Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed deserves the hearty congratulations and good wishes of the entire Gulf on the occasion of his 70th birthday, which falls in the year that Oman also celebrates the 40th anniversary of his accession.
It is hard to imagine how far Oman has come in the 40 years of his rule. When Sultan Qaboos took over in 1970 there were only 10 miles of paved road in the entire country, the government lacked any formal structure, and severe political and social restrictions had forced many Omanis to leave the country. The country's renaissance under Sultan Qaboos has been a remarkable social and political achievement, and the new Oman faces its future confidently, with an educated population that is able to tackle today's complicated issues.
One of the Sultan's great achievements has been to engender considerable political liberalisation. In 2003 the vote was given to all citizens older than 21, and further developments came in 2007 with the second-ever elections for the Shura Council, when open campaigning was allowed for the first time.
Oman faces major challenges as it continues to diversify its economy. For example, almost 80 per cent of government revenue still comes from oil. The Sultan's government is working hard to improve education, recognising it for the all-important national asset that it should be.
In foreign affairs, Oman's pragmatism echoes the independence of its past. In 1833, Saeed Bin Sultan, who ruled Oman and much of East Africa as well, needed new allies and sent an Omani ship to the United States to commence diplomatic relations. In today's regional affairs, Oman still follows its own line on many issues, which allows the country to play a significant part in trying to avert conflicts and find peaceful solutions.
