'The Sultan of loyalty, love, and wisdom is gone'

Qaboos's 45 years in power makes him the longest-serving head of state in the Arab world AFP

Sultan Qaboos passed away late on Friday night, state media announced early on Saturday morning. A three-day morning period of national mourning was declared.

Sultan Qaboos in 1970: He left no children and had not publicly appointed successor. A 1996 statue says the ruling family will choose a successor within 3 days of the throne becoming vacant.

Sultan Qaboos: A three-day period of official mourning for the public and private sectors has been declared, state media said. He passed away late on Friday aged 79.

Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed offered Eid Al Adha prayers at the Sultan Qaboos mosque in the wilayat of Khasab. PHOTO:Mohammed Mustafa

1981. The first GCC meeting in Abu Dhabi. From left to right: Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait; Shaikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait; King Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz, King of Saudi Arabia; Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques; Sultan Qaboos of Oman; Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar; Shaikh Eisa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Emir of Bahrain.

Muscat Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed has ordered setting up of 'Ajyal College' in Bahla town, about 190-km northwest of Muscat, with an aim to revive traditional craft."Bahla, which has this great history, is also the incubator for the traditional crafts and good heritage," the Omani leader said during his meeting with the Shaikhs and dignitaries from the Central and Interior region on Sunday at the Royal camp at Saih Al Shamikhat in Bahla. Gulf News archives