Cairo: The death of Oman’s Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed on January 11 triggered an outpouring of grief inside his country and beyond. He passed away aged 79 after ruling Oman for nearly 50 years, leaving behind an indelible legacy at home and in the rest of the world.
The late sultan significantly transformed the Arabian Peninsula country in different walks of life, an accomplishment that has earned him the nickname, the founding father of modern-day Oman.
When he took power in 1970, Oman had only three schools, two hospitals and six kilometres of paved roads. Once at the helm, Qaboos embarked on converting Oman from a backwater into a progressive country, by launching a series of ambitious schemes promoting education, healthcare, trade and road links.