Editing Oman (section)

===Modern history (1970&ndash;present)===
[[File:Qaboos bin Said profile 1983 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Sultan [[Qaboos bin Said]], whose reign saw a rise in living standards and development, the [[Slavery in Oman|abolition of slavery]], the end of the [[Dhofar War|Dhofar Rebellion]], and the promulgation of Oman's constitution.]]
After deposing his father in 1970, [[Sultan Qaboos]] opened up the country, removed "Muscat and" from the country's name, embarked on economic reforms, and followed a policy of modernisation marked by increased spending on health, education and welfare.<ref name=econhrot>{{cite news|title=Happy and rich in an Omani toytown|url=http://www.economist.com/node/354276?zid=308&ah=e21d923f9b263c5548d5615da3d30f4d|newspaper=The Economist|date=31 August 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121042946/https://www.economist.com/international/2000/08/31/happy-and-rich-in-an-omani-toytown?zid=308&ah=e21d923f9b263c5548d5615da3d30f4d|archive-date=21 November 2018}}</ref> Saudi Arabia invested in the development of the Omani education system, sending Saudi teachers on its own expense.<ref>{{Cite book |last=الفالح |first=عبدالعزيز بن عبدالله |title=كنت طالبا في عمان |publisher=دار الثلوثية |year=2021 |isbn=9786030362981 |language=ar}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=بعد 38 عاماً.. طلاب من سلطنة عمان يزورون معلمهم في السعودية |url=https://www.al-jazirah.com/2017/20170116/ln57.htm |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=www.al-jazirah.com |archive-date=3 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103085547/https://www.al-jazirah.com/2017/20170116/ln57.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Indian Ocean slave trade|Slavery]], once a cornerstone of the country's trade and development, was outlawed in 1970.<ref name="plackett">{{cite web| url=http://www.al-fanarmedia.org/2017/03/omani-music-masks-unpleasant-past/| title=Omani Music Masks A Slave Trading Past| author=Benjamin Plackett| date=30 March 2017| publisher=Al-Fanar Media| access-date=17 July 2017| archive-date=17 January 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117102831/https://al-fanarmedia.org/2017/03/omani-music-masks-unpleasant-past/| url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1971, Oman joined the United Nations, as did Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

In 1981, Oman became a founding member of the six-nation [[Gulf Cooperation Council]]. Political reforms were eventually introduced. The country adopted its present [[Flag of Oman|national flag]] in 1995, resembling the previous flag but with a thicker stripe. In 1997, a royal decree was issued granting women the right to vote, and stand for election to the Majlis al-Shura, the [[Consultative Assembly of Oman]]. Two women were duly elected to the body. In 2002, voting rights were extended to all citizens over the age of 21, and the first elections to the Consultative Assembly under the new rules were held in 2003. In 2004, the Sultan appointed Oman's first female minister with portfolio, [[Aisha bint Khalfan bin Jameel|Sheikha Aisha bint Khalfan bin Jameel al-Sayabiyah]], to the post of National Authority for Industrial Craftsmanship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2818553.stm|title=Oman appoints first female minister|website=BBC News|date=4 March 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190917115643/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2818553.stm|archive-date=17 September 2019}}</ref> Despite these changes, there was little change to the actual political makeup of the government. The Sultan continued to rule by decree. Nearly 100 suspected Islamists were arrested in 2005 and 31 people were convicted of trying to overthrow the government. They were ultimately pardoned in June of the same year.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

Before the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympics]], Oman became the stop of the Middle East's [[2008 Summer Olympics torch relay|torch relay]] on 14 April 2008, covering 20 kilometres.

Inspired by the [[Arab Spring]] uprisings that were taking place throughout the region, [[2011 Omani protests|protests occurred in Oman]] during the early months of 2011. While they did not call for the ousting of the regime, demonstrators demanded political reforms, improved living conditions and the creation of more jobs. They were dispersed by riot police in February 2011. Sultan Qaboos reacted by promising jobs and benefits. In October 2011, elections were held to the Consultative Assembly, to which Sultan Qaboos promised greater powers. The following year, the government began a crackdown on internet criticism. In September 2012, trials began of 'activists' accused of posting "abusive and provocative" criticism of the government online. Six were given jail terms.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14654492 |title=Oman profile – Timeline |work=BBC News |date=11 September 2012 |access-date=18 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510071946/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14654492|archive-date=10 May 2019}}</ref>

In 2013, Oman achieved its status as the elimination of [[malaria]] diagnoses, according to the [[World Health Organization|World Health Organisation]] (WHO).

Qaboos, at the time the Arab world's longest-serving ruler, died on 10 January 2020.<ref name = BBC>{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50902476|title= Sultan Qaboos of Oman dies aged 79|date = 11 January 2020|access-date = 10 January 2020|work = [[BBC News]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200405082103/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50902476|archive-date = 5 April 2020}}</ref> He was succeeded by his first cousin [[Haitham bin Tariq]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/1611351/middle-east|title=Haitham bin Tariq appointed new ruler of Oman|website=Arab News|date=11 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113223453/https://www.arabnews.com/node/1611351/middle-east|archive-date=13 January 2020}}</ref> On 12 January 2021, Haitham named his eldest son, [[Theyazin bin Haitham]], as the country's first [[Crown Prince of Oman|crown prince]] and heir to the throne with an amendment to the [[Basic Statute of Oman|Basic Statute]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 January 2021 |title=Sultan Haitham appoints son Theyazin as Oman's first Crown Prince |url=https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/oman/sultan-haitham-appoints-son-theyazin-as-omans-first-crown-prince-1.1610463211104 |access-date=2021-01-13 |website=Gulf News |language=en}}</ref>