The Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said during the celebration of the Sultanate Of Oman's 40th Renaissance Anniversary, in Muscat, Oman on December 1, 2010. ABACA/ABACA/PA Images. All rights reserved.On 15 November 2015, three days before his birthday, Sultan Qaboos of Oman made a rare public appearance. As expected, he opened the annual session of parliament, yet his brief three-minute speech contrasted with reports that he “[...] appeared in good health.”
Only a few months before, Qaboos had returned from an almost year-long retreat to Germany for illness, prompting nationwide praise. “I haven’t felt this happy for a long time” tweeted one Omani. “Welcome back baba [father] Qaboos, you have given your nation hope and courage.” Another Omani went further to declare that “[...][s]eeing [His Majesty] Qaboos […] makes me [want to] cry, you don’t even understand unless you’re Omani.”
Public affection appears to be genuine rather than orchestrated. Nonetheless, underneath joy lurks anxiety. The Sultan’s absence for undisclosed health issues is a reminder of an uncertain post-Qaboos future.
