National flags will fly at full mast across Oman on Wednesday as 40 days of mourning for the late Sultan Qaboos bin Said comes to a close.
The new sultan faces a daunting task as he follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, who enjoyed widespread popularity among Omanis.
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, 65 was sworn into office on January 10, 2020, following the death of his cousin, Sultan Qaboos bin Said, who ruled the country for five decades.
Many welcomed the choice of the new Sultan, according to social media messages exchanged by Omanis, saying Sultan Haitham is well qualified for the top job because of his foreign ministry experience that spanned over 18 years.
Many are still mourning the loss of the old leader, especially generations born during his reign. On Wednesday, school children will sing a new national anthem that has been updated to remove Sultan Qaboos bin Said’s name. The new sultan’s name has not been included in the updated national anthem.
"It clearly shows the government's respect for people's sentiments," Faris Al Kiyumi, a freelance journalist and an independent political analyst, told The National.
A communique from the government issued last month also trod softly on the public’s sentiments when it advised all government organisations, private sector companies and education institutions to hang the portrait of Sultan Haitham next to that of Sultan Qaboos.
“Sultan Qaboos may not be ruling Oman anymore but he still rules our hearts and no one can take that away from us,” said electronic engineer Salim Al Hinai, 27, who was born in the middle of Sultan Qaboos’ reign.
It is a sentiment reflected by many Omanis of his generation. The explosive birthrate of the 1980s and 1990s has given Oman one of the youngest populations in the world, with about 55 per cent aged between 23 and 36 years old.
“That is a big population segment and these young people know no other leader but Sultan Qaboos. They are well educated from the government’s funds and are working in well-paid jobs in different segments of the economy. They enjoyed all the perks from a generous leader, including free residential lands and subsidized mortgage rates,” Mr Al Hinai said.
“The new generation below them would expect nothing else but the continuation of what their predecessors enjoyed. That is the biggest challenge for Sultan Haitham,” he added.
The government inherited by Sultan Haitham was formed by Sultan Qaboos and many of its policies are built around his plans for the future of Oman. This includes the Oman 2040 Vision, which the late Sultan unveiled in 2018.
The 20-year plan aims to resurrect the country’s ailing economy by targeting a growth rate of 5 per cent per year and improve on the previous 20-year economic growth rate of 3.5 per cent per year.
“Foreign investments might well be his immediate reform. Sultan Haitham is well connected with foreign investors from his time in foreign affairs,” Mr Al Kiyumi said. The new sultan served as secretary general for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 2002.
“He will need all his diplomatic skills to make the 2040 vision work… It will not be easy but he will need to diversify the economy away from dependence on oil and gas,” Mr Al Kiyumi added.
International affairs will also be at the forefront of Sultan Haitham's agenda, including relations with Iran, he continued. “Sultan Qaboos knew how to tame the Iranians. He was the only leader in the world Tehran listened to. It is not an exaggeration [to say] that if it was not for his efforts, Iran would have caused a lot [more] instability in the region.”
Sultan Haitham is seen to be well able to continue this role, Mr Al Kiyumi said.
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The years Ramadan fell in May
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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The major Hashd factions linked to Iran:
Badr Organisation: Seen as the most militarily capable faction in the Hashd. Iraqi Shiite exiles opposed to Saddam Hussein set up the group in Tehran in the early 1980s as the Badr Corps under the supervision of the Iran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The militia exalts Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but intermittently cooperated with the US military.
Saraya Al Salam (Peace Brigade): Comprised of former members of the officially defunct Mahdi Army, a militia that was commanded by Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr and fought US and Iraqi government and other forces between 2004 and 2008. As part of a political overhaul aimed as casting Mr Al Sadr as a more nationalist and less sectarian figure, the cleric formed Saraya Al Salam in 2014. The group’s relations with Iran has been volatile.
Kataeb Hezbollah: The group, which is fighting on behalf of the Bashar Al Assad government in Syria, traces its origins to attacks on US forces in Iraq in 2004 and adopts a tough stance against Washington, calling the United States “the enemy of humanity”.
Asaeb Ahl Al Haq: An offshoot of the Mahdi Army active in Syria. Asaeb Ahl Al Haq’s leader Qais al Khazali was a student of Mr Al Moqtada’s late father Mohammed Sadeq Al Sadr, a prominent Shiite cleric who was killed during Saddam Hussein’s rule.
Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba: Formed in 2013 to fight alongside Mr Al Assad’s loyalists in Syria before joining the Hashd. The group is seen as among the most ideological and sectarian-driven Hashd militias in Syria and is the major recruiter of foreign fighters to Syria.
Saraya Al Khorasani: The ICRG formed Saraya Al Khorasani in the mid-1990s and the group is seen as the most ideologically attached to Iran among Tehran’s satellites in Iraq.
(Source: The Wilson Centre, the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation)
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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