Muscat: With the passing of Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Oman bids farewell to one of its most prominent statesmen whose long public service helped shape the Sultanate’s modern renaissance.
Born in Muscat on October 5, 1940, the late Sayyid Fahd devoted decades of his life to serving the nation and supporting its development journey that began with the dawn of the modern renaissance in 1970 under the leadership of Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
Sayyid Fahd pursued his higher education at Cairo University, graduating in 1965 with a degree in economics. He later obtained a master’s degree in political science and economics from Sorbonne University in France in 1970. Known for his intellectual depth, he was fluent in Arabic, French and English.
His distinguished public career began in the early years of the modern Omani state, when he assumed several key ministerial posts. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1971 to 1973, followed by Minister of Information and Culture from 1973 to 1979. In 1979 he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, a position he held until 1994.
In the same year, Sayyid Fahd was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers, a role he continued to serve in until 2026, becoming one of the longest-serving senior officials in the government.
Throughout his career, Sayyid Fahd also chaired and supervised several important national bodies. These included the Supreme Committee for the Conferences of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Council of Sultan Qaboos University, and the Supreme Committee of the Royal Opera House Muscat since 2010. He also played a leading role in overseeing the Sultanate’s five-year development plans.
Sayyid Fahd frequently represented Oman at regional and international summits, acting on behalf of the late Sultan Qaboos and later during the prosperous reign of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. His diplomatic engagements spanned numerous countries, including Japan, Iran, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore, as well as many Arab states, helping strengthen Oman’s political and economic ties with partners around the world.
Widely respected for his calm demeanor, diplomatic approach and thoughtful counsel, Sayyid Fahd was regarded as a statesman of wisdom and balance. Over nearly 56 years of public service, he contributed significantly to shaping Oman’s policies and supporting the nation’s steady path of development.
His legacy remains closely tied to the story of Oman’s modern renaissance and the institutions that continue to guide the Sultanate’s progress.
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