His Majesty, Sultan Qaboos bin Said

Sultan Qaboos bin Said was born in Salalah in Dhofar on 18th  November, 1940, the only son of Sultan Said bin Taimur (1932-1970) and the eighth direct descendant of the royal Al Busaidi line, founded in 1744 by Imam Ahmed bin Said.
Sultan Qaboos has received his primary and secondary education in Salalah, and When he reached the age of 16, his father sent him to a private educational establishment in England. At the age of 20, he entered the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. After passing out of Sandhurst, he joined a British Infantry battalion on operations in Germany for one year and also held a staff appointment with the British Army.

After his military service, Sultan Qaboos studied local government subjects in England and, after a world tour, returned home to Salalah where he studied Islam and the history of his country. Upon his accession to the throne on 23 July 1970, he moved to Muscat where he declared that the country would no longer be known as 'Muscat and Oman', but would be united as the 'Sultanate of Oman'.

Since this time, Sultan Qaboos has faced many obstacles, not least than when he came to power. Oman today has an excellent health service, a clear road network and many educational establishments for girls and boys, from nursery levels, to university degrees.

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos has described his situation thus:"I am working for Oman - the country and its people...for me it is a delight to see my country and my people in the situation I imagined from the very first day I assumed power. I feel that I am a man with a mission rather than a man with authority.".