In this co-authored article with Prof. Abdullah Baabood for The Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), we trace the burgeoning ambitions and vision of Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tareq. Slightly over a year after taking the reins of power, the double whammy of an oil price collapse and a pandemic provided more — and not less — breathing space for reform implementation. In particular, Sultan Haitham has moved to introduce what would have otherwise been unpopular policies under different circumstances. The approach is two-pronged: addressing Oman’s financing needs and delegating authority.
Dr. Clemens Chay 