Page 57 - The Arabian Gulf States_Neat

LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS Ivii
1969,1 Law concerning Commercial Agencies of 1969;2 Law No. 10
for 1970 on the Organisation of Industry; The Penal Code of 1970;
Criminal Procedure Law of 1970; Civil Procedure Law of 1970.3
Since 1967, legislation in Abu Dhabi has been published in the
Arabic Official Gazette of the Government of Abu Dhabi.
Sultanate of Oman
The Sultanate of Oman, formerly known as the “Sultanate of
Muscat and Oman" is a fully independent sovereign state. Since
1798, the Sultanate has maintained close treaty relations with the
United Kingdom. At present, her relations with the United
Kingdom are based on the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and
Navigation of 20 September 1951, and on the Agreement of 25 July
1958, concerning military, technical and economic assistance to the
Sultanate.4 The British Government had never regarded the
protectorate regime pertaining to the lower Gulf States before their
independence in 1971, as applicable to the Sultanate of Oman.5
On 23 July 1970, the Ruler of Muscat and Oman, Sultan Said bin
Taimour, was deposed by his son, Qabus bin Said, who led a
successful revolt against his father and proclaimed himself as the
new head of the State. In an announcement to his people on 26 July,
Sultan Qabus stated that he had dethroned his father because the
latter proved to be unable “to make use of the country’s new riches
to meet the people's needs’’. He promised the people to establish “a
forceful and modern government’’, and looked forward to
establishing closer friendly relations with the Gulf States. In a
subsequent speech, the new Sultan expressed his desire to “make
friends with all states which offered their friendship and even with
those which were at present unfriendly’’. Internally, the Sultan
explained that his aim was “to form an efficient and just
government and then to launch development projects and welfare
measures, including the building of schools and hospitals.’’ On 29
July, the British Government formally recognised Qabus bin Said as
the Sultan of Muscat and Oman.6
On 9 August 1970, Sultan Qabus announced that his country will
be known in the future as the “Sultanate of Oman’’, instead of the
old name. He also appointed his uncle Tariq bin Taimour as a Prime
Minister and asked him to form a Cabinet. On 15 August, Sayyid
!• Ibid. No. 2, April - June 1969.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid. No. 2, April - June 1970 (This Gazette contains the texts of the above
mentioned laws).
4. See Chapter 6 of this book, below.
5. See this book, pp. 67-8, below.
6. See Keesing's op. cit., pp. 24144A-24175A.