Reign of Sultan Qaboos

In 1970, His Majesty the Sultan Qaboos after assuming the power confronted insurgency in a country plagued by endemic disease, illiteracy, and poverty. His Majesty the Sultan Qaboos also succeeded in establishing a modern government structure and launched a major development programme to upgrade educational and health facilities, build a modern infrastructure, and develop the country's natural resources.

Since his accession in 1970, Sultan Qaboos has balanced tribal, regional, and ethnic interests in composing the national administration. The Council of Ministers, which functions as a cabinet, consists of 26 ministers, all directly appointed by Qaboos. The Majlis Al Shura (Consultative Council) has the mandate of reviewing legislation pertaining to economic development and social services prior to its becoming law. The Majlis Al-Shura may request ministers to appear before it. In September 2000, about 100,000 Omani men and women elected 83 candidates, including two women, to seats in the Majlis Al-Shura.

Further, in December 2000, Sultan Qaboos appointed the 48-member Majlis Al Dawla, or State Council, including five women, which acts as the upper chamber in Oman's representative body. In November 1996, Sultan Qaboos presented his people with the " Basic Statutes of the State" Oman's first written "constitution". It guarantees various rights within the framework of Quranic and customary law. Al Said's extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the United Kingdom. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern
countries.