the 500 most influential muslims - The Royal Islamic Strategic ...

6
his Majesty sultan Qaboos bin sa'id al sa'id
Sultan of Oman
Sultan Qaboos bin Sa'id al Sa'id, the 14th descendant
of the Al Bu Sa'idi dynasty, is a socially and politically
active monarch, reigning for almost 40 years since he
ascended to power in 1970. He has revolutionized
and modernized Oman, transforming it from a
poor, isolationist nation into a land closely-linked
with the African continent and devoted to economic
development, regional stability, and religious
tolerance.
Leader of Omani Sultanate
Sultan Qaboos al Sa'id reigns over a country strategically situated in the Gulf region.
Oman has a stake in the crude oil market due to the Strait of Hormuz, which connects
the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, transporting about 40% of
daily seaborne traded oil and 20% of all oil traded worldwide, according to the US Energy
Information Administration.
Historically, Oman is significant as one of the only countries with a large population of
Ibadi Muslims and as the most authoritative state in the Ibadi movement—one that is
recognized as one of the oldest schools of Islamic thought.
Beacon of Islam
Sultan Qaboos has helped build or restore thousands of mosques at his personal expense,
the grandest being the Sultan Qaboos Mosque, which can accommodate up to 20,000
worshippers. He is a discreet but strong supporter of moderate Islam. The Sultan has
created a unique Islamic culture in Oman that has carefully combined the best of
traditional Islam with the benefits of the modern world. He has promoted culturallyspecific
Islamic dress, art, architecture, culture and education, and is a keen advocate of
the protection of the environment. This quiet, measured rise has made Oman a hidden
pearl of the Islamic world.
Personal Leadership
The Sultan has raised the Omani standard of living by building up Oman's school
system, healthcare, infrastructure, and economy. He cites political participation as one
of his major long-term goals. Within the last two decades, he has introduced political
reforms including a bicameral representative body, a basic law, universal suffrage, and a
Supreme Court. Moreover, despite Oman’s relative lack of oil and gas compared to other
Gulf States, the Sultan has invested his country’s wealth so wisely that all citizens are
guaranteed free education until Ph.Ds (should they qualify); free healthcare; free land;
soft loans for building homes; jobs and social security for the disabled, orphans and
widows. Furthermore, unlike neighboring countries, Oman has resolved all its border
demarcation issues with all its neighbors, has no foreign debt and has a Sovereign Wealth
Reserve Fund of over 30 billion Riyals (about $100 billion). Oman is thus arguably the
best administrated country in the Islamic world, if not in the whole world.
32
Country: Oman
Date of Birth: 18 November 1940
Source of Influence: Lineage,
Political, Development
Influence: Leader of 3.4 million
citizens and residents of Oman
School of Thought: Traditional
Ibadi