Sultan’s Cousin
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Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was officially appointed Oman’s new leader following the death of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos. Qaboos was widely lauded as having transformed Oman into an oil economy and U.S. ally during his long rule.
Early Life and Education
At nine, Sultan was forced to flee Yemen when war broke out and his family relocated to America. Although excited, it was also hard to leave his mother, sisters, and brother behind; once settled he found joy in collecting candy for Halloween and playing in the snow!
At that time it was commonplace for wealthy upper-class Egyptian men to have multiple concubines; hence Shaarawi found herself growing up in an environment dominated by male figures, often feeling that her position as older sister did not matter and that she was inferior.
Sultan Qaboos’ five-decade reign was one of exceptional leadership, facing down domestic and regional challenges as well as global transformations no one could predict. He guided his country with wisdom and vision to bring great progress in education, health care, infrastructure development and more.
Professional Career
Bolkiah was known for his love of luxury when he was younger, boasting 500 Rolls-Royces and other cars worth billions, as well as having one designed by Jack Nicklaus himself.
Sultan also performed charitable deeds, building mosques, high schools, libraries and fountains throughout Istanbul as well as four fountains and five public parks. Furthermore he donated money to children’s hospitals as well as purchasing land to aid poor people.
In 2013, he met and married Merve Dibo, nine years his junior. They have since moved into a specially designed home in Dede Koy and hope that one day they may have children together.
Achievement and Honors
Qaboos ousted his father through a bloodless coup supported by Britain in 1970, and put Oman on an ambitious development path using oil revenues. He earned praise for his economic and social policies that promoted religious tolerance while increasing education; earning him respect both locally and far beyond.
As soon as he came into power, both Oman and the world were facing drastic transformation. He led his country and region through unthinkable global changes with an ease that no one had previously imagined.
Qaboos was also widely recognized as an advocate of peace. He mediated between longtime foes the US and Iran, hosting secret talks between their leaders to bring them closer. For his tireless dedication to dialogue he earned himself the National Council on US-Arab Relations’ inaugural International Peace Award.
Personal Life
Qaboos was successful in seizing his father’s kingdom via a palace coup in Dhofar province of southern Oman during monsoon season and turning Oman into an oil-driven economy, becoming an ally to the US in doing so.
He married his first cousin Kamila Sayyida in 1976 but the marriage ended in divorce three years later in 1979, never remarrying and never having children of his own.
Bolkiah became one of the wealthiest men in the world during his years as ruler of Brunei. His Istana Nurul Iman palace is the world’s largest private residence, while he owns thousands of luxury cars – from F1 models and rare Lamborghinis to an extensive Rolls Royce car collection and more philanthropic activities throughout Brunei and its neighboring countries.
