| Royal Title: | Sultan |
| Realm: | Oman |
| Native Name: | Arabic: سلطان عمان |
| Coatofarms: | Royal Standard of Oman.svgborder |
| Coatofarmscaption: | Standard of the Sultan of Oman |
| Type: | Absolute Monarchy |
| His/Her: | His |
| Incumbent: | Haitham bin Tariq |
| Incumbentsince: | 11 January 2020 |
| Heir Apparent: | Theyazin bin Haitham |
| Date: | |
| Residence: | Al Alam Palace Al Baraka Palace |
| Website: |
The Sultan of the Sultanate of Oman (Arabic: سلطان سلطنة عمان) is the monarchical head of state and head of government of Oman. It is the most powerful position in the country. The sultans of Oman are members of the Busaid dynasty, which has been the ruling family of Oman since the mid-18th century.
Haitham bin Tariq is the current sultan, reigning since 11 January 2020.[1]
| Imams | Tribe | Residence | Began to reign | Reference | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transliteration of the Arab names | Names in Arab script | |||||
| Al-Julanda ibn Mas'ud | الجلندى بن مسعود | Azd | Sohar | 751 | [2] | |
| Muhammad ibn Abi Affan | محمد بن أبي عفان | Azd | Nizwa | ? | [3] | |
| Al-Warith ibn Ka'b | الوارث بن كعب | Yahmad | Nizwa | 801 | [4] | |
| Ghassan ibn Abd Allah | غسان بن عبد الله | Yahmad | Nizwa | 807 | [5] | |
| Abd al-Malik ibn Humayd | عبد المالك بن حميد | Azd | ? | 824 | [6] | |
| Al-Muhanna ibn Jayfar | المهنا بن جيفر | Yahmad | Nizwa | 840 | [7] | |
| Al-Salt ibn Malik | الصلت بن مالك | Azd | ? | 851 | [8] | |
| Rashid ibn al-Nazar | راشد بن النظر | ? | ? | 886 | [9] | |
| Azzan ibn Tamim | عزان بن تميم | ? | Nizwa | 890 | [10] | |
| Muhammad ibn al-Hasan | محمد بن الحسن | Azd | ? | 897 | [11] | |
| Azzan ibn al-Hazbar | عزان بن الهزبر | Yahmad | ? | 898 | [12] | |
| Abd Allah ibn Muhammad | عبد الله بن محمد | ? | ? | 899 | [13] | |
| Al-Salt ibn al-Qasim | الصلت بن القاسم | ? | ? | 900 | [14] | |
| Al-Husn ibn Sa'id | الحسن بن سعيد | ? | ? | 900 | [15] | |
| Al-Hawari ibn Matraf | الحواري بن مطرف | ? | ? | 904 | [16] | |
| Umar ibn Muhammad | عمر بن محمد | ? | ? | 912 | [17] | |
| Muhammad ibn Yazid | محمد بن يزيد | Kinda | ? | ? | [18] | |
| Al-Hakm ibn al-Mila al-Bahri | الحكم بن الملا البحري | Bahri | Nizwa | ? | [19] | |
| Sa'id ibn Abd Allah | سعيد بن عبد الله | ? | ? | 939 | [20] | |
| Rashid ibn al-Walid | راشد بن الوليد | ? | Nizwa | ? | [21] | |
| Al-Khalil ibn Shadhan | الخليل بن شاذان | Kharusi | ? | 1002 | [22] | |
| Rashid ibn Sa'id | راشد بن سعيد | Yahmad | ? | 1032 | [23] | |
| Hafs ibn Rashid | حفص بن راشد | ? | ? | 1068 | [24] | |
| Rashid ibn Ali | راشد بن علي | ? | ? | 1054 | [25] | |
| Musa ibn Jabir | ابن جابر موسى | ? | Nizwa | 1154 | [26] | |
| Malik ibn Ali | مالك بن علي | ? | ? | 1406 | [27] | |
| Name | Portrait | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1406 | 1435 | ||||
| 1435 | 1451 | ||||
| 1451 | 1490 | ||||
| 1490 | 1500 | ||||
| 1500 | 1529 | Portuguese protectorate imposed on 15 April 1515. | |||
| 1529 | 1560 | ||||
| 1560 | 1624 |
| Name | Portrait | Reign start | Reign end | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1624 | 1649 | ||||
| 1649 | 1679 | Portuguese protectorate ended with their expulsion on 28 January 1650. | |||
| 1679 | 1692 | ||||
| 1692 | 1711 | ||||
| 1711 | 1718 | ||||
| 1718 | 1719 | ||||
| 1719 | 1720 | ||||
| 1720 | 1722 | Second reign | |||
| 1722 | 1722 | ||||
| 1722 | 1724 | Third reign | |||
| 1724 | 1728 | Not a member of the dynasty | |||
| 1728 | 1742 | Fourth reign; at first in the coastal area only | |||
| 1728 | 1737 | First reign; in the interior | |||
| 1742 | 1743 | ||||
| 1743 | 1749 | Second reign; in the interior |
On 12 January 2021, the current Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq officially changed the Basic Law of the State, stipulating the creation of the post for the Crown Prince of Oman and appointed his first son, Theyazin bin Haitham as the apparent successor, making him the first Crown Prince of the Sultanate.[28]
On 11 January 2021, the new Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq changed the Basic law of the state and charted out the procedures for succession in the future.
As per the new rules, the power shall be transferred from the Sultan to his eldest son. In case the eldest son of the sultan is no more, the power will be transferred to the eldest son of the Heir Apparent.
If the Heir Apparent has no sons, then the power should be transferred to the eldest of his brothers. In Case the heir apparent has no brothers, then the powers shall transfer to the son of the eldest of his brothers and so on as per the sequence of the ages of the brothers.
In case there exists no brothers or sons of brothers to the Heir Apparent, then the rule shall transfer to the uncles (only from the fathers' side) and their sons as per the order set by the paragraph (2) of the Basic Law of the State. It is also stated the Heir apparent must be a Muslim and legitimate son of Omani Muslim parents.
Article (3) of the Law states that if the transfer of power is made to a person aged under 21, then the power of the Sultan shall be undertaken by a trusteeship council appointed by a Royal Will and in case of non-appointment of such a council before his death, the Royal Family Council will appoint a trusteeship council comprising one of the brothers of the Sultan and two sons of his uncles.
The system of the trusteeship council shall be issued by a Royal Decree. Article (7) states that a Royal Order shall be issued on the appointment of the Heir Apparent to assume power and the prerogatives and duties to be assigned to him.
The Heir Apparent shall be sworn in before the Sultan before exercising his prerogatives and duties.
Article (8) says that in case it is not temporarily possible for the Sultan to exercise his powers, then the Heir Apparent shall assume such powers.