Sultan of Oman His Majesty Qaboos bin Said Al Said passes away aged 79

OMAN: Sultan Qaboos passed away in Oman at the age of 79. He was undergoing treatment for Cancer in Belgium. “With great sorrow and deep sadness..the royal court mourns His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who passed away on Friday,” according to a court statement.

Sultan Qaboos ruled for 5 decades making him the longest-serving ruler in the Arab region.

Sultan Qaboos took over on 23rd July 1970. He is known to modernize Oman as well as maintain good relations with the West.

Sultan Qaboos contributed the environment funding the Sultan Qaboos Prize for Environmental Preservation which is also sponsored by the United National Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Sultan had then said, “to afford recognition to outstanding contributions by individuals, groups of individuals, institutes or organizations in the management or preservation of the environment, consistent with the policies, aims, and objectives of UNESCO, and in relation to the Organizations programs in this field”.

Expressing condolence Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said “he was saddened, and expressed heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family. Sultan made a tremendous contribution to the development and modernization of Oman and played an important role in the peace and stability in the region”.

Excellency Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal Ambassador of Nepal to the Sultanate of Oman also expressed condolence.

Nepal Oman relations were initiated under the rule of the late Sultan, and Memorandum of Understanding’s (MoU) has been signed in the areas of Labor, Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, Tourism Cooperation, and Culture”.

(Picture Souce: Reuters with inputs from BBC and Khaleej Times)