Editing Qaboos bin Said (section)

== Reign ==
There were few rudiments of a modern state when Qaboos took power.<ref name="Allen" /> Oman was a poorly developed country, severely lacking in infrastructure, healthcare, and education, with only {{cvt|10|km|0}} of paved roads and a population dependent on subsistence farming and fishing. Qaboos modernized the country using oil revenues. Schools and hospitals were built, and a modern infrastructure was laid down, with hundreds of kilometres of new roads paved, a telecommunications network established, projects for a port and airport that had begun prior to his reign were completed and a second port was built, and [[electrification]] was achieved. The government also began to search for new water resources and built a desalination plant, and the government encouraged the growth of private enterprise, especially in development projects. Banks, hotels, insurance companies, and print media began to appear as the country developed economically. The [[Omani riyal]] was established as the national currency, replacing the [[Indian rupee]] and [[Maria Theresa thaler]]. Later, additional ports were built, and universities were opened.<ref name="gjBID">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/will-oman-survive-sultan|title=A Test for Oman and Its Sultan|first=Elizabeth|last=Dickinson|magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref><ref name="ld48c">Oman: the Modernization of the Sultanate, Calvin H. Allen, Jr</ref><ref name="u978h">Oman: The Bradt Travel Guide, Diana Darke</ref> In his first year in power, Qaboos also abolished [[slavery in Oman]].<ref name="nz8JL">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zZk9Y-HTQzcC&q=oman+slavery+1970&pg=PA347|title=Slavery in the Twentieth Century: The Evolution of a Global Problem|author=Suzanne Miers|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|page=347|date=2003|isbn=0-7591-0340-2}}</ref>

The political system which Qaboos established was an [[absolute monarchy]]. The Sultan's birthday, 18 November, is celebrated as Oman's national holiday.<ref name="3vLCH">{{Cite web|url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442164/Rouhani-felicitates-Oman-on-National-Day|title=Rouhani felicitates Oman on National Day|date=19 November 2019|website=Tehran Times|language=en|access-date=26 December 2019}}</ref> The first day of his reign, 23 July, is celebrated as Renaissance Day.<ref name="f2D5y">{{Cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/general/uae-leaders-greet-sultan-of-oman-on-renaissance-day|title=UAE leaders greet Sultan of Oman on Renaissance Day|last=Wam|website=Khaleej Times|language=en|access-date=26 December 2019}}</ref>

Oman has no system of checks and balances, and thus no [[separation of powers]]. All power was concentrated in the Sultan during his reign, and he served as prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, minister of defence, chief of staff of the armed forces, and chairman of the board of the [[Central Bank of Oman]]. All legislation since 1970 has been promulgated through royal decrees, including the 1996 Basic Law. The sultan appoints judges, and can grant pardons and commute sentences. The sultan's authority is inviolable.<ref name="bti-project">{{cite web|url=http://www.bti-project.org/reports/country-reports/mena/omn/index.nc#chap3|title=Country Report: Oman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228234844/http://www.bti-project.org/reports/country-reports/mena/omn/index.nc#chap3|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Qaboos's closest advisors were reportedly security and intelligence professionals within the [[Palace Office (Oman)|Palace Office]], headed by General Sultan bin Mohammed al Numani.<ref name="x4TLv">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Foreign Policy]] |quote=His closest advisors are security and intelligence professionals in the so-called Royal Office, headed by Gen. Sultan bin Mohammed al-Numani. |title=The Omani Succession Envelope, Please |first=Simon |last=Henderson |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/04/03/the-omani-succession-envelope-please/ |access-date=4 April 2017 |date=3 April 2017}}</ref>

===2011 Omani protests===
[[File:VP Cheney Sultan Qaboos Salah Oman 2002.jpg|thumb|250px|Sultan Qaboos meets with [[United States Vice President]] [[Dick Cheney]] during Cheney's visit to the Middle East in 2002.|left]]
The [[2011 Omani protests]] were a series of protests in the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf]] country of [[Oman]] that occurred as part of the [[revolutionary wave]] popularly known as the "[[Arab Spring]]".<ref name="CHwlP">[http://www.brecorder.com/world/global-business-a-economy/19759-oman-budget-gap-rises-to-658mn-in-q1-spending-up.html Oman budget gap rises to $658mn in Q1, spending up] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201181718/http://www.brecorder.com/world/global-business-a-economy/19759-oman-budget-gap-rises-to-658mn-in-q1-spending-up.html |date=1 February 2016 }}. ''Business Recorder''. (10 July 2011). Retrieved 15 January 2012.</ref> The protesters demanded salary increases, lower living costs, the creation of more jobs and a reduction in corruption.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} Protests in [[Sohar]], Oman's fifth-largest city, centered on the [[Globe Roundabout]].<ref name="bGJcv">[http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/photos/2011/03/02/globe_roundabout_sohar_oman Globe Roundabout – Sohar, Oman | The Middle East Channel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711015914/http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/photos/2011/03/02/globe_roundabout_sohar_oman |date=11 July 2011}}. Mideast.foreignpolicy.com. Retrieved 28 March 2011.</ref> The Sultan's responses included the dismissal of a third of the governing cabinet.<ref name="09ILI">{{Cite web|url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/region/qaboos-fires-10-ministers|title=Qaboos fires 10 ministers|first=Ravindra|last=Nath|website=Khaleej Times}}</ref>

According to [[CBS News]], 19 June 2011, <blockquote>Several protest leaders have been detained and released in rolling waves of arrests during the Arab Spring, and dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the country is high. While disgruntlement amongst the populace is obvious, the extreme dearth of foreign press coverage and lack of general press freedom there leaves it unclear as to whether the protesters want the sultan to leave, or simply want their government to function better. Beyond the recent protests, there is concern about succession in the country, as there is no heir apparent or any clear legislation on who may be the next Sultan.<ref name="cbsnews.com">{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-worlds-enduring-dictators/ |title=The world's enduring dictators: Qaboos bin Said, Oman}}</ref></blockquote>
The Sultan did give token concession to protesters yet detained social media activists. In August 2014, The Omani writer and human rights defender Mohammed Alfazari, the founder and editor-in-chief of the e-magazine Mowatin "Citizen", disappeared after going to the police station in the Al-Qurum district of Muscat, only to be pardoned some time later.<ref name="gaXlf">{{Cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/02/14/oman-activists-family-barred-traveling-abroad|title=Oman: Activist's Family Barred from Traveling Abroad|date=14 February 2017|website=Human Rights Watch}}</ref><ref name="cgRR7">{{cite web |url=http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/27072 |website=Disappearances in Oman |title=Oman – Enforced disappearance of human rights defender Mr Mohamed al Fazari &#124; Front Line |access-date=12 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228173444/http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/27072 |archive-date=28 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Foreign policy===
[[File:Gates & Qaboos of Oman.jpg|thumb|227px|Sultan Qaboos welcomes U.S. Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]] to [[Muscat]], Oman, April 5, 2008.]]
[[File:The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi meeting the Sultan of Oman, Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said, at Bait Al Baraka, in Muscat, Oman on February 11, 2018.jpg|thumb|Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] with Qaboos, 2018|227x227px]]
Under Qaboos, Oman fostered closer ties with Iran than other [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf]], and was careful to appear neutral and maintain a balance between the West and Iran.<ref name="bnORV">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/world/middleeast/16oman.html | work=The New York Times | first=Michael | last=Slackman | title=Oman Navigates Between Iran and Arab Nations | date=16 May 2009}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200111212311/https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/a-us-ambassadors-memories-of-sultan-qaboos/# A US ambassador’s memories of Sultan Qaboos]</ref> As a result, Oman often acted as an intermediary between the United States and Iran.<ref name="aWbk0">{{cite news |last=Gladstone |first=Rick |date=4 September 2013 |title=Iran's President to Speak at the U.N. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/05/world/middleeast/irans-president-to-speak-at-the-un.html |newspaper=NYT |access-date=31 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="v0mwq">{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/pomegranate/2013/08/27/a-visit-from-the-sultan|title=A visit from the sultan|date=27 August 2013|newspaper=The Economist}}</ref> Qaboos helped mediate secret US–Iran talks in 2013 that paved the way to the [[Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action]] two years later.<ref name="PtFqR">{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Sultan-of-Oman-dies-aged-79-years-old-613815|title=Oman's Sultan Qaboos dies, cousin Haitham named successor|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com}}</ref>

In 2011, Qaboos facilitated the release of [[2009–11 detention of American hikers by Iran|American hikers who were held by Iran]], paying $1 million for their freedom.<ref name="smLgf">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/09/21/140674880/tiny-nation-behind-the-scenes-of-americans-release|title=Oman Played Pivotal Role In Americans' Release|website=NPR.org|date=21 September 2011|language=en|access-date=11 January 2020|last1=Neuman|first1=Scott}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |author=HillaryClinton |user=HillaryClinton |number=1216788363778383873 |title=My thoughts are with the people of Oman as they mourn the passing of Sultan Qaboos. He led his country with wisdom and provided safe harbor for diplomacy. I'll always be grateful for all he did to help secure the release from Iran of three American hikers in 2011.}}</ref>

Oman did not join the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen]] against the [[Houthi movement|Houthis]] in 2015, and did not take sides in a Persian Gulf dispute that saw Saudi Arabia and its allies impose an [[Qatar diplomatic crisis|embargo on Qatar]] in 2017.<ref name="NYTObit" />

In October 2018, Qaboos invited [[Prime Minister of Israel]] [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] to visit Oman, despite his country not having official diplomatic ties with Israel. Netanyahu was the first Israeli prime minister to visit Oman since [[Shimon Peres]] in 1996.<ref name="IsrVisit">{{Cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Netanyahu-makes-historic-visit-to-Oman-570388|title=Netanyahu makes historic visit to Oman|website=The Jerusalem Post &#124; JPost.com}}</ref>