Famous as the Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman. As of 2017, he has been the longest-serving Arab leader after overthrowing his father Said bin Taimur from power in a royal coup in 1970.
He entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1960 at age 20. He served in the British Army until 1966 when he returned to his home country of Oman.
He represents the 14th generational descendant of the founder of the Oman Sultanate Al Said dynasty. He has helped to act as an intermediary between the US and Iran on foreign policy issues.
He was married to his wife Kamila between 1976 and 1979 before divorcing. He has legally named his successor to the Sultanate of Oman.
He was helped in defeating a Communist insurgency early in his reign as Sultan of Oman by the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran.
