History of oman

The inhabitants of Oman converted to Islam during the life of the prophet Muhammad. Since 751, they established the elective order ( Ijma ) of the change of imams - spiritual leaders who took over the functions of managing the region. This elective theocracy, Imamate Oman , lasted more than four centuries, replaced in 1154 by the dynastic rule of the Sultans of Muscat Nabhanitov. In 1429, they were again replaced by elected imams. The struggle between the imamate and the sultanate became a distinctive feature of the entire Omano-Muscat history.

After the Portuguese were expelled from Oman, Sayf I ibn Sultan captured Mombasa and began to conquer lands on the east coast of Africa, after which the Omani forces began to advance north, capturing coastal territories up to Gwadar in modern Pakistan. The fourth Sultan of the Saif Dynasty, Sultan bin Ahmed , entered into an agreement with the British Empire. After the death of Saeed ibn Sultan in 1856, the empire split into two states: the Sultanate of Zanzibar and the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman .

In the first half of the XIX century, Oman was the most powerful state in Arabia, thanks to the support of the British. Oman also owned the Persian possessions of Mogistan and Laristan, with the trading cities of Bendarab and Linga and the islands of Hormuz , Kishm or Tavila, Laredsh or El Aredsh and Hensham, the coast of Balochistan to Passani, the eastern coast of Africa - Wasamba - from the equator to Cape Delgado, with the islands of Patta, Lamu, Pemba , Zanzibar , Maeria, Kilva, Socotra island. In 1856, the Asian and African possessions of Oman were divided between the two sons of the Sultan. In 1875, the Persians regained their possessions.

In 1955, with the help of the troops of the Muscat Sultanate, British troops occupied the Imamate of Oman. Since 1957, a rebel movement was launched against the British, led by Imam Galeb. The center of the rebels was the mountainous region of Jebel Ahdar. In July 1957, the Anglo-Muscat troops were briefly expelled from the territory of the Muscat Sultanate, but soon the rebels were again forced to retreat to the mountains.

• 1964 - the beginning of the uprising in Dofar . Qaboos bin Saeed returns to Oman. The following year he was put under house arrest on the orders of his father-sultan (the official biography about the period of house arrest says that at that time Kabus bin Said studied Islam and the history of his native country and Omani people).

While under arrest, Qaboos bin Saeed had the opportunity to receive individual guests from the UK, with whom he plotted to overthrow his father.

July 23, 1970 a bloodless palace coup was a success - the ruling sultan renounced in favor of his son, and Qaboos bin Saeed ascended the throne, and also took the post of prime minister, foreign minister and defense minister. In August of that year, he proclaimed the unification of the country - instead of the Muscat sultanate and the Oman imamate, a single Oman sultanate arose. In 1971, the Sultan, who previously had the title "His Highness", took the title "His Majesty."

Unlike his father, Sultan Qaboos was not afraid of innovations. Rather, the opposite. By his order, in 1970 Radio Oman was broadcast, which broadcasts from Muscat in Arabic and English. At the same time, Radio Salyal announced itself, broadcasting in Arabic so far. Five years later, television appeared, which was strictly focused on observing the moral tenets of Islam. In 1976, the construction of a satellite communications center began.

In 1972, Oman daily newspapers in Arabic, published by the Ministry of Information, and Al-Watan (Homeland) began to appear. Until that time, the Omani media had no foreign correspondents, and the entry of foreign journalists was allowed only for a short period to cover any events.

Thanks to the decisive actions of the Sultan with the support of Great Britain and the Shah of Iran, the separatist Front for the Liberation of Dofar was defeated in 1976, since 1965 trying to break off the province of Dofar from Oman and create a regime there controlled by South Yemen .

Deep reforms embraced literally all aspects of the life of the sultanate. Kabus cleared the administration of the most malicious corrupt officials, established several new ministries (including oil, social affairs, etc.), reorganized the local and central administration: the country was divided into 41 provinces, each of which was headed by a wali (governor), appointed the sultan; such an administrative structure fundamentally undermined the influence of local sheikhs. The new sultan paid much attention to the armed forces. The army received modern tanks, planes and warships. Salaries to soldiers and officers were increased several times. As for the economy, Qaboos pursued a policy of comprehensive support to private enterprise. The main source of replenishment of the treasury in Oman is the oil trade, whose reserves in the sultanate are very significant (although not as large as in Saudi Arabia). The bulk of oil producing and oil refining enterprises are the personal property of the Sultan and bring him tens of billions of dollars in revenue every year. However, Qaboos refused to invest this money in the economy of Western countries or from building heavy industry enterprises. He used the money received from oil to create a powerful infrastructure, to improve the living standards of the population, as well as to extract other minerals (copper, chromium, coal, asbestos).

Since the early 1970s Oman has launched intensive construction of first-class roads. Freeways with clear signs and traffic lights have crossed the country in many different directions. In cities, on the site of old adobe buildings, new residential quarters, business centers, cinemas, banks, supermarkets and ministries grew. The country was surrounded by power lines. With the help of artesian wells, watering of the desert and the development of irrigated agriculture began. Each year, the Sultan spends huge amounts on financing social programs. Already in the first 16 years of the reign of Qaboos, more than 500 schools and several dozen first-class hospitals were built. To implement the update program, not only educated, but also healthy people were needed. That is why the ruler of Oman has emphasized the development of health. If in 1970 in the sultanate there was only one hospital with 12 beds, then in fifteen years the Ministry of Health had at its disposal 15 hospitals, 21 medical centers, 4 maternity hospitals, 74 clinics, 35 mobile medical teams. In 1986, a national university was opened ^[1] . Education and healthcare are currently free for all Omanis. Housing is also almost free. All citizens are provided with an interest-free loan to purchase their own houses (the state pays interest to banks).

In 1973, an international airport was built, and a year later - a modern seaport.

The first steps of Sultan Qaboos were impressive. However, not everything went as the monarch wanted. In the mid-70s, he realized that the need had ripened for introducing planned principles into the economy. With his direct participation, the National Development Council was created which developed the first five-year development plan for 1976-1980. Following him were the next five-year plans.

In 1981, Qaboos formed the Advisory Council, which in 1991 was transformed into the Shura Council. In November 1996, Sultan Qaboos signed the first Basic Law (Constitution) of Oman, which defines the powers of the Sultan and the succession order. The Constitution provides for the creation of a single representative and advisory body - the Council of Oman, and also for the first time proclaims the fundamental rights of citizens ^[2] .

• List of rulers of Oman
• Muscat and Oman

• Oman // Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary : in 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.