Oman’s Sultan Haitham Reportedly Names Son As Crown Prince, One Year After Taking Over Country

Oman’s Sultan Haitham Reportedly Names Son As Crown Prince, One Year After Taking Over Country

Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq at al-Alam palace in the capital Muscat on February 21, 2020. ... [+] (Photo: ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)



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Oman's ruler Sultan Haitham Bin Tariq Al-Said has reportedly named his successor, one year after taking over the country.

The ruler's eldest son Dhi Yazan (sometimes written Theyazin) has been identified by local media as the heir or crown prince. Prior to his father taking over as Sultan, Dhi Yazan had been a diplomat in the Omani embassy in London. He was subsequently named Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth in his father's cabinet last year.

The move marks a clear break from the example set by Haitham's predecessor, Sultan Qaboos, and was described by Dr Dania Thafer, director of the Gulf International Forum, as part of “a weighty political reform” which will help Haitham to delegate some powers and develop a more robust governance structure.

“It is a big change from the Qaboos era where there was a lot of ambiguity” on the succession process, said former U.S. ambassador to Oman Marc Sievers in a discussion hosted by the Arab Gulf States Institute