World Watch
May 18, 2011 4:54 PM

The world's enduring dictators: Qaboos bin Said, Oman

By
Joshua Norman
Topics
World Watch
Qaboos bin Said, Oman

Oman's leader Sultan Qaboos bin Said attends the third day of celebrations marking 40 years since he took the throne at Midan al-Fath Stadium in Muscat on December 1, 2010.

(Credit: Getty Images)
This is an installment in the WorldWatch series, "The world's enduring dictators," inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, in which CBSNews.com takes a look at the men who continue to rule their lands unimpeded by law. See a complete explanation of the series and a list of others profiled here.

Qaboos bin Said, Oman

Length of rule: 41 years. Sultan Qaboos took the throne in 1970 after deposing his father in a palace coup, and has put his stamp on his country in many ways, even changing its name from "Muscat and Oman" to the "Sultanate of Oman." His part of the Arabian peninsula has been ruled by the al-Said family since 1744.

Feature page: The world's enduring dictators

Most despotic acts: The current "Arab Spring"-inspired protests in the country have seen at least two deaths. Protesters have complained about rampant government corruption, high unemployment and the lack of a parliament with legislative powers. There has been several waves of arrests of anti-government protestors amid an ongoing and aggressive crackdown against discontent. Although Oman has been accused of human trafficking - especially of foreign laborers - for some time, the government has allegedly begun enforcing laws against on the practice.

Outlook for change: As mentioned earlier, several protest leaders have been detained and released in rolling waves of arrests in the past few months, and dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the country is high. While disgruntlement amongst the populace is obvious, the extreme dearth of foreign press coverage and lack of general press freedom there leaves it unclear as to whether the protesters want the sultan to leave, or simply want their government to function better. Beyond the recent protests, there is concern about succession in the country, as there is no heir apparent or any clear legislation on who may be the next Sultan.

Oman stats:

Population: 2,967,717; Mostly Arab, also some Baluchi, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, African; Median Age is 24.

Constitution and the Rule of Law: Monarchy; Everyday law is based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal lies with the sultan.

Economic Indicators: Overall GDP is $76.5 billion (world rank is 80); Per capita GDP is $25,800 (world rank is 52); unemployment rate of 15 percent (world rank is 151).

Press freedom index world rank: 124

World Rulers

  • Joshua Norman

    Joshua Norman is an associate editor at CBSNews.com.

Add a Comment See all 12 Comments
by alathaiba May 20, 2011 12:34 PM EDT
Notice the resounding silence from CBS on these comments. I wrote to them directly on their "contact us" main website link, and, nothing. Some possible conclusions:
1. They don't read follow-ups on their own stories.
2. They assume no responsibility for their actions.
3. They are cowards.
4. They just don't care.
Now, think: If you were the writer of an article for an organization such as CBS, would you not look back at your own story to see what people are saying? Sure you would! And yet, silence.
When a story such as this is so very wrong, one can seriously doubt the reliability of the rest of their "news".
I hereby award CBS with the single digit salute of honor.
Reply to this comment
by ghalagirl May 20, 2011 8:50 AM EDT
I am an American living in Oman. The "journalist" who wrote this piece should switch to fiction because that is what he is writing.
Reply to this comment
by Mohammed_alkindi May 20, 2011 6:03 AM EDT
It's clear to me that the articl has been set from the floor.The sultan is not a dectator.As it has been mentioned above " Get the facts then report it"
Reply to this comment
by Gertrudebell May 19, 2011 6:31 PM EDT
Sultan Qaboos standshead and shoulders above all the leaders in the region. He has moved quickly and decisively to enact reforms that will benefit his people. He brought a backward nation that had no schools, roads, hospitals, or electricity into the modern world that is the envy of all his neighbors in the Gulf. As the other commentors have pointed out, the writer simply is not informed. If CBS had done any checking at all with their ME correspondents, this article would never have surfaced.
Reply to this comment
by Fatamo May 19, 2011 9:33 AM EDT
This article, although all the FACTS are true, is wildly misleading. It's an example of poor journalism, riding on the coat-tails of the unpopularity of other Arab leaders in the media in general. If Mr. Norman had spoken to Omani people or maybe even visited Oman in the name of journalistic integrity, just so, you know, he could actually report what the people are thinking, rather than saying whatever he wants them to say.

Yes, there have been protests in Oman. Mr. Norman, don't you think you would have done well to report that since the protests, there have been 50,000 new government jobs created, minimum wage in the private sector has increased by 43%, 12 government ministers have been replaced, the entire ministry of national economy has been abolished, pensions for civil service workers have increased, legislative powers have been given to the democratically elected advisory council.... There is more of course, but all these are a direct response from the Sultan and the government to the people's demands.

And of course there are people who are demanding still more. I don't know how far the government will go in ceding to their demands, and there are many other unknowns here, but one thing tht everyone knows for sure: no one is calling for the downfall of the Sultan or the royal family. The Sultan has literally brought Oman into the modern world, and I don't think there's a single family in the country who is not better off with him in power. The protestors never called for regime change, they have asked for and continue to ask for mainly administrative changes, and are striving for a more democratic form of government. Speak to whatever class of people you want: omani people are not against the royal family and are not against the Sultan.

I would have thought the CBS News would have done a more thorough job in researching this issue. Instead of trashing one of the few countries that has come out of all of this nearly unscathed (except for the tragic loss of 2 of my countrymen's lives) and no doubt better off, you should be portraying Oman for what it really is: a role model for the rest of the Arab countries that are currently in turmoil. Just compare it to it's neighbors, Bahrain; they both started out exactly the same, and look how widely their paths have diverged.
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by alathaiba May 19, 2011 6:04 AM EDT
Does anyone from CBS read the comments on their articles? Why is there no response from CBS?
Remove the article, or correct it, and respond. Let's see a response from whomever wrote this ill-informed trash. Or their editor. Or from management.
Or email me (you have my address) for some information from someone who actually lives in Oman and who works with and lives with both ordinary and high-level Omanis.
Or will you just ignore the truth for the sake of cheap headlines, as is so often done?
Reply to this comment
by BalqisDeCesare May 19, 2011 3:36 AM EDT
I have been living in Oman for several years Sultan Qaboos created a place where people of different cultures and traditions can live in peace and understanding Of course there are problems but none of these were caused by the sultan, which is why his people held also marches of loyalty these months CBS should remove this article Is clear that you have no idea of what you are talking about
Reply to this comment
by gettani May 18, 2011 9:30 PM EDT
Ditto to alathaiba.... it simply amazes me that your reporters have taken little or no time to research anything about Sultan Qaboos, his life, his background and his efforts to progree the lives of this people.. you want "dictators" - please refer to those that persecute and torture their people for speaking out and commit acts of genocide...whilst the western world looks on and says "oh dear". I am sure the uninformed view of your report also reflects the biased views of all Americans who think there is no country than the "greatest country on earth"...

Note to Joshua Norman: please read Sultan Qaboos's biography..
Note to Fthomascain: take note of the reading material for your homewok.. you will then understand why he has all those medals...

Get the facts then report it
Reply to this comment
by gettani May 18, 2011 9:29 PM EDT
Ditto to alathaiba.... it simply amazes me that your reporters have taken little or no time to research anything about Sultan Qaboos, his life, his background and his efforts to progree the lives of this people.. you want "dictators" - please refer to those that persecute and torture their people for speaking out and commit acts of genocide...whilst the western world looks on and says "oh dear". I am sure the uninformed view of your report also reflects the biased views of all Americans who think there is no country than the "greatest country on earth"...

Note to Joshua Norman: please read Sultan Qaboos's biography..
Note to Fthomascain: take note of the reading material for your homewok.. you will then understand why he has all those medals...

Get the facts then report it
Reply to this comment
by alathaiba May 18, 2011 7:47 PM EDT
I am American, live in Oman, and what is related in this poorly researched article is mostly trash. Too bad your writers had so little time for research.
Protestors: Many wanted jobs, but declined private sector jobs and insisted on government jobs, for neither of which they were qualified. The army took in 5000 job seekers. More than 400 have so far run away, not wanting haircuts or getting up early in the morning. (personal knowledge) Student protestors demanded that the passing grade be reduced from 65 to 50. Protestors have demanded an end to corruption, a fine idea, but have not a single instance to back up the demands.
No one repeat no one here is against the Sultan. They revere him for the good he has done, and it is a lot. He is a Sandhurst-educated, upright guy. Criticisms by people ignorant of the Arab patriarchal culture yap without understanding the complexity of Arab society. Comments drawn from ignorance are beneath contempt.
And comments that end with "LOL" demonstrate a poverty of contemplation. If you don't know, don't open your mouth.
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