Muscat: Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said has died, Aljazeera reported citing state television on Friday.
Qaboos was 79-year-old and was ill from a long time. He has served as the ruler of Oman since 1970 when he ousted his father in a bloodless coup.
(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 19, 2008 US Vice President Dick Cheney(L) meets with Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said in Muscat, inside the Bait al Baraka(The House of Blessings), the principal private residence of the Sultan of Oman. – Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79, the Omani news agency said January 11, 2020. “With sadness … the Omani Sultanate court mourns … our Sultan Qaboos bin Said … who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening,” the agency said. Qaboos, the longest ruling Arab monarch, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. (Photo by Paul J. RICHARDS / AFP) 
(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 25, 2010 Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said welcomes Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II upon her arrival at Muscat following her trip to the United Arab Emirates. A – Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79, the Omani news agency said January 11, 2020. “With sadness … the Omani Sultanate court mourns … our Sultan Qaboos bin Said … who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening,” the agency said. Qaboos, the longest ruling Arab monarch, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. (Photo by – / AFP) 
(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 10, 2009 Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said (R) greets French President Nicolas Sarkozy upon his arrival in Muscat. – Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79, the Omani news agency said January 11, 2020. “With sadness … the Omani Sultanate court mourns … our Sultan Qaboos bin Said … who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening,” the agency said. Qaboos, the longest ruling Arab monarch, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. (Photo by MOHAMMED MAHJOUB / AFP) (FILES) In this file photo taken on August 11, 2008 Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi (R) and Omani Sultan Qaboos bin Said (L) stand for their national anthems upon the latter’s arrival at Tripoli. – Sultan Qaboos, who ruled Oman for almost half a century, has died at the age of 79, the Omani news agency said January 11, 2020. “With sadness … the Omani Sultanate court mourns … our Sultan Qaboos bin Said … who God chose to be by his side on Friday evening,” the agency said. Qaboos, the longest ruling Arab monarch, had been ill for some time and had been believed to be suffering from colon cancer. (Photo by Mahmud TURKIA / AFP)
Qaboos had no children and has not publicly named his successor.
Sultan Qaboos travelled to Belgium for a week in December for what was described then as “medical checks.” He returned to Oman but speculations of his deteriorating health were rife.
Expressing sorrow at the demise of the ruler of Oman, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi tweeted, ” I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said. He was a visionary leader and statesman who transformed Oman into a modern and prosperous nation. He was a beacon of peace for our region and the world”.