Sultan of Oman luxury lifestyle: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Oman from 17 to 18 December, which will be his second official visit to the Sultanate. Oman will be the last stop of PM Modi’s three-nation tour, which will begin with Jordan (December 15 to 16) and will be followed by Ethiopia. PM Modi’s visit to Oman is taking place on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It is happening after the visit of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq to India in December 2023.
The current Sultan and Prime Minister of Oman is Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, who came to power in 2020 following the death of his cousin Sultan Qaboos bin Said. Born on 11 October 1955, Haitham studied at Pembroke College, Oxford University and graduated from the Foreign Service Program (FSP) in 1979. The Muscat-born Sultan of Oman served for many years as minister of heritage and culture in Qaboos’s cabinet. Sultan Qaboos named him as his successor in his will, which led to a peaceful transfer of power. He is a prominent member of the Al Said dynasty, which has been ruling Oman for 300 years.
Sultan Haitham has six huge palaces in Oman, the most prominent of which is the 200-year-old Al Alam Palace.
luxurious life
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq of Oman lives a life of extreme luxury, including lavish palaces with traditional Omani design, a fleet of private jumbo jets for around-the-world travel, and a luxurious megayacht. He has six huge palaces in Oman, the main one being the 200 year old Al Alam Palace. Al Alam Palace is plain compared to other royal residences, but with its gold and blue façade it has cultural significance. The Flag Palace was rebuilt as a royal residence in 1972 and is a grand white building with shining marble surfaces. The palace complex has a guest villa with a swimming pool, spa and well-maintained walled gardens. The entire palace is protected by the Mirani and Jalali forts built in the 16th century by the Portuguese. In the past, people like the Queen of England, King Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen of the Netherlands have stayed in this palace.
nine villas in England
The Sultan of Oman owns at least nine properties in London and southern England, with a total value of around $100 million. One of these is the 14-acre Haselour House located in Staffordshire. The seven-bedroom house, with floors made of Derbyshire stone, has a fireplace in the master bedroom dating from 1785 and a dining room fireplace made of rare Columbian marble. Wonham Manor, worth $35 million, was purchased in 1980. The property has an 800 meter long lake and pastures for deer. Former Sultan Qaboos used to spend three days a year at Wonham Manor and spent around £750,000 refurbishing the property’s lake and walkways.
Haselour House in Staffordshire, England.
fleet of planes
Oman Royal Flight has seven government aircraft, which include three Boeing 747 (worth Rs 900 crore) and two Airbus A320. Sultan also has a helicopter like Eurocopter EC225. He travels the world on three private Boeing 747 jumbo jets, rather than smaller Gulfstream planes. He owns a huge yacht named Al Said, which is reportedly worth $600 million, which is equivalent to a cruise ship. This boat is 508 feet long and has 26 cabins. Apart from this, he has another yacht named Al Salamah. His yacht has a fully equipped medical room, several meeting areas and a private cinema. Its interiors feature exquisite Omani style, many of which are created by Omani artisans.
He owns a huge yacht named Al Said, which is reportedly worth $600 million, which is equivalent to a cruise ship.
generous in giving gifts
Sultan Haitham bin Tariq is famous for gifting Rolex watches bearing the royal emblem of Oman (the dagger emblem). However their dealings rarely go beyond the palace walls. It was revealed that Sultan Qaboos bin Said had commissioned a bejeweled miniature model of the British royal family’s coronation chariot to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2012. This 25 kg gold model is still a part of the emperor’s personal collection. Despite their immense wealth, Oman’s royal family maintains a low-key image compared to other global royal families. Compared to the royal family of Saudi Arabia, the royal family of Oman is considered very polite and simple, can almost be called ‘normal’.
wife and family
The Sultan is married to Ahad bint Abdullah, who is now considered a symbol of women empowerment in the Sultanate. According to the tradition of the royal family of Oman, Sultan Haitham’s lifestyle is monogamous. He has four children with his wife Ahad, the eldest of whom is son Syed Theyazin bin Haitham. In 2021, Sultan Haitham created the role of Crown Prince, declaring his eldest son Seyyed Theyazin as his successor. Syed Theazin was appointed the first Crown Prince of Oman. Oxford-educated Thiazin has served as the Sultanate’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth and is married to Mayyaan bint Shihab Al Said.
Ahad bint Abdullah, First Lady of Oman.
There are more than 1000 Arabian horses in the huge royal stables of Oman. It was founded in 1974 by Sultan Qaboos, who had a special fondness for horses. It is keeping alive Oman’s traditional horse breeding and horse riding culture. The Royal Cavalry is headquartered in Al-Adiyat, Seeb, but also has an international presence with branches in Safinat, Qadihat, Shumukh Stables, France and the UK. The Royal Cavalry of Oman enthralled Queen Elizabeth II at her glittering platinum jubilee celebrations in the open fields near Windsor Castle.
progressive and modern thinking
The current 70-year-old ruler of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, is known as a progressive and politician influenced by Western ideology. He launched Oman Vision 2040, which focuses on diversifying the oil-dependent economy. Also, changes were made in laws such as freedom of expression and religious freedom, which modernize Oman. He balances traditional royal life with modern reforms. He maintains relatively low public presence.
