involvement in cinema, he had spent ten years working as a singer.^[5]

In 2003, he took a role in the film Sasura Bada Paise Wala. The BBC reported that the production costs of US$ 65,000 were turned into takings of US$ 3 million, while The Hindu reported a 35,000–40,000 lakh cost resulting in takings of 4.5 crore. Indian Express reported a figure of 6.5 crore as the takings. The Bihar Jharkhand Motion Picture Association saw this production as being a turning point for Bhojpuri cinema.^[6][7] He followed this with the successful films Daroga Babu I Love You and Bandhan Toote Na.^[5] Tiwari is reported to have said in 2005 that although the Bhojpuri genre had generally kept to its traditional storylines, "Gone are the double entendres, thin story lines and poor technical quality. Films have been slick and producers are willing to put in close to Rs 80 lakh in a film because the returns are not bad,"^[5]

The BBC reported in 2005 that Tiwari and Ravi Kishan were the biggest male stars in the flourishing Bhojpuri cinema market and that Tiwari was able to charge US$ 90,000 per film.^[6]

In 2010, Tiwari was a contestant in the fourth season of reality television show Bigg Boss.^[8] He was reported by Rediff to say that his wife, Rani, "is angry with me" because she suspected him of having an affair with a fellow contestant, Shweta Tiwari, and that "Arbaaz Khan tweeted and asked people to vote for Ashmit [Patel]. I felt little bad about this because his brother is the host of the show and he is asking people to vote. I somehow didn't understand that angle." When asked whether he thought that the votes were manipulated, he said "I am bound by my contract so I can't comment on this. But it is little hard to believe that I got lesser votes than Ashmit. I guess viewers enjoy watching Veena Malik and Ashmit's fake romance. I really don't understand why the channel is still keeping them inside the house."^[9] NDTV reported a similar story, adding that he had been separated from his wife and child for some months.^[10] Tiwari had previously worked with Shweta Tiwari in two films, Kab Aibu Anganwa Hamaar and Ae Bahuji ke Sister.^[2] By mid-2011 he and his wife, were involved in divorce proceedings regarding their eleven year marriage.^[2]

Tiwari continues to record music and release new albums. He performs around the world in concert.^[11] He released an album, Hey Mahadev, in 2009 that fused traditional music with contemporary genres.^[12] He is listed as being music director for numerous releases.^[13]

Politics[link]

In 2009, Tiwari contested elections for the 15th Lok Sabha as a candidate for the Samajwadi Party in the Gorakhpur constituency. He had been offered a choice of three constituencies and Zeenews reported him as saying that he was not "a political person but was concerned for the development of Poorvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh." His interest was in developing that region and he had "submitted my development proposals to industrialist Anil Ambani".^[14] He lost to Adityanath Yogi.^[15]

His house in Mumbai was allegedly attacked in November 2009 by a group of people angry with remarks that they claimed he had made about Shiv Sena. Tiwari denied having made any comment on the matter, which revolved around a dispute between the Shiv Sena leader, Bal Thackeray, and the Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.^[16]

In January 2011 Mid-Day reported that the BJP might invite him to join their party and that the association with him would assist their electoral efforts among North Indians. Tiwari dismissed the story as being hypothetical, although he would consider his options should an invitation emerge. He had been seen with BJP leaders at an event and had expressed admiration for Shatrughan Sinha, the BJP MP for Patna.^[17]

Tiwari was among the first celebrities to make an appearance in support of Ramdev's hunger strike at the Ramlila Ground protests on 4 June 2011. He sang various patriotic songs to the gathered protestors and claimed that he had ceased filming for a month in order to join the protest.^[18] In August of that year he was involved in protests surrounding the arrest of Anna Hazare, of whose popular anti-corruption movement he approved.^[19]

Support for cricket[link]

Tiwari is a keen supporter of cricket and played the sport at Benares Hindu University. He has tried to buy the franchise for an Indian Premier League team in order to boost the sport in his home region and is also involved with Kirti Azad's Association of Bihar Cricket, a body that is campaigning to be recognised by the BCCI as the official organisation for Bihar cricket.^[1]

In July 2011, Tiwari announced that he was going to build a 3 crore "temple" to the Indian cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni on land owned by him in his home village. The "temple" would recognise the India cricket team that had won the 2011 Cricket World Cup and would be named after it. He intends to incorporate training facilities to assist in the development of young cricketers from Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, as well as a "world-class" cricket stadium.^[1][4] The "temple" is expected to open in January 2012 and at that time discussions were under way regarding staging international matches at the 40 acres (16 ha) site that he had bought for construction of the stadium.^[20]

Selected filmography[link]

Actor[link]

• Daroga Babu I Love You^[5]
• Bandhan Toote Na^[5]
• Kab Aibu Anganwa Hamaar^[2]
• Ae Bahuji ke Sister^[2]
• Deshdrohi^[21]
• 2006 – Ganga
• 2008 – Bhole Shankar
• 2010 – Hello Darling (Hindi)
• 2011 – Insaaf^[22]
• 2012 – Hello (Hindi)

Television[link]

• Bigg Boss 4 (2010) – Himself
• Sur Sangram (season 1 & 2) – Host^[12]
• Nehle pe Dehla – Host

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Manoj Tiwari at the Internet Movie Database

Chhannulal Mishra
Live performance in Pune on 17 July 2009
Background information
Born	(1936-08-03) 3 August 1936 (age 75)
Origin	Hariharpur, Azamgarh district, Uttar Pradesh, India
Genres	Hindustani classical music, Thumri
Occupations	Singer
Years active	1960–present
Labels	http://chhannulalmishra.com/

Pandit Chhannulal Mishra (Hindi: पंडित छन्नूलाल मिश्रा) (born 3 August 1936) is a Hindustani classical singer from Banaras, a noted exponent of the Kirana gharana (school)^[1][2][3] of the Hindustani classical music and especially the Khayal and the 'Purab Ang' - Thumri.

He has been awarded the 'Shiromani Award' of Sur Singar Sansad, Bombay; Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi Award; Naushad Award of U.P. Govt., and the Bihar Sangeet Shiromani Award.^[4][5] He was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India's third highest civilian honor, on the 25th Janauray, 2010.^[6][7]

Biography[link]

Mishra was born on 3 August 1936 in Hariharpur, Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, in the home of Badri Prasad Mishra. His grandfather, “Gudai Maharaj” Shanta Prasad was a noted tabla player.^[8]

He first learnt music with his father, Badri Prasad Mishra and was then was educated by 'Ustad Abdul Ghani Khan' of the Kirana gharana.^[9] He was trained thereafter by Thakur Jaidev Singh.^[10]

Today, he is considered one of Indian finest exponents of Hindustaani classical music ^[4] because of his unique blend of the Banaras Gayaki and the Punjab Gayaki,^[5] in his khyal, dadra, thumri, chaiti, kajri, hori and bhajans.

Discography[link]

Audio releases[link]

• Anjali (Hindi: अंजलि, literally Offering) – Audio CD with 10 tracks which include four Stutis, two Shlokas, two Chalisas, one Stotra and one Vandana dedicated to various aspects of Shakti - Durga, Mahakali, Kali, Saraswati, Vindhyeshwari, Sitala, Ganga, Bhavani.
• Echoes of Benaras Volume 3 – Audio CD with three Thumris, one Sawani and one Chaiti.
• Holi Ke Rang - Tesu Ke Phool (Hindi: होली के रंग - टेसू के फूल, literally The colours of Holi, the flowers of Tesu) – Audio CD with eight songs on Holi, seven describing the Holi of Radha and Krishna and one describing the Holi of Parvati and Shiva .
• Kabir (Hindi: कबीर) – A set of two audio CDs with 12 Bhajans authored by Kabir, a middle-age mystic from Benares.
• Krishna Madhav (Hindi: कृष्ण माधव) – A set of two audio CDs with 12 Bhajans dedicated to Krishna.
• Purvaiya - Chaiti (Hindi: पुरवइया - चैती, literally From the Orient - Songs of Chaitra) – Audio CD with nine songs of the Chaiti genre which are traditionally sung in the Hindu month of Chaitra (March-April) which falls during spring.
• Purvaiya - Kajari (Hindi: पुरवइया - कजरी, literally From the Orient - Songs of Rain) – Audio CD with eight songs of the Kajari genre which are traditionally sung during the rainy season.
• Rama Raga (Hindi: राम राग, literally The Raga of Rama) – Audio CD with a one-hour rendition of the three words Raja (King), Rama and Raga in various Ragas.
• Tulsidas - Ramcharitmanas (Hindi: तुलसीदास - रामचरितमानस) – Audio CD with five excerpts from the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas in different Ragas.
• Shiv Vivah (Hindi: शिव विवाह, literally The marriage of Shiva) - Audio CD with the marriage of Parvati and Shiva from the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas sung in eleven different Ragas, along with four Bhajans dedicated to Shiva.
• Spirit Of Benares – Audio CD with two Khayals, two Thumris and two Dadaras.
• Krishna - From The Heart Of Benaras – Audio CD with nine songs dedicated to Krishna.
• Sundar Kand (Hindi: सुन्दरकाण्ड) - A set of four audio CDs with the entire Sundar Kand of the Ramcharitmanas of Tulsidas sung in different Ragas, along with two Bhajans dedicated to Hanuman.

Bollywood Song[link]

• Aarakshan (Hindi: आरक्षण) (2011) – Two songs, Kaun Si Dor with Shreya Ghoshal and Saans Albeli.
• Mohalla Assi -Title track

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Site of Chhannulal Mishra

Qaboos bin Said Al Said
Sultan of Oman
Reign	23 July 1970 – present
Predecessor	Said bin Taimur
Spouse	Sayyidah Nawwal bint Tariq
House	Al Said
Father	Said bin Taimur
Mother	Mazwon bint Ahmad
Born	(1940-11-18) 18 November 1940 (age 71) Salalah, Oman
Religion	Ibadi Islam

Qaboos bin Said Al Said (Arabic: قابوس بن سعيد آل سعيد‎ Qābūs bin Saʿīd ʾĀl Saʿīd; born 18 November 1940^[1]) is the Sultan of Oman and its Dependencies. He rose to power after overthrowing his father, Said bin Taimur, in a palace coup in 1970. He is the 14th-generation descendant of the founder of the Al Bu Sa'idi dynasty.^[2]

Early life[link]

Sultan Qaboos bin Sa‘id was born in Salalah in Dhofar on 18 November 1940. He is the only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur and princess Mazoon al-Mashani. He received his primary and secondary education at Salalah and Pune, India and was sent to a private educational establishment in England at age sixteen.^[3] At 20 he entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After graduating from Sandhurst, he joined the British Army and was posted to the 1st Battalion The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), serving in Germany for one year. He also held a staff appointment with the British Army.

After his military service, Sultan Qaboos studied local government subjects in England and, after a world tour, returned home to Salalah where he studied Islam and the history of his country. Sultan Qaboos ibn Sa‘id is a Muslim of the Ibadi school of jurisprudence, which has traditionally ruled Oman.^[4] A religious liberal, he has financed the construction or maintenance of a number of mosques, notably the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, as well as the holy places of other religions.

In 1976 Qaboos bin Said married his cousin, Kamila, née Sayyidah Nawwal bint Tariq (born 1951), daughter of HH Sayyid Tariq ibn Taymur.^[5] However, the marriage soon ended in divorce and he has never remarried or had any children.^[6]

Qaboos bin Said is an avid fan and promoter of classical music. His 120-member orchestra has a high reputation in the Middle East. The orchestra consists entirely of young Omanis who, since 1986, audition as children and grow up as members of the symphonic ensemble. They play locally and travel abroad with the sultan.^[7] Argentine composer Lalo Schifrin was commissioned to compose a work entitled Symphonic Impressions of Oman^[8] and the Sultan is particularly enthusiastic about the pipe organ.^[9]

The Sultan's birthday, 18 November, is celebrated as Oman's national holiday. The first day of his reign, 23 July, is celebrated as Renaissance Day.

Rise to power[link]

For six years prior to Said bin-Taymur's overthrow, Qaboos experienced virtual house-arrest in the Royal Palace of Salalah. In July 1970, soldiers supporting Qaboos clashed with forces loyal to Said bin-Taymur and deposed him. Qaboos maintains that his father abdicated the throne.^[7] The British government helped to consolidate Qaboos' power.

Qaboos acceded to the throne on 23 July 1970 after deposing his father in a palace coup with the aim of ending the country's isolation and using its oil revenue for modernization and development,^[10] moving to Muscat. There he declared that the country would no longer be known as Muscat and Oman, but would change its name to "the Sultanate of Oman" in order to better reflect its political unity.

The first pressing problem that Qaboos bin Said faced as Sultan was an armed communist insurgency from South Yemen, the Dhofar Rebellion (1965–1975). The Sultanate eventually defeated the incursion with help from the Shah of Iran, Jordanian troops sent from his friend King Hussein of Jordan, British Special Forces, and the Royal Air Force.

Reign as Sultan[link]

Styles of The Sultan of Oman
Reference style	His Majesty
Spoken style	Your Majesty
Alternative style	Sire

Sultan Qaboos meets with United States Vice President Dick Cheney during his visit to the Middle East in 2002.

The political system which Qaboos established is that of an absolute monarchy. Unlike the situation in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, Qaboos' decisions are not subject to modification by other members of Oman's royal family. Government decisions are said to be made through a process of decision-making by "consensus" with provincial, local and tribal representatives, though critics allege that Qaboos exercises de facto control of this process.^{[citation needed]} Qaboos also regularly engages in tours of his realm, in which any citizen with a grievance or request is allowed to appeal to the Sultan in person.^[11]

More recently, Qaboos has allowed parliamentary elections (in which women have voted and stood as candidates) and pledged greater openness and participation in government. The parliament enjoys legislative and oversight powers.^[12] In 1979 Oman was the only Arab state to recognize Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's peace agreement with Israel.^[13]

Qaboos' supporters point to his relative success in governing the country. By Gulf standards, Oman boasts good public order,^[14] middling prosperity,^[15] and a relatively permissive society.^[16] Since he acceded to the throne, Oman has broadened international relations, allowed newspapers, established high schools, built highways, opened hotels and shopping malls and spends a substantial portion of its dwindling oil revenues on health care and education.^[7]

In September 1995, he was involved in a car accident in Salalah just out side his palace, which claimed the life of one of his most prominent and influential ministers and his right hand man, Qais Bin Abdul Munaim Al Zawawi.

In October 1998, Qaboos bin Said was presented with the International Peace Award by the National Council on US-Arab Relations.^[17] He also forges and maintains good relations with other Arab states and partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).^[18]

Foreign policy[link]

Qaboos officially keeps Oman neutral, having contacts and normal relations with Iran while being an ally of western states like Britain and America. In talks with American officials released by wikileaks, Qaboos dodged requests by the Americans for Oman to invest in Iraq and Afghanistan, switching to other topics. Qaboos was against Americans withdrawing quickly from Iraq.

Oman has more normal relations with Iran than the other Gulf Arab states, careful to appear neutral and maintain a balance between the West and Iran.^[19]

Views on Ideology[link]

Qaboos criticized the Arab Nationalist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser in private discussions with American officials which were released by Wikileaks. He claimed Nasser deliberately used inflammatory speeches and rhetoric to make his people stupid, and accused Nasser of having "set the region back", holding a position of "anti-everything". Qaboos concluded that the Muslim Brotherhood obtained support from the uneducated people.^[20]

Palaces[link]

Super yachts[link]

Succession[link]

Unlike the heads of other Gulf Arab states, Qaboos bin Sa‘id has not publicly named an heir. Article 6 of the constitution actually provides that the Ruling Family Council chooses the successor after the throne becomes vacant, and that the Sultan's preference, to be expressed in an official letter (which Qaboos says has already been sealed and delivered to the defence minister), is only resorted to in the event of lack of familial consensus.

Qaboos bin Sa‘id has no children and has three sisters; there are other male members of the Omani Royal Family including several paternal uncles and their families. Using primogeniture the successor to Qaboos would appear to be the children of his late uncle, His Royal Highness Sayyid Tariq bin Taimur Al Said, the former, first and only Prime Minister in Oman's history.^[26]

Military ranks[link]

Qaboos holds the following ranks:^[27]

• Field Marshal, Royal Army of Oman
• Admiral of the Fleet, Royal Navy of Oman
• Marshal of the Royal Air Force of Oman
• Supreme Commander, Royal Oman Police
• Honorary General, British Army

Foreign honours[link]

•  Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (31 March 2001)^[28]
•  Bahrain: Order of Al Khalifa, 1st Class^[28]
•  Brunei: Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (15 December 1984)^[28]
•  Egypt: Grand Collar of the Order of the Nile (1976)^[28]
•  France: Legion of Honour (31 May 1989)^[28]
•  Germany: Grand Cross special class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany^[28]
•  India: Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding (2004) (Award yet to be presented)^[29]
•  Indonesia: Order of the Star, 1st Class or Adipurna^[28]
•  Iran: Grand Collar of the Order of Pahlavi (3 March 1974)^[28]
•  Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (22 April 1974)^[28]
•  Japan: Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum^[28]
•  Jordan: Collar of the Order of Hussein ibn Ali^[28]
•  Kuwait: Order of Mubarak the Great (28 December 2009)^[28]
•  Lebanon: Collar of the Order of Merit^[28]
•  Malaysia: Order of the State Crown of Malaysia
•  Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2012)
•  Pakistan: Nishan-e-Pakistan, 1st Class^[28]
•  Qatar: Collar of the Order of the Independence^[28]
•  Saudi Arabia: The Badr Chain^[28]
•  Saudi Arabia: Collar of the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud (23 December 2006)^[28]
•  Singapore: Order of Temasek, 1st Class (12/3/2009)^[28]
•  Spain: Knight of the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (18 December 1985)^[28]
•  Syria: Collar of the Order of Omayyad^[28]
•  Tunisia: Collar of the Order of Independence^[28]
•  UAE: Collar of the Order of Etihad^[28]
•  United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (18 March 1982)^[28]
•  United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (8/7/1976)^[28]
•  United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (28 February 1979)^[28]
•  United Kingdom: Royal Victorian Chain (27 November 2010)^[28]
•  United Kingdom: Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John (8/10/1976)^[28]
•  United Kingdom: Bailiff Grand Cross of the Venerable Order of Saint John (19 March 1984)^[28]

See also[link]

• Oman
• Sultan of Oman
• List of national leaders

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Qaboos bin Said al Said

• Official account of the Sultan's reign
• Oman Net
• Oman-Qaboos

v t e Sultans of Oman since 1749 Abu Hilah Ahmad Said I Hamad Sultan Salim I / Said II Said II Thuwaini Salim II Azzan Turki Faisal Taimur Said III Qaboos