MUSCAT : His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik announced a new Basic Law (also referred to as the Basic Statute of the State) that includes the appointment of a crown prince for the first time in the modern history of Oman, in addition to new rules on how parliament will work.

On Tuesday, the Official Gazette of the Sultanate published the text of the new succession decree that determines the transfer of power from the ruler to the eldest son.

Following are the excerpts from the Basic Law about the succession plans:

Article (5) stipulates that the system of governance is hereditary in the male descendants of Sultan Turki bin Said bin Sultan in accordance with the following provisions:

The power shall be transferred from the Sultan to his eldest son and then to his eldest son of the Heir Apparent and consequently the power transfers to one stratum after another.

In case if the Sultan’s eldest son dies before assuming power, the rule of power shall be transferred to the eldest son of the Heir Apparent (Crown Prince) even if he has brothers. If the Heir Apparent has no son, then the rule of power shall be transferred to his elder brother, and if he has no brothers the succession shifts to the eldest son of his eldest brother, and if his eldest brother has no son the succession transfers to the eldest son of his other brothers according to the age order of the brothers.

The Law stipulates that in case Heir Apparent has no sons or brothers, the succession should be transferred to his uncles (from his father’s side) and their sons according to the aforementioned age order. The Heir Apparent to assume power shall be a Muslim and a 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.

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.

Article (9) the Royal Family shall have a council to be named “The Royal Family Council” , and a Royal Order shall specify its formation, system, powers and priority of its members.