Qaboos bin Said Al Said, the Sultan of Oman and Arab world’s longest-serving ruler, has passed away at the age of 79 after ruling for 50 years, leaving no designated successor or heir.
The royal court released a statement early on Saturday announcing, ‘With great sorrow and deep sadness… the royal court mourns His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who passed away on Friday.’
The Sultan, who recently underwent a medical checkup in Belgium, was reportedly in poor health. There were unconfirmed reports of him suffering from cancer.
The royal court has declared three days of mourning for the unmarried Sultan, who had no children and did not publicly name an heir since he seized power in a 1970 palace coup aided by Oman’s former colonial power, Britain.
As per the sultanate’s Basic Statute, a new sultan will be chosen by the Royal Family Council, comprising about 50 male members, within three days of the throne becoming vacant.